Extended Deterrence in the Middle East: A Fuzzy Concept that Might Work? | INSS
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Strategic Assessment

Home Strategic Assessment Extended Deterrence in the Middle East: A Fuzzy Concept that Might Work?

Extended Deterrence in the Middle East: A Fuzzy Concept that Might Work?

Research Forum | January 2012 Follow us on Google
Carlo Masala

“Extended deterrence” threatens a nuclear-strategic response in case of a nuclear attack on the territory or troops of one’s allies. Extended deterrence today differs from the old East-West conflict concept by being much broader in its instruments, which makes it at least theoretically possible to tailor extended deterrence more precisely to regional needs. This essay aims to explore the possibilities of extended deterrence in the Middle East in light of an Iranian nuclear military capability. The author argues that familiar European and Asian deterrence models are not applicable to the region. Examining four other plausible models, the author contends that unilateral US declarations to Israel and Arab states comprise a weak form of extended deterrence against a nuclear Iran, but currently the only option that appears at all realistic.


The opinions expressed in INSS publications are the authors’ alone.
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  • Research

    • Topics
      • Israel and the Global Powers
      • Israel-United States Relations
      • Glazer Israel-China Policy Center
      • Russia
      • Europe
      • Antisemitism and Delegitimization
      • Iran and the Shi'ite Axis
      • The Campaign Against Iran and the Shiite Axis
      • Iran
      • Lebanon and Hezbollah
      • Syria
      • Yemen and the Houthi Movement
      • Iraq and the Iraqi Shiite Militias
      • Conflict to Agreements
      • Israeli-Palestinian Relations
      • Hamas and the Gaza Strip
      • Peace Agreements and Normalization in the Middle East
      • Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States
      • Turkey
      • Egypt
      • Jordan
      • Israel’s National Security Policy
      • Military and Strategic Affairs
      • Societal Resilience and the Israeli Society
      • Jewish-Arab Relations in Israel
      • Climate, Infrastructure and Energy
      • Terrorism and Low Intensity Conflict
      • Cross-Arena Research
      • Data Analytics Center
      • Law and National Security
      • Advanced Technologies and National Security
      • Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference
      • Economics and National Security
    • Projects
      • Preventing the Slide into a One-State Reality
      • India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
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    • Policy Research and Papers
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