Tag: Military Alliances
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Geostrategic Aircraft Carrier
The paper examines Gotland’s strategic importance amid evolving regional security dynamics, focusing on its potential role in deterring conflict. It discusses the historical context, contemporary security challenges, and Sweden’s military investments on the island. Emphasizing the shift from neutrality to deterrence, it suggests Gotland’s significance in the broader NATO context.
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Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS)
Visionaries of European strategic autonomy have engaged in many initiatives to reduce European dependency on U.S. weapon technology. Most recently, the Future Air Combat Systems (FCAS) project has emerged. The following study will attempt to answer whether projects like FCAS genuinely contribute to the future of European strategic autonomy or simply sell old wine in…
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EPIS Basics: The Military-Industrial Complex
This short article explains the basics of the military-industrial complex (MIC) and its impact on defence spending. Dominic Perfetti outlines how MIC refers to the close relationship between governments and defence industries, where lobbying influences policy and creates a ratchet effect—once spending rises, it’s hard to reduce. He highlights the risks of escalating budgets, political…
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Balance of Threat Theory
The Balance of Threat Theory asserts that states form alliances based on the threat they perceive from other states. It contends that states evaluate potential threats not only regarding power but also consider the level of aggression, the capabilities, and the intentions of other states. This theory highlights the importance of assessing threats and suggests…
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Balancing and Bandwagoning
Balancing and bandwagoning are two strategies that states employ in response shifts in the balance of power. Balancing refers to the tendency of weaker states to form alliances to counterbalance against a stronger power in order to maintain a stable power equilibrium. On the other hand, bandwagoning involves weaker states aligning with a dominant power,…
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Hegemonic Stability Theory
The Hegemonic Stability Theory suggests that the international system is more likely to be stable in unipolar system where there is single dominant power, or hegemon. As this hegemon provides public goods such as a stable currency and security guarantees, it reduces uncertainty among states and maintains the international order. This theory also indicates that…
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NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance consisting of European and North American nations and it strives to ensure security and collective defence. 31 member states have committed to mutual defence in response to an armed attack by external parties. NATO’s primary objective is to promote stability and deter aggression by coordinating…
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Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a regional intergovernmental alliance consisting of China, Russia, and several Central Asian nations. It is the world’s largest regional organization in terms of geographic scope and population. It promotes economic, political, and security cooperation among its members, focusing on issues like counterterrorism and regional stability. The SCO serves as…
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AUKUS
In 2021, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the US established a trilateral pact called AUKUS. The AUKUS consists of two pillars. In an unprecedented step, the first pillar sees the US and UK share submarine technology with Australia. The aim is for Australia to domestically produce nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines by the 2040s. As part…
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Charles De Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle, often known as the General, was a prominent French military leader and statesman. As a president of France, he pursued a policy of “national independence” asserting French sovereignty and opposing both American and Soviet dominance during the Cold War. This led him to withdraw France from NATO’s integrated military command and to…