Who should get assigned as National Security Adviser - A retired army personnel or an experienced civilian?

Over the past few decades, the National Security Adviser (NSA) has emerged as one of the most important persons within the government in many countries who gives advice to the head of the government/state on national security matters, including foreign policy, and disputed global security issues. 

Bangladesh has recently created the position of National Security Adviser (NSA). It is expected that such position will help build a more integrated and strategic approach to national security. As Bangladesh confronts evolving security threats - from cyber risks to regional instability, many experts, including the author have been seriously advocating for the creation of such a position within the government after July uprising in 2024.  

In Bangladesh, a non-military person has been appointed as the National Security Adviser, leading to widespread discussion and debate. Given the debates, the question that 'who should be appointed as the NSA - a retired high-ranking military personnel or a civilian' surfaced in the public domain. This piece intends to dig deeper into this issue, outlining the core responsibilities of the NSA, and the skills and experience necessary to pull off such a sensitive role. 

Job responsibilities of a National Security Adviser

The fact is that the tasks of the NSA are not well defined in our context. The job of NSA involves acting as the principal adviser to the head of the government/state, who will counsel the head about security issues and foreign policy. Acting as a critical bridge between the country's security agenda and its operational execution, the NSA works closely with the head of the government/state to implement strategies that enhance sovereignty and security. He provides advice on all aspects of national security policy, including unresolved foreign affairs.

The principal area of focus is to develop and execute country's long-term security strategy and vision. The primary purpose of the NSA is to ensure that the country's security agenda aligns with the overall strategic goals set by the government. 

The NSA is primarily responsible for developing and implementing country's security strategy. This involves translating the broader security-related strategic issues into actionable plans effectively with an intend to manage all kinds of crises that threaten the country's overall security. The NSA not only has to deal with traditional security issues and matters related to regional diplomacy, but should also handle crises related to environment, terrorism, cyber attacks, and food supply.  

Currently, Bangladesh also has a national security adviser. The NSA in Bangladesh is responsible for overseeing security issues, managing unresolved issues, and providing insights for developing stronger ties with other countries, including India, Pakistan, and Myanmar.

What kind of skills should an NSA possess? 

This role comes with serious responsibilities. To carry out the tasks with flying colours, the NSA needs to have relevant skills including: 

Leadership skills: Strong leadership skills are essential for the position of NSA, as he must inspire and motivate teams, make critical decisions, and drive the stakeholders towards achieving its goals. He must be an excellent leader with extensive knowledge of contemporary global politics, geopolitical developments, and stakeholder engagement.  

Analytical ability: The ability to analyse complex data and make informed decisions is a crucial part of the job descriptions of the NSA, as he is required to manage and supervise a multidisciplinary team.

Communication skills: Effective communication skills are necessary for the NSA to convey strategies, goals, and expectations clearly to the head of the government/state. The NSA often needs to interact with foreign counterparts to resolve disputes and strengthen ties. An NSA with better communication skills will be able to provide constructive feedback to the head of the government/state in a precise way.  

Negotiation skill: The NSA often has to engage with international allies and negotiate things with foreign leaders/counterparts. So, the NSA must have the ability to negotiate with other countries, particularly neighbouring states, to resolve conflicts. 

Geopolitical awareness: Beyond proficiency in managing crises, the NSA needs to understand the latest developments in global politics and have a strong awareness of advances in geopolitics. This will allow him to assess which trends are worth following and how to effectively counteract any issues, taking changed realities into account.  

Critical thinking: The NSA must possess excellent critical thinking ability to make important decisions and decide the future course of the country's relationship with other countries, including the bilateral partners. 

Who/what influences the process of appointing an NSA? 

National security advisers play an important role in many countries around the world. In some countries, they are known by different names, but their responsibilities remain largely the same. But who decides who will be the national security adviser? The fact is that the national security adviser is becoming a political appointment day by day. This appointment is typically made by the head of state or government.  

In the USA and India, the NSA is directly appointed by the President and reports directly to him. While in the UK and Pakistan, the NSA is appointed by the Prime Minister. In China, the NSA is part of the State Council, the highest governing body of the People's Republic of China.

In general, the success of the NSA hinges on their relationship with the head of the government/state. As a result, the NSA must be able to earn the confidence of the highest official of the executive branch of a state. Since the NSA serves as one of the most trusted and influential advisers, they must have the complete trust and confidence of the head of the government or state.   

A retired high-ranking army personnel or a well experienced civilian? 

The question remains – who should be appointed as the national security adviser? Should a retired army officer with requisite acuity and acumen or a well experienced civilian who has practical knowledge of geopolitics with international exposure, be assigned with this task? There is actually no concrete or straightforward answer.

If we look at the profiles of the NSAs serving in other countries, we will see that both civilians and retired army personnel have been assigned to perform this task. The first person to serve as the NSA of the USA was Robert Cutler, who was a government official and later joined the US military. He was a brigadier general before becoming the NSA. 

On the other hand, Marco Antonio Rubio, a politician, lawyer, and diplomat, has temporarily replaced Michael Waltz as national security adviser this year. Michael Waltz, a former US special forces officer, is a senator. However, his predecessor, Jake Sullivan, was a solicitor who studied international studies and political science. Other recent national security advisers have studied law, history, philosophy, and management. It is mentionable that some notable advisers, including Henry Kissinger, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and Condoleezza Rice were diplomats, academics, or politicians. 

In the UK, General Gwyn Jenkins (one of UK's top generals) replaced Sir Tim Barrow (a career diplomat) as the NSA back in 2024. In Pakistan, the current Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence Lieutenant General Asim Malik, has been assigned the role of National Security Adviser as an additional charge. Before him, the position was held by Moeed Yusuf who was an academician. 

Public perception 

This author talked to around 26 professionals, including diplomats, retired army officers and expatriates living in the UK and France, to get their views about the appointment of national security advisers. 

A two-star general of the Bangladesh Army opined that army officers come with vast experience, especially if they have a good grasp of ground realities. Therefore, retired army personnel possess the capabilities necessary to perform the tasks of an NSA. 

On the other hand, a Bangladeshi expatriate residing in the UK put emphasis on selecting a retired person who is still active and eager about keeping up with time. 

It's really a valid point. If the retired person has been resting on his/her laurels since retirement, then there is no point in appointing such a person in the role of an NSA. The prospective candidate must be an active observer and have knowledge of what's happening in global politics.  

Although the appointment of the NSA is a political decision, the skill set, experience and current activities of the potential candidate should be taken into account. Last but not least, the person (NSA) should be intellectually capable and sagacious enough to view a problem from different perspectives, making it easier to find a solution in times of crisis. 

Dr Sajjad M Jasimuddin is Professor (Professeur senior), Kedge Business School, and Head of Geopolitics Strategy Lab (France). He previously held faculty positions at several universities based in Bangladesh (Dhaka University), Saudi Arabia, the UK, the UAE, and China. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.