We want to make sure you get the best viewing experience for the content you are viewing.  Our goal is to improve each visit with data that creates this experience for you and those you share it with. We appreciate your continued readership.     

The Evolving Context for Deterrence

This article, “The Evolving Context for Deterrence” by Prof. Stephen J. Cimbala and Dr. Adam Lowther was published in the Joint Airpower Competency Center journal, viewpoints edition 38.  Its main discussion centers on how NATO faces significant and evolving challenges in maintaining effective deterrence in the face of modern geopolitical and technological developments. The authors discuss the complexities introduced by cyber and space domains, the threat of Russian aggression, the potential for Chinese military action, and the role of advanced technologies such as hypersonic weapons and drones. It emphasizes the importance of a united NATO response and the need for both policy and technological advancements to ensure robust deterrence capabilities. They argue that modern deterrence is more uncertain and complex than during the Cold War, necessitating a comprehensive and adaptable approach to meet current and future threats, and highlight key challenges facing NATO’s deterrence strategy, including cyberattacks, space asset vulnerabilities, hypersonic weapons, missile defense, drones, conventional-nuclear integration, China’s nuclear capabilities, and political unity within member-states.

For NATO to improve its deterrence strategy it must prioritize cybersecurity, enhance space asset resilience, address hypersonic threats, improve missile defense systems, adapt to drone warfare, deter conventional-nuclear integration, monitor China’s nuclear capabilities, and strengthen political unity.

About the Author

Stephen Cimbala
Articles

Dr. Stephen Cimbala is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Penn State university, Brandywine. He is currently a senior fellow with the National Institute for Deterrence Studies.

Adam Lowther
Articles

Dr. Adam Lowther is Vice President of Research at the National Institute for Deterrence Studies. Read the full bio here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Posts