Integrated Border Management as a Deterrence Tool on NATO's North- Eastern Flank

Considering the increasingly heterogeneous nature of nonlinear warfare and the gradual change in Europe’s security posture, this article calls for the establishment of an integrated deterrence concept specific to the European Union. Recognizing the growing assertiveness in the so called “grey zone,” the article underscores the need for the European Union to articulate a domestic deterrence concept based on discouragement. While recent EU-level political communications acknowledge this necessity, they remain deficient in strategic and operational clarity. By way of illustration, the article examines the applicability of the EU’s 2019 Integrated Border Management 3+ Generation concept to the implementation of integrated deterrence, particularly along the north-eastern external borders, which also serve as the sovereign frontiers of several NATO Allies. The article analyzes existing synergies and highlights potential avenues for convergence between military deterrence and EU-type “soft power” deterrence. In conclusion, the article advocates the development of a distinct EU deterrence posture that transcends the logic of self-deterrence. The proposed approach prioritizes solidarity, mindset, and societal resilience as core components of securing the EU and NATO’s shared north-eastern flank, a critical frontier between divergent value systems.