Conventional Expeditionary Forces: A 21st Century Triad for Strategic Deterrence

摘要

Strategic deterrence has historically used the threat of a nuclear response to prevent wars. Considering the number of conflicts that have occurred under the nuclear umbrella, a policy of strategic deterrence that uses nuclear weapons as the primary way to deter conflict is ineffective in the 21st century strategic environment. In this paper, the author makes the argument that our policy of strategic deterrence should be centered on diplomacy backed by conventional expeditionary forces. Force projection, power projection, etc., are typical ways in which Combatant Commanders currently use such forces to shape stakeholders in a theater of operations. Such employments are operational strategies intended to achieve theater security objectives as part of an overarching strategy. A strategic deterrence strategy that uses expeditionary forces as its primary strategic deterrence is the bridge that is missing between the current nuclear deterrence posture and the military capabilities of smaller nations and regional partners.