Russia's Non-Linear Warfare and the U.S. Military's Role in Countering the Threat to the Baltic States
Abstract
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, there were 300,000 US military personnel stationed in Europe; now there are 30,000. For the past 25 years, the US and other Western powers hoped Russia would eventually emerge as an open, democratic, and non-threatening nation; this has not happened. In 2000, Russia elected Vladimir Putin to the presidency. Putin, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the KGB, set out to return Russia to the status of a great power once again; reforming the military was a crucial part of his plans. The ways Russia has employed the military are alarming: a mix of military and non-military actions, covert and undeclared operations, and a heavy use of Information Operations. Since its war with Georgia, Russias belligerence has increased. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and has been heavily involved in combat in Eastern Ukraine since that same year. To deter Russian non-linear warfare in Eastern Europe, the United States should reassure NATO allies by increasing the size and capability of the ground based military force in the Baltic States to deny Russian infiltration efforts while enabling the flow of follow-on forces ashore within twenty-four hours of indications and warnings of hostile actions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 17, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1176205
Entities
People
- Isaac D. Moore
Organizations
- Marine Corps University