General Chris Badia, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, attended the 2024 Stockholm Security Conference this week. The high-level event brought together policymakers, military planners, and analysts to discuss critical security issues facing Europe.
Deterrence at the Forefront:
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, deterrence has once again become a central focus of Europe’s security debate. NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept identifies deterrence and defence as the Alliance’s top priority. Countries across the continent are investing in their military capabilities, and two long-time partners of NATO with significant military capabilities, Finland and Sweden, have joined the Alliance.
However, the specific strategies for effectively deterring Russia remain a subject of ongoing debate. Policymakers, military planners, and analysts are grappling with the challenges of conceptualizing, operationalizing, and implementing deterrence as a central pillar of European defense.
Navigating a Changing Landscape:
The geopolitical, military, and technological contexts have evolved significantly since the end of the Cold War. Effective deterrence must account for these changes and address the evolving nature of threats, including hybrid warfare and other non-traditional challenges.
“The challenge in today’s complex and volatile security environment is the simultaneity of conflicts above and below the threshold of armed conflict, global rather than regional, in all dimensions, especially in the new dimensions of cyber and space.”
– General Chris Badia, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
Key Themes at the Stockholm Security Conference:
The 2024 Stockholm Security Conference aimed to address these critical issues and provide insights for decision-makers. Key themes of the conference included:
- The Evolving Nature of Deterrence: How can deterrence strategies be adapted to address the changing security landscape?
- Military Modernization: What investments are necessary to ensure NATO’s military capabilities remain credible and effective?
- Awareness of Risks: How can we better anticipate and assess the evolving threats to European security?
- Non-Military Dimensions of Deterrence: What role do societal factors and other non-military elements play in deterring aggression?
General Badia’s Participation:
General Badia’s attendance at the Stockholm Security Conference underscores NATO’s commitment to assessing the evolving security challenges facing Europe. He was on a roundtable discussion and delivered a speech addressing future challenges from Allied Command Transformation’s perspective.
“New, holistic deterrence approaches have to come into decision-makers’ minds in order to deter effectively.”
– General Chris Badia, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
Conclusion:
Having a representative from NATO Allied Command Transformation attend the 2024 Stockholm Security Conference highlighted the importance the Alliance places on innovative deterrence strategies and the need for a holistic approach to security. By fostering collaboration, exchanging ideas, and developing new strategies, NATO can continue to ensure the security and stability of its member states in the face of emerging threats.