Lloyd Austin, secretary of the Department of Defense and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, said integrated deterrence will be a key factor of the new National Defense Strategy, which seeks to address major threats to national security and the international rules-based order, DOD News reported Friday.
"Integrated deterrence means using all of the capabilities in all warfighting domains: Air, land, sea, space and cyber,” Austin said Friday during a press conference in Warsaw.
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He noted that people have seen some components of the new strategy in play as the U.S. and its allies counter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.
"But most important, [integrated deterrence means] using the capability and capacity that's resident in our partners and allies," Austin said.
"So, what you see today, actually playing out is exactly that. You're seeing us lead with diplomacy. You've seen us work very, very carefully with our allies and partners to share information, and to also move very, very quickly and deliberately to help reassure and reinforce wherever required.”
Austin’s remarks in Warsaw came days after he met his three European counterparts in Brussels to discuss diplomatic engagements and NATO's importance in deterring Russia.
