Richard Sokolsky

This book addresses several key questions such as: Will America's European allies be able to muster the political will and military capabilities to project significant military force to help defend the Persian Gulf?

China's geopolitical ambitions and growing military capabilities and the Southeast Asian states1 perceptions of a "rising China" will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Southeast Asia and the U. S. military posture in the region. The authors examine the role of regional states in developing a hedge against the possible threat of an overly aggressive China. They find that rather than confronting a conventional attack, the United States and the Southeast Asian countries are likely to find a continuation of China's creeping irredentism and threats. Southeast Asia is likely to prove a critical testing ground for a "third way" of dealing with China's rising power called a policy of "congagement" international system while both deterring and preparing for a possible Chinese challenge. The report recommends that the United States adopt an incremental approach to this hedging strategy, focusing on peacetime military engagement with Southeast Asian states, development of a more robust and diversified network of access arrangements, and strengthened military ties with the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

This report attempts to put the Caspian Basin and Central Asia into a comprehensive strategic perspective at a time when NATO is increasingly concerned with challenges on its periphery. The authors examine NATO's interests and capabilities.