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Introduction
Deterring an adversary from taking a particular course of action is not just a matter of stationing forces on the front line or maintaining nuclear weapons. Rather, deterrence is a form of high-stakes political communication. Deterrence is therefore psychological as much as anything else. It requires clearly signaling political will and intent to act decisively if an adversary crosses a red line.
Warfare is no longer restricted to Military operations. It involves all the tools of statecraft, i.e. diplomacy, information, military, and economics. Therefore it entails a whole of government approach to deal with it. An effective deterrence strategy utilizes all aspects of national power, not just the military.
Definition
Integrated deterrence would include the ability to exercise (as well as withstand) diplomatic reprimands, trade policies, and economic sanctions besides military options.
This phrase is the foundation of the recently published National Defence Strategy of the USA, which combines diplomacy, alliances, and new technology with conventional hard power to the deterrence capability.
