Astronean Republican Defence Doctrine
The Astronean Republican Defence Doctrine is the comprehensive doctrine of protecting Astronea's security, sovereignty and its interests. It is concerned with defending its borders and territorial claims, as well as its resources and citizens, both at home and abroad. It has an emphasis on force projection, both through soft (economic, diplomatic) and hard (military) means. This allows Astronea to maintain its influence and global standing. Its purpose is outlined in the foreword by the Chief of Defence Staff, Artem Valk. Its first public edition was published in 2010, in the face of changing challenges to security and new forms of warfare, notably cyber warfare, proxy wars and asymmetric warfare.
Foreword
"The purpose of the Astronean Republic Defence Doctrine (ARDD) is to explain the military instrument of power and its utility both in and beyond warfare. Professions are defined in part by their bodies of professional knowledge and ARDD is part of ours. While ARDD is authoritative, it requires judgement in its application.
Doctrine draws on the lessons of history, upon original thinking and from experiences gained from training and operations. It sets out the fundamental principles by which military force is employed.
The level of military doctrine covered in this publication is, for the most part, intended to be enduring. This edition of ARSD refreshes Astronean Defence Doctrine (4th Edition) and, without losing the importance of hard power and excellence in war-fighting, better explains the full spectrum utility of Defence. It also incorporates developments such as the whole force concept and the importance of cyber to Astronea’s security considerations.
ARDD should be read by all officers of the Armed Forces, both in regular and reserve service. I also recommend it all MID Civil Service personnel. Initial training should introduce this doctrine and all stages of subsequent training and education should re-visit it to extend our understanding and competence. ARDD is of particular relevance to officers of mid-seniority and above, in command and staff appointments.
Whoever reads this doctrine should, however, remember that it can never replace individual initiative. Doctrine is a guide to commanders and subordinates on how to think, not what to think."
— Artem Valk
Security
National security
The national security of the Astronean Republic encompasses the safety of the state, as well as its people. This involves protecting The Republic against external and internal threats. It also requires the Main Intelligence Directorate to endeavour to preserve the safety of national citizens living abroad. External threats may lead to an invasion, an attack or a blockade. Internal threats may include terrorism, subversion, civil unrest, criminality, insurgency, sabotage and espionage. Other threats may include financial crisis, climatic events, cyber or other threats to critical national infrastructure and the possibility of pandemic disease. We cannot maintain security in isolation. Astronea’s national security is both integrated within, and dependent upon her neighbours, allies and territories abroad.
Human security
Maintaining authority and stability within democratic states requires meeting the legitimate political, economic, societal, religious and environmental needs of individuals and groups. These needs are usually expressed collectively as human security. Internal threats may be externally sponsored, but are only likely to jeapordise the security of The Republic if they achieve the wider support of the internal populace and challenge established authority.
Human security is characterized by:
- The availability of essential commodities such
- as water, medical aid, shelter and food
- Broader environmental security
- Protecting cultural values
- Responsible and transparent governance
- Freedom from persecution, want and fear
Human security is threatened by:
- Racial, ethnic or religious tensions
- Corrupt and inept governance
- Competition for, and/or access to, resources
- Poverty, inequality, criminality and injustice
- Political/ideological tensions
Astronean Security
Astronea’s security is rooted in perceptions of both national sovereignty and national interests, and how these are both protected and promoted. Our government’s prime duty is to maintain the freedom and integrity of the Republic, its Overseas Territories and its people. The government also seeks to secure a range of broader interests – political, economic and social – that contribute to the nation’s strength and prosperity. Our commitment, with our allies and partners, to strengthening international peace and security enhances our national security.
Our security is shaped by a complex combination of geostrategic factors, including environmental, resource, social, political, scientific, technological and military aspects. Our global perspective is also shaped by our responsibility for over five million Astronean citizens who live and work overseas, and our diverse population.
Strategy
Military strategy
Specifically, the aim of military strategy is to ensure coherent and effective strategic planning when using our Armed Forces. Military strategy is inherently joint. It also sits above single-Service interests, tying together military capabilities to deliver an effect that meets the short-term requirement, but is firmly rooted in a clear understanding of the long-term policy ends. Military strategy has a role to play in developing policy through delivering military advice including, ultimately, the advice delivered by the MID to the Prime Minister. It should respond to the requirements asked of it by politicians and policy-makers, but should also proactively offer up options in support of the Government’s ambitions. Importantly, military strategy must, at all times, be rooted in Defence strategy and policy. Operational policy staffs are embedded within the military strategy function to ensure that planning and operational delivery take place within the boundaries defined by policy.
