What if National Defense were also environmental?

Collab: Martina Goldsztein. Lawyer specialized in Environmental and Administrative Law. PhD candidate in National Defense (National Defense University – UNDEF). Honorary lecturer at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). Founder of Ambiental & +.

For a long time National Defense was understood almost exclusively through a military lens: protecting the State against external threats and armed conflict. However the current context requires a broader approach. Today phenomena such as climate change extreme droughts floods, wildfires and resource scarcity also have a direct impact on the security stability and response capacity of States. In this scenario there is a growing need to rethink certain aspects of Argentina’s defense policy in relation to environmental issues.

At this point an important consideration emerges: just as the environment is a multidimensional phenomenon that cuts across social economic, political and territorial spheres National Defense also requires an integrated approach in order to properly understand contemporary challenges. Ultimately both concepts prove to be far more interconnected than traditionally assumed.

It is important to clarify that this does not imply replacing the traditional role of the Armed Forces but rather incorporating new strategic variables that already have a direct impact on our vital interests (such as sovereignty critical infrastructure, and the protection of the population)

Authors such as Barry Buzan argue that security cannot be limited exclusively to the military domain while Lester Brown warned that environmental degradation could become a threat comparable to traditional armed conflicts. Today many international organizations refer to climate change as a “threat multiplier” as it exacerbates pre existing social economic and territorial crises.

In the case of Argentina this issue is far from being abstract or detached from national realities. The melting of Antarctic ice floods droughts and other extreme climate events directly affect the State’s logistics infrastructure and operational capabilities. Strategic regions such as the South Atlantic and the Antarctic territory increasingly require careful planning in response to complex environmental scenarios.

For this reason the concept of the “environmentalization of defense” entails the incorporation of the environmental dimension into strategic planning training logistics and national operations. It also implies understanding that the territory is not merely a geographic space to be protected but rather a set of resources ecosystems and communities whose stability is essential to national sovereignty.

At the same time this approach allows for a broader understanding of defense incorporating environmental factors that affect strategic capabilities and critical infrastructure. From a doctrinal perspective defense and security are not synonymous: security is generally associated with the domestic sphere while defense relates to external threats and the protection of sovereignty. From this standpoint phenomena such as climate change or environmental disasters can also have a direct impact on the State’s response capacity and strategic planning.

In recent years various countries have begun to incorporate environmental risks and climate response strategies into their defense policies recognizing that phenomena such as climate change can also affect strategic capabilities critical infrastructure, and territorial resources. This raises an important question: does the main challenge still lie in deepening this integration from a national perspective, aligned with each country’s strategic interests, sovereignty, and geographical particularities?

Incorporating the environmental dimension into National Defense also requires reconsidering what it means today to protect a territory and uphold sovereignty. In a context shaped by climate change, pressure over strategic resources and shifting geopolitical dynamics these issues are no longer purely technical or military debates. They also represent a way of anticipating future conflicts and building stronger state capacities to face increasingly uncertain scenarios.

Ultimately discussing National Defense today also means addressing how a State prepares to protect its resources its territory and its population in the face of challenges that are already part of our daily reality. It is in essence about strengthening preparedness for an increasingly complex world #ForABetterWorld.