ABSTRACT
Despite the frequent use of the term by scholars and practitioners, it is surprising that very few have attempted to provide a definition. Successful statecraft, observed August Ludwig von Rochau in his nineteenth-century treatise Foundations of Realpolitik, depended on an appreciation or accurate analysis “of the historical circumstances in which the statesman operated”. The absence of conventional armed conflict has, at times, left the United States and its allies slow to respond to hostile actions. Whilst below the threshold of war, these actions have clearly negative consequences for national interests and, over time, may lead to operational disadvantages for the armed forces of the United States and its allies that its adversaries can later exploit. Given the importance of tailoring military posture to the local situation in strengthening deterrence, it is important to take a closer look at what this might require for deterring potential Chinese and Russian aggression against their neighbours.
