Europe's Land Conflict, Initiation: Exploring allied Battle strategy and power dynamics
In the latest episode of the Social Science of War podcast, hosts Kyle Atwell delve into the strategic and political dynamics of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with guests Dr. Benedetta Berti and Lieutenant Colonel Jordan Becker. The discussion revolves around how the United States and its NATO allies would fight together in a great power war, the concept and practice of burden sharing, and lessons learned from coalition warfare in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.
Lieutenant Colonel Becker, an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences at West Point and a research fellow at the Brussels School of Governance, brings his expertise in transatlantic burden sharing and the political economy of European security to the table. Dr. Berti, a former head of policy planning in the office of the secretary general at NATO, offers valuable insights based on her extensive experience in foreign policy and security affairs.
One of the key points discussed is the mismatch between NATO’s defensive nature and its current offensive-focused training and doctrine. In a high-intensity conventional war, particularly against a near-peer adversary, this mismatch could pose significant strategic and operational challenges. The need to rethink defense posture and readiness is highlighted, as NATO forces must be prepared to respond collectively to a major conflict.
The episode also sheds light on the importance of equitable burden sharing among NATO allies. The ongoing debates and practical difficulties in how responsibilities are divided are explored, with some allies more engaged in defense spending and capability development than others. The evolving role of Germany and its transformative approach to defense modernization is used as an example of the complexity of alliance cohesion and political will in sustaining NATO’s deterrence posture.
The guests reflect on the strengths and weaknesses in multinational military cooperation, drawing lessons from past coalition conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. The importance of adaptive training and knowledge exchange is emphasized, as NATO must evolve beyond exporting pre-existing doctrines and instead adopt a dynamic learning approach to keep pace with real-world warfare innovations.
As the podcast series is a two-part examination of land warfare in Europe, with a focus on lessons learned from Russia's war in Ukraine, the second part of the series will examine tactical and operational lessons from the conflict.
Image credit for the article is from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. For more information about the Department of Social Sciences at West Point or to connect with its instructors based on their expertise, visit the department's website. You can also share this article on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email, or print it for further reading. The Social Science of War podcast is produced by the Department of Social Sciences at West Point.
[Contact Information] [Share Article]
- The ongoing debates and practical difficulties in equitably dividing responsibilities among NATO allies highlight the complexity of alliance cohesion, as seen in the evolving role of Germany and its approach to defense modernization.
- In a high-intensity conventional war, particularly against a near-peer adversary, the mismatch between NATO’s defensive nature and its current offensive-focused training and doctrine could pose significant strategic and operational challenges, underscoring the need to rethink defense posture and readiness.
