Las Fuerzas de Operaciones Especiales en la era del retorno de la competición entre grandes potencias. Un análisis del caso ruso y chino

• Autores: Adrián López Fleming
• Localización: Revista del Instituto Español de Estudios Estratégicos, ISSN-e 2255-3479, Nº. 22, 2023, págs. 167-191
• Idioma: español
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Special Operations Forces in an era of returning great power competitionAn analysis of the Russian and Chinese case
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Resumen
  • español

    Las Fuerzas de Operaciones Especiales (FOEs) desempeñan un papel crucial en la competencia geopolítica en el contexto de la reemergencia de la multipolaridad. Este artículo analiza cómo las ambiciones globales de los Estados los impulsan a desarrollar FOEs en línea con su política exterior y de defensa, en consonancia con la teoría realista neoclásica. A medida que la rivalidad entre grandes potencias se intensifica, se espera que Jugadores Globales como China busquen fortalecer sus FOEs para competir con sus adversarios. Este ensayo argumenta que la capacidad económica no es el único factor determinante en el desarrollo de FOEs, utilizando el ejemplo de Irán, que ha establecido un programa de FOEs globalmente competente a pesar de tener recursos limitados.

    Por otro lado, China, a pesar de sus recursos considerables, aún no ha desarrollado un programa de FOEs globalmente competente, lo que podría atribuirse a factores endógenos y exógenos. A través de estudios de caso de Irán, Rusia y China, se examinan los factores que influyen en la toma de decisiones de los estados en relación con el desarrollo y uso de FOEs, destacando la discrepancia entre los recursos disponibles y el desarrollo real de estas fuerzas.

  • English

    Special Operations Forces (SOF) play a crucial role in geopolitical competition in a context of re-emerging multipolarity. This article analyses how states’ global ambitions drive them to develop SOFs in line with their foreign and defence policy, following neoclassical realist theory. As great power rivalry intensifies, it is expected that global players such as China will seek to strengthen their SOFs to compete with their adversaries. This paper argues that economic capacity is not the only determining factor in SOF development, using Iran as an example, a country that has established a globally competent SOF programme despite limited resources. In fact, China, despite its considerable resources, has not yet developed a globally competent SOF programme, and this could be attributed to endogenous and exogenous factors. Through case studies of Iran, Russia and China, this article examines the factors that influence state decision-making regarding the development and use of SOFs, highlighting the discrepancy between available resources and the actual development of these forces.

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