New CNAS Report: Campaign of Denial: Strengthening Simultaneous Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and Europe” 

Washington, August 22, 2023 —Today, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) released a new report, “Campaign of Denial: Strengthening Simultaneous Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and Europe” by author Becca Wasser, Senior Fellow for the Defense Program and lead of The Gaming Lab at CNAS.

The report develops a framework for how the United States can simultaneously deter Chinese and Russian aggression in the near-term using existing forces and resources. It proposes a new approach to the concept of campaigning which links U.S. military activities to warfighting concepts to strengthen deterrence by denial and respond effectively to the challenges posed by China and Russia.

“Campaigning can become that new approach to strengthen the simultaneous deterrence to maintain a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and Europe in the near-term future…

Campaigning provides a way to break from the long-standing reliance on presence and improve capabilities, posture, and activities in order to create a link between peacetime deterrence and warfighting.”

The report creates campaign plans to defend Taiwan and the Baltics. The two plans detail the various ways the U.S. can improve force posture and activities in the two regions to ensure an effective transition from deterrence to combat if required. Moreover, the report evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of a two-theater deterrence strategy.

The report concludes with a series of recommendations for both the Department of Defense and Congress. Read the full report for these recommendations, the detailed campaign plans, and more.