Overview
The 2024 National Defence Strategy states that ‘to deter actions against Australia’s interests’ we must be able to demonstrate ‘our capability and resolve to respond to and withstand attacks on Australian territory.’
Deterrence seeks to convince an actor to defer or abandon a planned strategy or activity by having in place steps and responses that change the actor's risk assessment and therefore decision-making calculus. The key features of deterrence are that it:
a. is directed against another actor(s);
b. seeks to prevent that actor(s) from deciding to undertake a specific action(s);
c. assumes the actor(s) will receive and correctly interpret deterrence messaging.
A deterrence strategy is successful when it prevents an actor from deciding to employ military force to coerce Australia. We seek to achieve this through effectively communicating our capabilities and intent: to impede an aggressor’s ability to use force against our national interests without them incurring significant losses and international reputational damage.
Effective deterrence relies on demonstrating our ability to degrade, disrupt, destroy, and defeat in crisis and conflict.
Key Terms
Deterrence
We deter by generating doubt and risk in their minds, by presenting multiple dilemmas across all dimensions of national power, to make Australia a costly proposition worthy of respect.