Defense XXIV

Reworking U.S. and Allied Defenses to Deal with the Multi-Polar Authoritarian Challenge

By: Robbin Laird

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Beginning with the year 2020, we have published an annual publication to highlight defense dynamics and developments over the past five years. This provides a unique insight into developments during this period by providing assessments published in real time during that period.

We started with 2020 and highlighted the pandemic year. After that we started the series officially with ts annual identification, namely Defense XXI, Defense XII and Defense XXIII.

2024 was a notably year in the evolution of the competition between the liberal democracies and the authoritarian powers. The liberal democracies are working to adapt their forces to the kind of competition which is posed by a multi-polar authoritarian challenge. It is no longer the bi-polar Cold War or the land wars as part of the “Global War on Terrorism” which is on offer. It is about the very survival of the “rules-based order” which has allowed the liberal democracies to hope for the end of history.

Rather than that, we are facing the end to our illusions. The essays in this book by the Second Line of Defense and Defense.info team address not only the challenges but the practical steps being taken by U.S. and allied militaries to adapt to this new and evolving situation.

The wars in the Middle East in Europe and the engagement of the Chinese Communist Party led Chinese state in expanded gray zone operations have defined a growing lethal environment. The illusions of a peaceful global path via globalization have been exposed. So what comes next?

The book features articles examining the war in Ukraine, its impact on European and global security, the rise of multipolar authoritarianism, and the evolving roles of various actors, including the U.S. Russia, China, and NATO.

The book also explores technological advancements in weaponry, such as the F-35 and various drone systems, and their implications for modern warfare.

Finally, it addresses the changing dynamics of defense industrial strategies, and the challenges faced by the U.S. military in recruitment and retention.

The period witnessed a shift towards a multipolar world order, with authoritarian states like Russia and China increasingly challenging the existing Western-led system. This trend has significant implications for defense:

• Shifting Alliances: Russia's invasion of Ukraine has strengthened NATO and driven closer collaboration amongst European nations. This is evident in increased defense spending, joint exercises, and collaborative procurement programs (e.g., 155mm artillery shells). However, Russia has cultivated relationships in the "Global South," undermining Western attempts to isolate Moscow.
• Nuclear Proliferation Concerns: Experts express concerns about the opaque nuclear calculus of emerging nuclear powers, potentially disrupting the established nuclear deterrence framework.
• Focus on Emerging Technologies: Both authoritarian and democratic states are investing heavily in technologies like unmanned systems (USVs, UAVs, UUVs), hypersonic missiles, and advanced air and missile defense systems to gain a competitive edge.