Articles

May is National Military Appreciation Month in the United States. Unlike many government-designated days and months of appreciation, this has a surprisingly rigorous intellectual rationale that goes far beyond the calendar placement of Memorial Day. Thanks in no small degree to Senator John McCain’s spearheading of the legislation passed by the 106th Congress […]

“The Iran war weakens deterrence in Asia, undercuts confidence of US allies and partners, and makes conflict with China more likely.” That’s become an article of faith among those opposing the US fight with Iran. The US military – the navy in particular – is indeed smaller than it should

The conflict in Iran should be a reminder of, not a cause to divert attention from, U.S. interests in the West Pacific. America’s war in the Middle East demonstrates the necessity of allies to American strategy. This is equally critical in military, economic, and technological contexts. Washington must recognize the

Navy Secretary John Phelan was unceremoniously sacked on April 22. The Navy secretary is responsible for training, supplying, and organizing the service as well as a host of other administrative tasks that are essential, including building more ships more quickly. However, the days when Lincoln’s navy secretary, Gideon Welles, exercised direct control

The cease-fire the U.S. hastily agreed to with Iran became necessary because of President Trump’s unforced errors—making unsupportable threats—and the U.S. military’s lack of preparation to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Negotiations for an indefinite cease-fire will now occur over the next nearly two weeks. It is critical that the

In the wake of the ongoing war in Ukraine’s recent developments, it is time for Washington to think about its future relationship with Ukraine. Recently, Washington promised iron-clad, “NATO-style” security guarantees to Ukraine, albeit with a time-limited offer of 15 years. This guarantee, while sufficient time for a future presidential administration to hammer

With the Iranian regime decapitated by a joint U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several top commanders, and with a resurgent Sunni extremist axis led by Turkey and Qatar gaining ground, the United States faces a pivotal choice in the Middle East. It should proceed by building

The U.S. and Israeli pre-emptive attack on Iran, coming after years of feckless effort to end Tehran’s nuclear program, could transform the Middle East. The Trump administration’s strategy of careful maneuvering between Russia and China, combined with pressure on Europe to increase its share of the defense burden, has a

Syria’s possible descent into another civil war, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the United Arab Emirates’ failed offensive in Yemen, final U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, and the slow transition from war to peace in Gaza may appear to be disconnected events in a fractious region. They form a pattern, however, of

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) needs to develop credible capabilities to deter and fight a war in the space domain. The Alliance faces its most volatile strategic environment since the end of the Cold War. Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine has changed the security environment in ways not seen since World War II,