The Department of Defense has earmarked more than $10.8 billion for the development of 25 advanced weapons under the SHOTCALLER program. Of this amount, $9.6 billion has already been spent, and $1.16 billion is planned for fiscal year 2026. The Pentagon frames the program as a deterrent against China, but the reality is that a sole focus on technology, without diplomatic strategy and regional coordination, could endanger global security.

Project code names such as “Asgard,” “Badlam,” “Lazarus,” “Oculus Prime,” “Pele,” and “Rolling Dice” reflect the high level of secrecy and complexity of this initiative. Many of these projects have already received hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, yet the start dates for some are not scheduled until 2026. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess their real-world impact and practical consequences.

Risk of Access by Rogue Regimes

The alarming reality is that even if these technologies target China today, in the future they could fall into the hands of rogue regimes. Israel, for instance, currently uses U.S.-supplied F-35s and advanced missiles to threaten not only Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, but also Iran, Yemen, Qatar, and even Turkey. This demonstrates that developing advanced weapons without strict control can exacerbate human disasters and global security threats.

In a region witnessing genocide in Gaza and simultaneous military attacks on multiple countries, each new advanced weapon can multiply complexity and instability.

Strategic Consequences

A $10.8 billion investment, without guaranteeing changes in China’s behavior, imposes heavy financial and strategic pressure on the U.S. Part of this budget has gone to secretive and complex projects whose effectiveness in real war or crisis scenarios remains uncertain. If implemented without complementary political and diplomatic strategies, the program could endanger not only financial resources but also America’s international credibility.

The program’s cross-border consequences could also be catastrophic. Expanding advanced weapons, without careful management, pushes countries toward increasing military presence, adopting countermeasures, and even developing similar arsenals. The direct outcome: heightened instability in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East, escalating crises, and a higher likelihood of unpredictable conflicts.

The SHOTCALLER program is a clear example of prioritizing hard power over diplomacy and peaceful solutions. It risks steering the global power game toward high costs without creating real security and stability. The warning the U.S. must heed: investing in weapons without understanding the human, political, and regional risks can lead to widespread disasters.