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The Evolving Landscape Of European Security: An Assessment Of Nato’S Posture And Deterrence Strategies In Response To The Russia-Ukraine War, Goddy U. Osimen, Oluwakemi Fulani, Nesochi Mogbolu

Journal of Strategic Security

The Russia-Ukraine War has reshaped Europe’s security landscape, leading to NATO’s most significant transformation since the Cold War. This study explores how the conflict has prompted NATO to realign its deterrence and defence strategies in response to Russia’s violations of international norms and changing battlefield dynamics. Employing a qualitative analysis of academic literature, official documents and credible reports, this study argues that NATO has shifted from assurance to a more assertive deterrence approach, enhancing its forward presence, increasing defence spending, and adopting effective new technologies. Key findings reveal important lessons about modern warfare, particularly the roles of artillery, unmanned systems, …

Has Russian Electronic Warfare Underperformed In The Ukrainian Conflict?, Guillem Colom Piella, Cristina Marzal Ruano

Journal of Strategic Security

In what has been referred to as a “War of Drones”, the ongoing Ukrainian conflict has contributed to shed light on electronic warfare as a key capability in modern military operations. The capacity to trace, deny, detect and collect intelligence from enemy communications has become a crucial asset as combat systems become highly interconnected and small, commercial drones storm in as strong alternatives to traditional, more expensive and less versatile unmanned systems. In this regard, much has been discussed about whether Russia, a perceivably dominant EW power, lived up to expectations regarding its performance in the electromagnetic domain. Through the …

Russian Resilience: Sanction Elusion Mechanisms Utilized During The Russo-Ukrainian War, Ivan Siffredi Santa Ana

Journal of Strategic Security

Since the 2022 invasion, the United States and the European Union have imposed a wide range of sanctions, including those directed to Russia’s financial industry, central bank, and hydrocarbon exports, among many others. Even though these restrictive measures implied a severe hindrance for the Russian State apparatus, it has been able to sustain both its economic resilience and its war effort in Ukraine. The present article aims to identify and analyze the economic and logistical mechanisms that allowed Russia to elude Western sanctions and sustain its abovementioned dimensions. In this sense, the reach of support of the strategic relations will …

Legal Framework For Counterintelligence Activities In Ukraine, Viktor Tyshchuk

Journal of Strategic Security

The legal framework governing counterintelligence activities in Ukraine is one of the key elements in ensuring national security and protecting state interests, particularly in the context of modern challenges, as this article analyzes the current legislation and normative acts regulating the activities of counterintelligence agencies while evaluating their impact on the effectiveness of combating potential threats; a notable aspect is the change in the criminogenic situation, specifically the increase in crimes against the foundations of national security in 2022, which coincided with the onset of a full-scale invasion and significantly affected the investigative process due to difficulties associated with martial …

Brutal Catalyst: What Ukraine’S Cities Tell Us About Recovery From War. By Russell W. Glenn. Boulder, Colorado: Keypoint Press, 2024., Daniel Weisz Argomedo Phd

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Understanding Russian Hybrid Warfare Against Europe In The Energy Sector And In The Future ‘Energy-Resources-Climate’ Security Nexus., Maurizio Geri

Journal of Strategic Security

To avoid escalations to full kinetic (military) wars is imperative to win the non-kinetic part of the so-called “hybrid warfare”, which use both kinetic and non-kinetic methods. The goal of the non-kinetic methods of hybrid warfare, or as others call it “grey zone” activities, or “subthreshold” tactics, is to defeat hearts and minds, as well as pockets, of adversaries, with social, political, and economic tools. This article focuses on energy as the crucial sector of the economic tools, and specifically uses an innovative approach, what the author calls the ‘energy-resources-climate security nexus’, as a new battleground for future strategic competition …

The War Came To Us: Life And Death In Ukraine. By Christopher Miller. London: Bloomsbury Continuum, 2023., Amos C. Fox Ph.D.

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

How Does This End?: The Ukraine War And The Future Of Russia, Jonathan M. Acuff, Hannah N. Clegg

Journal of Strategic Security

We analyze a range of future scenarios for Russia related to the Ukraine War. Although regime change is a publicly-stated objective for several leaders of NATO countries, we find very little prospect for it. The Russian economy has largely evaded the effects of the sanctions. Despite enormous casualties and incompetence in the management of the war, both Putin and the war remain popular with the Russian public. Contrary to most analysis to date, the Wagner Group mutiny of June 2023 is not an indication of Putin’s weakness, but his strength. The coercive mechanisms of the Russian state remain intact. Indeed, …

Why Has Peace Not Come To Colombia? Between Total Peace And Armed Peace, César Niño

Journal of Strategic Security

This research asks why peace has not come to Colombia despite the end of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Total Peace is an ambitious project of Gustavo Petro’s government to build the elusive peace in Colombia. However, the country's current security and violence situation shows a crisis in realizing the peace project. New criminal actors are proliferating, massacres are increasing, the confinement of marginal populations is on the rise, and ambushes against members of the security forces continue. The disconnection of the Total Peace policy with the security and defense policy has led to the strengthening of armed structures …

