The High North and Strategic Deterrence in the 21st Century

The High North has been central to US and allied strategic deterrence since the early Cold War. From intelligence collection on Soviet strategic systems to holding at risk Soviet strategic targets, the US and its allies devoted enormous effort to deterrence in the High North. Since 2022, the renewed importance of strategic deterrence in the High North has led to new investment and agreements even as Russian activity grows both more pronounced and diversified. Dr Long will trace continuity and change in US and allied efforts supporting strategic deterrence in the High North in the 21st century.

Austin Long is a senior fellow at MIT's Center for Nuclear Security Policy and a defense fellow at Fuse Energy. He was previously a career member of the Senior Executive Service, serving as the deputy director for strategic stability, Joint Staff J5 (Strategy, Plans, and Policy). In that role he served as the principal advisor to the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on strategy and plans for nuclear, space, missile defense, cyber, subsea and seabed warfare, arms control, and other strategic issue areas. Prior to joining the Joint Staff, Dr Long was a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation and an associate professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. He was an analyst and adviser to the US military in Iraq (2007-2008) and Afghanistan (2011 and 2013). Dr Long received his B.S. from the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology and his PhD in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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