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Description

Sponsored by the U.S. National Defense University (NDU) and the Swedish National Defense University, this paper is the second in a series of Institute for National Strategic Studies Strategic Forums dedicated to the multinational exploration of the strategic and defense challenges faced by the Baltic states. The December 2017 U.S. National Security Strategy described Russia as “using subversive measures to weaken the credibility of America’s commitment to Europe, undermine transatlantic unity, and weaken European institutions and governments.” The U.S. and European authors of this paper, along with many others, came together in late 2017 to explore possible responses to the security challenges facing the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). This second report highlights early research and gaming insights indicating the importance of total defense and comprehensive security, whole-of-society approaches to deterrence and defense of the Baltic Sea Region from Russian aggression. It also provides recommendations for how the Nordic and Baltic states can leverage aspects of total defense and comprehensive security to generate a credible asymmetric defense and build societal resilience.

Document Type

Policy Brief

Region(s)

Europe, Northern Europe

Topic(s)

National Security, Defense Policy, NATO

Publication Date

1-2020

Publication

Strategic Forum

Publisher

National Defense University Press

City

Washington, DC

Keywords

Nordic Total Defense, Baltic Sea Region security, comprehensive defense approaches, deterrence "left of bang, " societal resilience, hybrid warfare countermeasures, whole-of-society defense, Russian hostile measures, regional security cooperation

Baltics Left of Bang: Nordic Total Defense and Implications for the Baltic Sea Region

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