Making Us Security Cooperation In Fragile States Work: Organizational Capital In Aid Provision, Randell Yi, Edward J. O'Connell

Journal of Strategic Security

The article examine how materiel and non-materiel organizational capital, as conveyed by military aid, differ in their effects on recipient nations with respect to governance. The authors analyze the Varieties of Democracy (vDem) dataset’s Regime Corruption Index alongside Security Sector Assistance expenditures as reported by the US Aid to Security Sector Actors (USASSA) dataset. They find that non-materiel forms of investment toward building partner nation capacity create generally better governance outcomes than materiel ones that involve transfers of weapons systems or supplies. They further contend that investments toward social cohesion and norms transmission “build the capacity to have capacity built.” …

Precision: A History Of American Warfare. By James Patton Rogers. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press, 2023., Amos C. Fox

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Hybrid Warfare: How To Escape The Conceptual Gray-Zone, Borislav Bankov

Journal of Strategic Security

Hybrid warfare (HW) is one of the most debated concepts in contemporary military science. While most scholars agree that HW is conducted in the gray-zone between war and peace, they define the phenomenon differently. This disagreement has resulted in a conceptual gray-zone. The lack of theoretical clarity is exacerbated by the fact that authors have coined additional security and defense concepts that are based on the idea of hybridity, such as hybrid peace and hybrid influence. This article examines the different views on HW and aims to offer a more precise framework for its analysis. To fulfill its objective, it …

Quarrelsome Siblings – The Relationship Between Special Operations And Conventional Forces, Anna M. Gielas Phd

Journal of Strategic Security

The relationship between U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Conventional Forces (CF) has historically been challenging, leading to mission failures and the loss of lives. An unprecedented integration of the two forces was seen following 9/11 during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This article investigates whether this intimate collaboration in Afghanistan and Iraq improved relations between SOF and CF. Drawing from a sample of 48 master’s theses authored by U.S. officers on the topic of SOF–CF integration from 1994 to 2018, this article documents a deterioration in the relationship between the two forces and identifies four underlying causes. It …

The Palestinian Divide: Origins And Implications Of Palestinian Rejectionism, Martin S. Widzer

Journal of Strategic Security

In what is likely to amount to nothing more than a pyrrhic victory, Hamas’ October 2023 infiltration into Israel and subsequent assault will be greeted as a heroic act of resistance in some sectors of Palestinian society. It will invoke dread and anger in others. Employing a genealogical approach, this paper explores the effects of sectarian infighting over ideology, tactics, and aims as a means to garner greater in-group support. In doing so, the paper demonstrates that it is not so much Israel that is the object of the Palestinian struggle, but rather the struggle between the Palestinian factions themselves.

Military History For The Modern Strategist: America’S Major Wars Since 1861. By Michael O’Hanlon. Washington, Dc: Brookings Institution Press, 2023, Amos C. Fox

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

“Divergent Perspectives: A Comparative Review Of ‘The Nuclear Club’ And ‘Winning And Losing The Nuclear Peace’”, Abhishek Verma

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

China’S Assertive Escalation In The Indo-Pacific Region And Its Repercussions On India-Us Relations, Pooja Devi, Jyoti Singh Dr.

Journal of Strategic Security

In recent decades due to the shift in power balance in the Indo-Pacific region, the region has gained attention from all over the world. The tremendous rise of China, economically and militarily, has altered the status quo in South Asia and raised security concerns in different countries, including India. Moreover, China’s massive growth has also threatened US hegemony in the Western Pacific Region and globally. The paper analyzes China’s recent policies, i.e. String of Pearls and Belt and Road Initiative and their consequences on India’s strategic interests in the Southeast Asian Region and Indian Ocean Region. China’s assertive escalation on …

The Security Dilemma And Conflict In Space: Impossible Or Inevitable?, Mackenzie Enholm

Journal of Strategic Security

Space has been identified as the next warfighting domain. With tensions simmering between the great spacefaring nations amid a space arms race, or at the very least a race for superior space technology, this article will examine such tensions through the lens of the security dilemma. Do the technology escalations between the great space powers and dual-use space technologies make space conflict inevitable? The United States, China, and Russia continue to develop advanced counterspace capabilities with the ability to target other space systems and satellites. Given the nature of states to maximize their own security amid uncertainty in space, physical …

Asymmetry In The Digital Age: Cyber Deterrence Strategies For Small States, Tony Yuan Li

Journal of Strategic Security

In an era where cyberwarfare poses an invisible but potent threat to national security, traditional deterrence theories fall short in providing nations with a viable strategy to defend themselves. This is especially the case for small states, where limited national resources and cyber capabilities prevent them from effectively deterring larger powers. This paper investigates whether small states can achieve cyber deterrence, and the means to do so. This research challenges the preconception that small states are at a disadvantage in cyber contestation, and instead proposes that their small size offers unique defensive benefits. A smaller attack surface, faster incident response …

