Page 25: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (November 2022)

targeting capability against invasion. This means that a small NATO doctrine, without all the treaty and cost issues) it would country can contract with a larger country, or a group of coun- effectively remove any argument that another country can tries, to overwhelmingly provide this service against an inva- make against the US (or NATO) as a potential aggressor. In- sion of their territory. terestingly this approach would have allowed the invasion of

Since this force cannot be projected outside a contracting Afghanistan, but not the invasion of Iraq, which, in hindsight, country’s territory, it is a purely defensive deterrent and, as would have served us well. such, a stabilizing force and deterrence against invasion. In- While I claim no specialized knowledge in the legal details, terestingly this approach is more effective as far as defensive from a game theory point of view this approach has many at- certi? cation is concerned than conventionally supplying arms tractive features and warrants further study.

to a threatened country before the invasions starts, since, once The real signi? cance in this approach lies with the fact that it the arms are conventionally delivered to a country they can can only deal with invasions of sovereign territory. This Amazon also be used for offensive purposes outside their country, approach to warfare strongly enhances deterrence against border which can then be interpreted as aggression by opponents. violations and invasions, but does not extend to, or involve itself

Furthermore, this approach serves any country equally, Rus- in civil wars or existing border disputes. However, it is an inex- sia can as easily use it against invasion of their territory (or ter- pensive and direct force against international aggression.

ritory of their friends) as the United States or China can. (Al- It would not inherently prevent Russia from remotely bomb- though it does require friendly nations and that by itself is an ing Ukraine into submission, but it would prevent, or at least interesting reason to keep a nice collection of capable friends.) make it very unattractive for Russia to occupy the territory.

If the United States adopts this approach as part of their It would also signi? cantly change Naval Design doctrines. defense doctrine (which actually is a minor extension of the Let the discussion begin.

[email protected] www.cimolaitechnology.com

Ship Lifting Platforms “Cimolift” Mobile Boat Hoists Portal Cranes Transfer Systems www.marinelink.com 25

MR #11 (18-33).indd 25 11/3/2022 10:04:03 AM