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Description

This paper is the first in a sequence of INSS Strategic Forums dedicated to multinational exploration of the strategic and defense challenges faced by Baltic states in close proximity to a resurgent Russia that the U.S. National Security Strategy describes as “using subversive measures to weaken the credibility of America’s commitment to Europe, undermine transatlantic unity, and weaken European institutions and governments." The American and European authors of this paper, along with many others, came together in late 2017 to begin exploration of the most significant Baltic states security challenges through focused strategic research and a series of multinational, interactive theater wargames sponsored by the U.S. National Defense University and Swedish Defence University. This first paper highlights early research and wargaming insights indicating the importance of denial-based deterrence for protection of the Baltic states from potential Russian aggression. It also provides recommendations for how the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United States, and the Baltic states can best improve their ground, maritime, and air forces to generate credible denial-based deterrence.

Document Type

Policy Brief

Region(s)

Europe, Northern Europe

Topic(s)

NATO, National Security, Defense Policy

Publication Date

11-2019

Publication

Strategic Forum

Publisher

National Defense University Press

City

Washington, DC

Keywords

Baltic Sea Region security, Denial-based deterrence, NATO deterrence strategies, Russian aggression deterrence, Total defense concept, Grey-zone and hybrid threats, area denial strategies, NATO partner cooperation, Anti-access/area denial (A2/AD), Baltic states defense planning, strategic depth and deterrence

Baltics Left of Bang: The Role of NATO with Partners in Denial-Based Deterrence

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