American Education Shapes Future Adversaries

Cross‑border study, diplomatic postings and cultural exchange can leave durable impressions on foreign military and political leaders that later influence their strategic choices. That influence can produce sympathy, tactical borrowings, or a complex admixture of admiration and rivalry that affects wartime decision‑making. — This reframes education and exchange programs as a dual‑use instrument of foreign policy with unpredictable downstream security consequences, which matters for visa policy, exchange programming and strategic planning.