NATO's Changing its Posture Against Russia from Assurance to Deterrence: Does it Matter
Abstract
Russias seizure of Crimea in the Ukraine rung alarm bells in the West, raising fears of a resurgent Russia intent on regaining its former dominance in Eastern Europe. Over the last two years, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has renewed its focus on defending its member nations from an aggressive and resurgent Russia. This focus encompasses a switch from assurance, which the United States and NATO have relied on during the post-Cold War era, to deterrence which is more in line with its posture against the former Soviet Union.NATO was created in 1949 as part of a broader effort to serve three purposes: deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent, and encouraging European political integration.2 During the Cold War, NATO pursued deterrence by both punishment and denial.3 Deterrence by punishment sent a message based on unactable damages, which included a threat of massive nuclear retaliation for any Soviet attack conventional or nuclear.4 Through deterrence by denial, NATO deployed a forward defense at its eastern border with the Soviet Union in order to make it physically difficult for the communist nation to achieve its expansionist objective.5 After the fall of the Soviet Union, NATOs deterrence posture deteriorated as the world view shifted. Its forces, conventional and nuclear, were dramatically downsized and nation members consistently reduced their defense spending contributions.6 Additionally, NATO experienced an atrophy of deterrence know-how, including planning, exercises, messaging and decision-making.7 This is because NATOs post-Cold War security environment changed. NATO became more involved in crises like the western Balkans and Afghanistan.8 Following the Cold War, NATO no longer considered Russia an adversary and some of the former states have since become members of the alliance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1038148
Entities
People
- Christopher J. King
Organizations
- Air War College