A Review Of Frank Mckenzie's The Melting Point By Adib Farhadi, Adib Farhadi

Journal of Strategic Security

The Melting Point by General (Ret.) Frank McKenzie provides an authoritative, first-hand examination of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), chronicling its historical evolution, key operational engagements, and future prospects within the broader context of the Great Power Competition (GPC). Drawing on his experience as a combatant commander, McKenzie provides insights into U.S. military strategy in the Central Region, focusing on civilian oversight, the combatant commander’s unique role, and leadership's impact on strategic decision-making. The Melting Point significantly contributes to scholarship on recent U.S. military interventions and the evolving global geopolitical landscape This review identifies five significant contributions of the …

Virtual Urban Siege: Modern Urban Siege And Swarming In Culiacán 2019 & 2023, Daniel Weisz Argomedo, Nathan P. Jones, Ph.D., John P. Sullivan, Ph.D.

Journal of Strategic Security

Modern urban siege is a metaphor for evolved urban campaigns. The template for such attacks draws from the tactics seen in the 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008, and continued with the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Kenya, the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher attacks in Paris and the November 2015 attacks against the Stade de France and Bataclan. These virtual sieges employ swarming tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to provide a template for urban strife and insecurity. This article provides an overview of terrorist swarming tactics, expanding the aperture to review the use of similar TTPs by criminal …

Urban Warfare: The Recent Israeli Experience, Nadav Morag

Journal of Strategic Security

This article analyzes the evolution of urban warfare tactics, technologies, and approaches in Israel. The article briefly addresses the nature and constraints of modern urban warfare, examines Israel’s early experience with urban warfare during the 1982 Lebanon War, and then describes and assesses the development of Israeli urban warfare in a range of wars and operations starting with Defensive Shield in the West Bank, then moving to the Second Lebanon War and then addressing a number of conflicts between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip between 2007 and 2021. This article will also identify a few overarching trends in …

Come Hell Or High Fever: Readying The World’S Megacities For Disaster. By Russell, W. Glenn. Canberra, Australia: Australian University Press, 2023., Magdalena, A. Denham, Ph.D.

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Megacities And Urban Warfare In The 21st Century: The City As The Cemetery Of Revolutionaries And Resources, José De Arimatéia Da Cruz Ph.D./Mph

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Urban Disaster Wrought By Man: The Battle For Manila, 1945, Russell W. Glenn

Journal of Strategic Security

Urban warfare tends to be intimate. If soldiers do not see the faces of those they kill—and they frequently will—those men and women will hear the screams or muffled groans of the wounded. US forces waging the battle to recapture Manila in 1945 experienced these horrors. Yet it was the noncombatants who suffered far more; 100,000—approximately one of every ten Manileños at the time—died during the fighting. Thousands more suffered wounds, disease, or struggled with hunger and malnutrition. Recent fighting in Syria, Ukraine, Khartoum, and elsewhere tells us too little has changed three-quarters of a century later.

Though urban warfare …

Urban Security: From High-Intensity Crime To Large-Scale Combat Operations And Everything In Between, John P. Sullivan, Ph.D., Nathan P. Jones, Ph.D., Daniel W. Argomedo, Ph.D.

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Artificial Intelligence And Urban Operations, Anthony King

Journal of Strategic Security

It is widely believed that AI is about to revolutionise military operations. Many scholars have claimed that AI-enabled lethal autonomous weapons, especially drone swarms, are about to take over the battlefield. This article assesses the merits of those claims in relation to urban operations. Examining the cases of the Joint Special Operations Command in Baghdad in 2004-08 and the IDF's Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, it argues that AI will primarily be for military intelligence and targeting, rather than lethal autonomy.

Understanding Urban Warfare. By John Spencer And Liam Collins. Hampshire, England: Howgate Publishing Limited, 2022., Amos C. Fox

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Civil Affairs In Antwerp 1944-1945: Critical Infrastructure And Civil Defense, Louise Tumchewics

Journal of Strategic Security

In the autumn of 1944, as the Allies moved through France and towards Germany, the city of Antwerp became a key logistics hub owing to its large, and for the time, modern port facilities. Owing to its strategic significance, it became a prime target for German V-1 and V-2 rocket strikes. In order to keep the population in the bombarded city, 1st Canadian Army Civil Affairs took on the challenge of Civil Defense to keep the population safe and the port operational.

Wide Area Motion Imagery And The Colonial Antecedents Of Surveillance, Dinesh Napal

Journal of Strategic Security

Wide area motion imagery (WAMI) technologies are procured by federal and state security institutions across the United States, due to their capacity to surveil at an extraordinary scale. Innovation in WAMI development seeks to make them more compact or convenient to use and employ in a variety of situations. The increased use of WAMI, particularly through uncrewed aerial combat vehicle (UCAV) systems and operations, is able to render visible people, communities, and behaviors at an unprecedented level. This has implications for individuals’ and communities’ perception of surveillance and the ontology of security. The experience of being secured or kept safe …