The Second Trump Administration and Strategic Shifts in Deterrence: A Study in Managing Competition with China and Russia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61353/ma.0250117Keywords:
American Strategy, Deterrence, Administration, CompetitionAbstract
This research examines the strategic shifts in U.S. deterrence under Donald Trump's second term, focusing on managing strategic competition with China and Russia within an international environment characterized by renewed great power rivalry and increasingly complex security threats. The research posits that the second Trump administration would adopt a more assertive and pragmatic deterrence approach based on the principle of "peace through strength," expanding the concept of deterrence to encompass conventional and nuclear military dimensions, as well as cyber, economic, and technological deterrence, reflecting the evolving nature of international conflict. The research indicates that the anticipated U.S. strategy would rely on enhancing qualitative military edge, modernizing the nuclear arsenal, and developing advanced capabilities in space, hypersonic missiles, and military artificial intelligence, aiming to raise the cost of hostile behavior for adversaries without engaging in direct military confrontations. It also clarifies that competition with China represents the most significant strategic challenge for the United States, as Washington seeks to contain Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region, strengthen military alliances, support Taiwan, and employ economic and technological pressure to curb China's rise.
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