Speaker: Sir Lawrence Freedman 

The High North is reemerging as a key arena of strategic competition, where NATO, Russia, and China are navigating an increasingly volatile security landscape. Russia’s evolving nuclear doctrine and growing use of grey-zone tactics are challenging long-held assumptions about deterrence thresholds and escalation risks. Meanwhile, the erosion of traditional stabilisation measures and rapid technological change are making Cold War-era deterrence frameworks increasingly unfit for purpose.

In the first seminar of the series, Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman will reflect on the evolution of extended deterrence in the High North, drawing lessons from the Cold War and considering their relevance in today’s context. His talk will explore the enduring challenges of escalation control and alliance management in a region undergoing significant geopolitical and technological transformation.

This event is open to the public and free to attend both in-person and online. In-person spaces are limited, so register now to secure your spot!

About the Speaker

Sir Lawrence Freedman is Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King’s College London. From 1982 to 2014, he served as Professor of War Studies, and from 2003 to 2013, he was Vice-Principal of the university. Before joining King’s, Professor Freedman held research positions at the University of Oxford, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

A Fellow of the British Academy, Sir Lawrence was appointed Commander of the British Empire in 1996 and Knight Commander of St Michael and St George in 2003. In 1997, he was appointed the Official Historian of the Falklands Campaign, and in 2009, Professor Freedman served as a member of the official inquiry in Britain and the Iraq War. Professor Freedman’s research focuses on international history, strategic theory, with a focus on nuclear warfare, and he also commented extensively on contemporary security issues. He is the author of numerous important works, including War, Strategy, and International Politics: Essays in Honour of Sir Michael Howard, Strategy: a History 2013), The Future of War: a History 2017), Nuclear Deterrence (2018), and Ukraine and the Art of Strategy (2019).

Participants may attend in person or online. A short memorandum will be circulated one week before the event. The seminar will feature a 45-minute presentation by Professor Freedman, followed by an audience Q&A. Tea and refreshments will be served.

About the Deterrence Challenges in the High North Series

This series led by Professor Mats Berdal and Professor Målfrid Braut-Hegghammer at King’s aims to build capacity among NATO allies and generate new insights into the deterrence challenges facing the High North in the coming decade.

Through a series of high-level seminars, we bring together leading experts from the US, UK and Nordic NATO countries to exchange perspectives, foster collaboration, and develop evidence-based approaches to today’s most pressing strategic questions.