Bangladesh, April 11 -- The modern architecture of national cyberdefense is built on a flawed assumption: that deterrence-the same strategic logic that governed nuclear standoffs and conventional conflicts in the 20th century-can be effectively applied to an adversary that does not think, feel, or negotiate. This assumption is not just outdated; it is dangerously inadequate for the realities of AI-driven conflict.

When the White House unveiled its latest cybersecurity strategy, it signaled awareness of escalating digital threats. Shortly afterward, the US State Department announced the creation of the Bureau of Emerging Threats-a move that, on its face, suggests institutional adaptation. Yet beneath these developments lies a deeper issue...