On March 2, Raphael Cohen, director of the RAND Corporation’s Strategy and Doctrine Program, spoke to the Alexander Hamilton Society chapter at Cornell University.
In addition to his role at the RAND Corporation, Cohen has served in several research roles at the Brookings Institution, the National Defense University, and the American Enterprise Institute. His writings have been featured in Foreign Affairs, the Journal of Strategic Studies, and other publications.
Speaking to the students assembled in Mann Library, Cohen focused his remarks on how the current conflict in Ukraine should influence American strategic planning. He highlighted several of what he called “easy lessons,” such as the novel ubiquity of drones in the conflict and increased use of missiles in the region.
Cohen also noted the importance of commercial space in modern warfare. He spoke on the role Elon Musk’s satellite internet service Starlink has played in providing Ukrainians internet access. He also noted that intelligence surrounding the conflict has become more accessible to the general public, due to satellite imagery.
However, while the ongoing conflict might provide clear insights for U.S. defense planners, Cohen believes some questions remain unanswered. Specifically, he noted that the future of the tank is uncertain. Cohen noted that while countless Russian tanks have been destroyed by Ukrainian forces, the most recent debate over sending U.S.-made Abrams and German Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine indicates that the armored vehicle may still have a vital role in modern warfare.
As for deterrence, Cohen noted that the U.S. tried and failed to deter Russia. As for a potential conflict with China over Taiwan, Cohen explained that capacity and capability lessons have greater relevance.
Overall, for U.S. defense policy, Cohen remarked that one of the main lessons was that conventional war between states remains alive. This, in his view, raises the stakes for U.S. strategists and defense planners.
Cornell University has held multiple events on the Russia-Ukraine war. Global Cornell, for example, hosted a virtual forum for faculty and students.
Additionally, as part of its “Arts Unplugged” series, the College of Arts and Sciences held a panel called “Aftershocks: Geopolitics Since the Ukraine Invasion.” The panel included international studies professor Peter Katzenstein and Ann Simmons, the Wall Street Journal’s Moscow Bureau Chief, among others.
