Brief Chat
Ankit Panda
Missile defense expert In the absence of
‘ If you think the missile defense system will shield Guam , think again ’
The Indo-Pacific Command is requesting $ 1.2 billion for the Guam defense system , the centerpiece of the service ’ s $ 10.4 billion budget proposal for fiscal 2025 . The Guam missile defense project is a major component of the Indo-Pacific Command ’ s Pacific Deterrence Initiative , which is touted to provide 360-degree protection for Guam against a potential attack from China .
But such a strategy might be overrated , according to Ankit Panda , a Stanton
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace .
“ It ’ s been interesting to see the emphasis on missile defense . There ’ s a perception that missile defense will perhaps be something like a shield for Guam or that it will be a completely sufficient solution for the challenges that Guam might face in conflict ,” said
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an actual conflict , Panda said , deterrence is clouded with abstractness . “ Every day there isn ’ t a war , people can make the argument that deterrence is working . But that ’ s not necessarily true .”