Threats

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
Threats

The D Brief: Trump rebrands housing subsidies as ‘bonus’; Venezuelan navy starts escorting tankers; SOF needs jamming ranges; Big arms sale to Taiwan; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

Trump rebrands Congressionally-approved troop housing subsidy as ‘warrior dividend’ bonus

More than $2.9 billion in reconciliation funds was allocated to beef up troop housing allowances. Now it’s being used for $1,776 checks.

  • Thomas Novelly
Threats

The D Brief: Trump sets blockage on Venezuela; Europe warns of war; SecDef won’t release boat-strike video; Nominees to fill long-vacant posts; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

After eight months, administration signals a potential leader for NSA, CyberCom

The White House has asked senators to confirm a promotion for Army Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, deputy director for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

  • David DiMolfetta
Threats

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
Threats

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
Business

Next presidential jet will arrive a bit earlier than projected, Air Force says

Boeing's first VC-25B Air Force One jet is now slated to enter service in mid-2028.

  • Thomas Novelly
Ideas

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
Threats

The D Brief: US seizes tanker; House passes $901B NDAA; US pushes business-centered ‘peace plan’; Chipping away at US AI edge; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

NATO retains ‘open-door policy’ despite US opposition to a ‘perpetually expanding alliance’

A top alliance official noted that NATO members are not agreed on how far it might expand.

  • Meghann Myers
Threats

The D Brief: F/A-18s’ Venezuelan flyby; Unpublished version of NSS; Little public support for boat attacks; Funding falters for Navy’s next jet; And a bit more.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

‘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
Threats

The D Brief: NDAA deets; Boat-strike tug-of-war; DOD’s AI plans; GD’s collaborative lab; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

Provision to protect DOD civilians’ union rights stripped from NDAA

The House dropped bipartisan language that would have nullified Trump's anti-union orders after the Senate balked at a fight.

  • Erich Wagner
Policy

Intelligence community should monitor supply chains, says new natsec strategy

It's another example of the Trump administration's treatment of economic interests as national-security issues.

  • David DiMolfetta
Threats

Today’s D Brief: New Natsec Strategy; Boat-strike video shows survivors; Russia’s worrisome template; Ukraine’s tech support to the US; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Hegseth cites ‘fog of war’; USAF axes China-focused reforms; CENTCOM’s new attack-drone unit; Firms qualify for Golden Dome work; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

NSA has 2,000 fewer people now, meeting Trump-admin goal

The exact size of the agency’s workforce is not publicly known, but a fact sheet distributed by Maryland last year put it at 39,000.

  • David DiMolfetta
Threats

The D Brief: WH, DOD change their stories; Trump pardons drug trafficker; Today’s US-Russia talks; ‘Awful arithmetic’; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Next