The Changing Character of War: Towards a New Global Security Architecture

This analysis by Said Nazir, senior associate, IPS, examines the changing character of modern warfare and its implications for the future of global security architecture. The policy insight explores how the Ukraine war, the Iran-US/Israel conflict, and the Gaza crisis have exposed the limitations of the traditional alliance-based security order and challenged the effectiveness of overseas military deployments. It highlights the growing role of missiles, drones, cyber capabilities, and hybrid warfare in reshaping the strategic landscape, while assessing the vulnerabilities of existing security arrangements. The commentary further reflects on the need for a new security framework based on regional cooperation, technological resilience, and credible collective-security mechanisms in an increasingly interconnected and volatile world.