Ideas

To Deter China, Deepen the US-Indian Partnership

Here are some ideas for the upcoming 2+2 defense and foreign affairs ministerial conference.

Ideas

Trump's Bullying of Ukraine Set Off Alarms Throughout the US Government

The first day of impeachment hearings revealed repeated threats to resign and repeated referrals to lawyers of possible violations of U.S. law by U.S. officials.

Ideas

Trump's Real Offense Was Outsourcing American Diplomacy

Allowing Rudy Giuliani to handle U.S. diplomacy was a constitutional violation—one whose gravity Republicans might see if they weren’t so busy making excuses for the president.

Ideas

Do Americans Still Want The US to Be the World’s Security Leader?

The post-Trump awakening of political activism is inspiring, but seems to end at the border. We’re teaming up with CNAS to find out why.

Ideas

What It’s Like to Deal With US Foreign Policy in the Trump Era

The administration’s shadow foreign policy sees the light of day.

Ideas

Yes-Men Are Taking Over the Trump Administration

Trump is making foreign policy on the fly, seeking his personal advantage and undermining American power.

Policy

Allies Defend Kurt Volker, Diplomat Caught Up in Ukrainegate

Former officials say that the characterization of Volker that has emerged in some press reports is untrue.

Threats

Pentagon, Pompeo Diverge on Saudi-Oil Attacks

Defense officials say they won’t get ahead of Saudi Arabian investigators. The Secretary of State blames Iran.

Policy

Mike Pompeo Is Bigger Than the Pentagon — For Now

“I think that Pompeo is now running foreign policy in the Trump administration in the way that Cheney ran it in the Bush administration,” said one analyst.

Policy

US Might Still Sanction Turkey For Buying S-400 From Russia

Any punishments would supplement Ankara’s ejection from the F-35 program.

Business

70 Percent of Americans Say Arms Sales Make US Less Safe

A recent Chicago Council survey shows the Trump administration out of step with public opinion.

Policy

State Dept. IG: Hiring Freeze Hurt Border Security, Counterterrorism, and Other Priorities

Imposed by Rex Tillerson soon after Trump took office, the 16-month freeze crushed morale and hindered operations, the inspector general found.

Policy

White House Pauses Some Diplomatic Spending

The move could provide a path for OMB to circumvent spending levels spelled out by Congress.

Ideas

Don't Trust the Taliban With Afghanistan’s Cultural Preservation

The group continues to attack sites and antiquities. Here are five ways peace negotiators can ensure that Afghanistan’s past will contribute to its future.

Policy

Warren Vows to Double the Number of Career Diplomats at State

Democratic candidate calls for massive overhaul to the State Department and how it manages its employees.

Threats

Pentagon Official: We Didn’t Link Iran to al-Qaeda In Hill Briefings

“In these briefings, none of the officials mentioned al-Qa'ida or the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force,” DASD Mick Mulroy said.

Ideas

Ep. 44: Under Secretary Andrea Thompson and Kori Schake, live from the Shangri-La Defense Dialogue

Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.

Policy

White House Proposes Loan Fund to Help Allies Buy US Arms

It’s the second try for an idea shelved in 2017 when lawmakers disapproved.

Policy

We’ll Soon Learn Whether You Can Post 3D-Gun Plans Online

A proposed export-rules change has snagged over the question: is publishing such designs a boon to U.S. business or foreign terrorists?