Russian hybrid warfare has become indistinguishable from politics

The war of realities in 2026 will determine the reality of war in 2027.

• Patrick Tucker
• January 22, 2026

The D Brief: Trump’s Greenland fixation undermines alliance; Cui bono?; Lawmakers set flat defense budget; How AI went DOD; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 21, 2026

The D Brief: Experts warn of war; Trump’s ‘state terror’; CNO’s upcoming instructions; China’s ‘full-stack’ defense-innovation cities; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 20, 2026

Trump’s Greenland ambitions could wreck alliances that underpin the modern world order

A former diplomat looks at the president's latest ally-shaking outburst.

• Donald Heflin, The Conversation
• January 19, 2026

The D Brief: Lessons from Iraq; Trump’s Insurrection Act-threat; DIU seeks swarm controllers; Russia’s Starlink drones; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 16, 2026

The D Brief: US bombs ISIS in Syria; Iranian protests swell; Execs rebuff oil plan; Meet the Army’s dronemakers; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 12, 2026

The D Brief: Post-Maduro moves; Europe unites over Greenland; Marines’ ‘hidden crisis’; Jan. 6, remembered; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 6, 2026

Military force can topple a dictator, but it cannot create political authority or legitimacy

Trump is the latest to reach for a military solution of the kind that rarely produces durable peace. 

• Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation
• January 5, 2026

2025 in review: policy

A turbulent first year of the second Trump administration brought precedent-breaking security strategy and hasty cuts to the DOD workforce.

• Defense One Staff
• December 24, 2025

The D Brief: New ‘battleship’ announced; Nigeria, under US surveillance; China’s ICBMs; Boat-strike Qs; And a bit more.

• Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson
• December 23, 2025

Defense One Radio, Ep. 201: Conflicts to watch in 2026

CFR's Paul Stares unpacks the latest annual survey of foreign policy experts bracing for what might lie ahead.

• Ben Watson
• December 18, 2025

The D Brief: Fentanyl now a ‘WMD’; Airstrikes rise in Somalia; Cocom consolidation, mulled; Post-quantum encryption; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• December 16, 2025

The D Brief: 3 Americans killed in Syria; Ukraine peace talks; Germany on Russian sabotage; Scharre on AI in war; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• December 15, 2025

On Europe, the Trump administration is out of step with Congress, Americans

Most recognize Russia as an antagonist that must be opposed—with force, if necessary.

• Cameron McMillan and Bradley Bowman
• December 12, 2025

Defense One Radio, Ep. 200: Paul Scharre explains the global AI arms race

The former Army Ranger explores how AI might reshape drone warfare, America's tech race with China, Russia's war in Ukraine, and much more.

• Ben Watson and Patrick Tucker
• December 12, 2025

The D Brief: F/A-18s’ Venezuelan flyby; Unpublished version of NSS; Little public support for boat attacks; Funding falters for Navy’s next jet; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson, Thomas Novelly and Bradley Peniston
• December 10, 2025

‘Make Europe Great Again’ and more from a longer version of the National Security Strategy

A fuller version reviewed by Defense One outlines the Trump administration’s plans for shedding old relationships and creating new ones.

• Meghann Myers
• December 9, 2025