Ends, ways and means in small states’ military deployments

Small states’ use of military power is predominantly perceived as strategies to improve security, prestige and influence through great power relations. Thus, traditional concepts of strategy focus on overall security interests rather than theater-specific ends, ways and means in small states’ military deployments. Small states, however, actively deploy a variety of military means for diverse strategic ends in different ways, thereby implementing their own unique strategies from political aim to deployment. Small states do this by formulating national theater-specific objectives to be achieved within a set of well-defined operational frameworks by deploying configured military capabilities. As small states lack power they cannot adjust and align all elements of strategy. Consequently, small states focus on either the objectives, the frameworks or the capabilities thereby creating one decisive link. Analyzing the Danish deployments to Libya, Helmand and the Horn of Africa, the article exemplifies how such decisive links became critical for strategic success. Three analytical models for understanding small states’ military deployments are suggested as they to some extent can mitigate strategic risks.