Welcome to the New Defense-Dominant World
As military power proves less effective, an old IR theory is making a comeback.
This story discusses the implications of a new era of "defense dominance" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the United States' war with Iran. Key points include:
1. The development of sophisticated drones, accurate missiles, improved surveillance, and targeting capabilities have made it harder for larger, more powerful states to conquer territories or coerce weaker ones into concessions.
2. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has reportedly expressed that superpowers' ability to impose their will is severely limited in recent times due to these defensive capabilities.
3. Factors contributing to this shift include the vulnerability of expensive power projection capabilities like aircraft carriers and stealthy aircraft to defenders, as well as the increasing effectiveness of cheaper, easy-to-conceal drones and ballistic missiles.
4. These changes could make it more difficult for larger powers to compel weaker states to surrender, and could challenge the United States' accustomed status of operating with near impunity.
5. The text suggests this represents a significant shift in the balance of offensive versus defensive military postures, with potential impacts on international relations and the security of states.
Written by urgent.news from Foreign Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Welcome to the New Defense-Dominant World foreignpolicy.com
