Episode 4: European Deterrence and the Changing U.S. Strategy

In this episode of StrategicALLY, hosts Bori Benedek and Zsigmond Tar sit down with Paul van Hooft, a defence and deterrence expert at RAND Europe, to explore the evolving dynamics of European security. The discussion covers critical topics such as NATO enlargement, European deterrence, and the shifting focus of American foreign policy from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. Mr. van Hooft provides context on the potential implications of a Trump administration on transatlantic relations, the war in Ukraine, and the strategic cohesion of European militaries. Drawing on his extensive research and publications, he discusses Europe’s reliance on the U.S. in key military sectors, the necessity for European fallback options, and the prospects for enhanced EU-NATO collaboration. Packed with expert insights, this episode offers a comprehensive analysis of the future of European defence in an increasingly multipolar world.

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China Persists in Sanctioning U.S. Defence Giants.

Relations between the United States and China have been strained for a few years now, but tensions have increased in recent months due to several geopolitical events. One of them was the visit to Taipei by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi last July, underpinning the United States’ support for Taiwan’s status. The current US Administration continues to adhere to the one China policy, as most other countries in the world do. In response, over the summer, Beijing increased the number of aggressive military exercises around the islands of the South China Sea, although China’s expert Dean Cheng of Heritage Foundation argued they were “likely pre-planned for months” (Cheng, 2022). Lately, Beijing appears to have at least partially aligned with Western thinking by calling on Russia to end the war in Ukraine as soon as possible, yet friction with Washington has been enhanced by Biden's latest statement regarding Taiwan’s sovereignty. In fact, China was strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed to Biden’s comment (Reuters, 2022), when the President of the US declared that US forces would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion.

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Towards a New Phase of Cooperation Between the American Marines and the French Army

The war in Ukraine has called into question the European and international security system, making the idea of military collaborations concrete, particularly between France and the United States. The two countries believe it is crucial to increase cooperation between the allies and implement European defence.

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Bypassing External Influences – Risk Assessment of US Army’s Supply Chains

The United States (US) Army expresses its concerns over the vulnerabilities of its suppliers and their subcontractors. Although the COVID-19 crisis did not significantly affect the supply chains, the military is still calling to increase assistance for the industry to manage risks and avoid shortages, since most raw materials and processed products necessary for the Army are being imported from China.

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The Future of Warfare is Now: Robots and AI

The idea of using robots in warfare dates back to the 1940s. From WW2-era German Goliaths and Soviet teletanks to Cold War Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), we are steadily moving towards a more robotised battlefield. Projects are many, and development is encouraging, but not without its problems: military and ethical questions quickly come to the surface with high costs.

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