Factors that shape national interests - National Security Flashcards
The proliferation of Nuclear weapons shapes the US’ national security because (Iran/ DPRK)…
The possession of nuclear weapons by traditional US adversaries could lead to catastrophic consequences for the United States and its allies.
By 2015, Iran…
Installed over 20,000 centrifuges meaning US believed Iran had the “technical capability” to develop a nuclear bomb
In 2017, North Korea claimed…
To have tested its first hydrogen bomb.
Global terrorism is a factor that shapes national security because (ISIS) because…
It utilises globalisation to spread their ideology of radical islamism indoctrinating individuals such as Omar Mateen driving them to act on ISIS’s aims.
Orlando Nightclub attack
2016, Omar Mateen killed 49, injured 53 after having been inspired by ISIS despite having no contact with the group
China’s attempt to reshape the international rules-based order shapes national security because…
Its actions undermine human rights, international law, including freedom of navigation
2022 US Indo-Pacific Strategy on China
China engages in the “bullying of neighbours in the East and South China Seas, [the US’] allies and partners in the region bear much of the cost of the PRC’s harmful behaviour”
What does China’s militarisation of the Scarborough Shoal in defence of its “9-Dash Line” claim do?
Undermines the rules of UNCLOS (EEZ)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a factor which shapes the US’ national security because…
It has demonstrated a threat to the free and international system, breaching international norms.
What does Russia’s current military dominance of 40,000 square miles in Ukraine do?
It showed potential threat to wider influence of Russia’s actions and ideas (Like China)
US has directed over $75 billion in aid to Ukraine to attempt to…
Limit Russia’s ability to invade and influence, and in turn has strengthened its national security by eliminating any possible ideas of retaliation from China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Why is climate change a factor that shapes national security?
Because the Earth’s changing climate contributes to extreme weather events in the US and around the world, and has the capacity to damage the environmental security of the US
Joe Biden describes climate change as…
a “potentially catastrophic, climate trajectory”
2020 wildfires in California…
Destroyed over 10,000 structures, burned more than 4% of the state’s roughly 100 million acres of land costing the US $12.079bn in damages.
