A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast THE EROSION OF COERCION: HOW CYBER RISKS IMPACT POWER PROJECTION
Jun 24, 2025
In this discussion, Craig Booth, a Lieutenant Colonel with the U.S. Air Force and a cybersecurity expert, explores the intersection of cyber vulnerabilities and modern warfare. He argues that digital weaknesses threaten the credibility of military coercion, compromising U.S. power projection. Booth highlights the strategic implications of adversaries leveraging cyber threats to undermine deterrence. He also emphasizes the necessity for proactive cybersecurity measures and the integration of advanced technologies to fortify national resilience against evolving cyber risks.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Cyber Weakens Coercion Capability
- Cyber embedded vulnerabilities lessen both U.S. military power and the credibility of its threats.
- If adversaries believe U.S. capabilities can be hacked or degraded, U.S. power projection erodes in their eyes.
Cyber Suits Gray Zone Warfare
- Cyberspace provides ambiguity, low-cost entry, persistence, and psychological signaling suited for gray zone activities.
- Adversaries use cyber for strategic signaling and to create psychological effects on populations.
Volt Typhoon: Chinese Critical Infrastructure Hack
- China’s Volt Typhoon hack infiltrated U.S. critical infrastructure like water plants and power grids.
- They maintained presence in normal network noise, ready to deploy malware at will to disrupt the U.S.