The Diplomatic instrument
Diplomacy is about managing international relations to further national interests. The diplomatic instrument of national power assists Astronea to achieve its policy objectives through diplomatic means. Successful diplomacy depends upon the power of persuasive negotiation, reinforced by capable and credible hard power (both military and economic). Diplomacy is enhanced by a combination of reputation and integrity, the skilful interplay of the other instruments of power and effective communication. While diplomacy has traditionally been regarded a state-to-state activity, it is evolving to incorporate other opinion-formers, power-brokers and third parties. The diplomatic instrument is in constant use (including during conflict) when the need to influence allies and neutrals, as well as opponents, is as vital as using military force.
Defence diplomacy aims to:
-Dispel hostility
-Build and maintain trust Providing military advice and assistance
-Assist in developing responsible, competent and democratically accountable forces
-Facilitate other Astronean military activity, for example, by setting the conditions for overseas-basing, access or over-flight and cooperation with allies and partners
-Defence diplomacy is supported by:
-Education and training in Astronea
-Conducting overseas training
-Other influence and engagement activities
The Economic instrument
Overseas investment, international flows of capital and trade, and development assistance provide scope for exercising economic influence. Astronea can use a range of economic incentives, boycotts, tariffs and sanctions to influence decisions and shape behaviour. The effect of economic measures will be shaped by the economic and political character of those we aim to influence.
In some circumstances, military force will support the economic instrument (for example, through embargo operations). Placing military equipment contracts or reforming indigenous military structures in a foreign country may foster other positive economic outcomes.
The Military instrument
Military activities supporting national strategy and objectives can range from deterrence and coercion through to applying force to counter a specific threat. The main strategic objectives of any operation involving Defence will be political in nature– this precludes an exclusively military solution to conflict.
The military instrument:
•Is most effective when employed with the other instruments to achieve national objectives; and
•Is ‘not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of policy by different means’.
In difficult negotiations with obstructive adversaries, diplomacy might only be successful if backed up by the credible threat of force. The military instrument’s unique contribution is to threaten, or apply, legitimate force to ensure our nation’s security, maintain freedom from foreign oppression and defend national interests. Therefore, the military instrument is as much about influencing minds as physical effects.
Military utility relies upon the ability and willingness to deploy forces rapidly and effectively, and then sustain them. Many states are unable to overcome the logistic and command and control difficulties inherent in the deployment and operational direction of a modern, technologically-advanced military force. States with armed forces that lack the means of effectively projecting their power on a global scale may only exert regional influence. Our ability to deploy worldwide is a vital element of Astronea’s power in international relations.
Applying force, or the credible threat of using it against those seeking to erode security, can help to maintain the integrity and security of the international system and reassures threatened populations and communities. The extent to which Astronea can exert such influence depends on maintaining sufficient and capable forces. Astronea maintains a military capability comprising both nuclear and conventional forces, at readiness levels consistent with the assessed threat and perceived intentions of potential opponents.
Information
Information underpins all three national instruments of power and enables understanding and decision-making. Information should be regarded as a critical resource and its flow will be contested. Advantage can be gained by managing, in relative terms, the information flow better than your opponent. This is known as information superiority.
While information is fundamental to the Government’s approach to crisis management, our national position is that information is not a discrete instrument of power.
Disseminating information, through a cross-government information strategy, enables Astronea to exert diplomatic, economic and military influence in an effective and integrated way. At the same time, intelligence and information received across government shapes operations planning and execution at all levels. In times of crisis, the information strategy must include a strategic narrative,16 which outlines why Astronea is engaged and what its objectives are. This narrative is crucial to efficiently managing information, as well as influencing a range of audiences and activities in a consistent, coherent manner.
Cyberspace is an operating environment within the information environment. In Defence, cyberspace is the interdependent network of information technology infrastructures, (including the Internet, telecommunications networks, computer systems, as well as embedded processors and controllers) and the data therein within the information environment. As the world is increasingly interconnected with an associated growth in the use of cyberspace, our ability to operate in cyberspace is vital to our national interest and enables our national security, prosperity and way of life. Defence is increasingly dependent upon cyberspace and can expect adversaries to exploit this dependence. The Astronean government assesses the cyber threats to its interests and mitigates these through resilience measures, awareness and trusted partnerships. Activities in cyberspace are an essential element of our routine business and are fundamental to planning and conducting operations.