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Allies & Extended Deterrence

Allies and Extended Deterrence

The Russia-Ukraine Conflict Showcases the Limits of Nuclear Deterrence

The Russia-Ukraine Conflict Showcases the Limits of Nuclear Deterrence

Russia’s potential use of nuclear weapons early in the Ukraine conflict presents an interesting dilemma. For many analysts, this conflict exemplifies the limits of nuclear deterrence, an issue worth exploring.…
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Should the US Go It Alone in Space?

Should the US Go It Alone in Space?

The US Space Force (USSF) recently published its US Space Force International Partnership Strategy. The USSF international strategy aims to operationalize “strength through partnerships” by aligning allied and partner nations…
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Mutually Assured Destruction

Mutually Assured Destruction

Mutually assured destruction or MAD is not an American doctrine or military strategy. Those who believe MAD is how America deters nuclear-armed adversaries assume that any use of nuclear weapons by the United States…
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Can Trilateral Diplomacy Secure Pakistan from Terrorism?

Can Trilateral Diplomacy Secure Pakistan from Terrorism?

Kabul hosted a trilateral conference on August 20, 2025, where delegates from China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan participated. This included China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign…
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Deterring Nuclear Terrorism in the Era of Great Power Competition

Deterring Nuclear Terrorism in the Era of Great Power Competition

As the Cold War ended and new counterterrorism priorities took root in the 2000s, the threat of nuclear terrorism cemented itself as the ultimate catastrophic scenario. Dick Cheney famously stated…
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Restoring Ukraine Sovereignty Requires Restoring Deterrence

Restoring Ukraine Sovereignty Requires Restoring Deterrence

The impact on American security from the Ukraine conflict, especially the impact on the nuclear and extended deterrent for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are significant. A key part…
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A Nuclear Umbrella in Peril: Lessons from North Korea’s Escalation Scenarios

A Nuclear Umbrella in Peril: Lessons from North Korea’s Escalation Scenarios

What happens when the world’s most powerful nuclear arsenal blinks in the face of a nuclear strike? In a recent Atlantic Council “Guardian Tiger” exercise, the United States faced precisely…
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Failed Deterrence and Misplaced Compellence in Gaza

Failed Deterrence and Misplaced Compellence in Gaza

The October 7, 2023, Hamas surprise attack on Israel proved that Israel’s strategy of deterrence was a failure. After two destructive wars in Gaza, in 2014 and 2021, the hope that…
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It Is Time to Test Again

It Is Time to Test Again

The United States has observed a moratorium on nuclear explosive testing since 1992, relying instead on the Stockpile Stewardship Program in place of full-scale detonations to ensure the safety, security,…
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The Campaign to End Nuclear Deterrence

The Campaign to End Nuclear Deterrence

The campaign to prevent the US from deploying nuclear weapons as a deterrent is in full swing. It expanded from opposing the first use of nuclear weapons to opposing all…
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