Extended Deterrence and Allied Assurance: Key Concepts and Current Challenges for U.S. Policy
Abstract
The United States provides extended deterrence and assurance guarantees in vital strategic regions across the globe to protect U.S. allies and friends from intimidation, coercion, or attack. These guarantees currently play a central role in maintaining regional stability and strongly influence the national security strategies of both allies and adversaries. From the Asia-Pacific to Europe, however, these guarantees and the military strategies and capabilities that support them are showing signs of strain. Decisions and actions in the near-term are critically important to determining whether these commitments remain firm or begin to crack under the pressure of adversary capabilities, allied anxieties, and resource constraints. This paper provides a conceptual framework for the strategic concepts of extended deterrence and allied assurance and an overview of the key issues and current challenges faced by the U.S. strategists and planners responsible for developing and implementing these concepts across the globe.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA584552
Entities
People
- Jeffrey A. Larsen
- Justin V. Anderson
- Polly M. Holdorf
Organizations
- United States Air Force Academy