Ideas

The urgency of European strategic autonomy is more pronounced than ever

With Russia pressing from the east and Trump polling well in the west, the EU needs a dramatic increase in its defense capabilities.

Ideas

The new rules of geopolitics in Africa

Washington should foster coalitions that can offer a better value proposition than competing revisionist powers.

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What has China learned from Russia and Iran’s use of proxies?

The answer may help U.S. planners anticipate and spot Beijing's next moves.

Ideas

Sudan’s descent into chaos sets stage for al-Qaida to return to a stronghold

The group's opportunities imperil not only the country but also regional, and potentially global, security.

Ideas

A militarized immigrant roundup won't work the way Trump says

Among the reasons: the Eisenhower administration paired its roundup with a massive guest-worker program that gave Mexican workers legal status.

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Too few planners understand what special operators can do today

No less than in yesterday’s era of counter-terrorism, SOF are indispensable in today’s great power competition.

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Defense One Radio, Ep. 151: The state of the Air Force

Our State of Defense series concludes with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Gen. Mike Minihan from Air Mobility Command.

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Farewell to China’s Strategic Support Force. Let’s meet its replacements

The PLA axes an organization once hailed as evidence of innovation.

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Marine special operators are using fiction to envision the future

Short stories by Marine Raiders are driving discussions about the evolution of MARSOC through 2040, its commander writes.

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Global defense spending jumped in 2023

Security crises drove year-over-year growth to its highest level in a decade.

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Defense One Radio, Ep. 150: The state of the Navy

Our State of Defense series continues with discussion with the CNO and the 4th Fleet.

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Defense concerns sink Korean bid for shipbuilder Austal

The Australian firm rebuffed a $662 million offer from South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean.

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The AI revolution is already here

The U.S. military must grapple with real dilemmas that until recently seemed hypothetical.

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Defense One Radio, Ep. 149: The state of the Army

Our annual State of Defense series continues with a focus on the Army.

Ideas

What we learn from Serbia's intriguing fighter-jet choice

Belgrade's plan to buy its first Western-designed combat aircraft reveals trends in its military, the region, and Russia.

Ideas

What about Ukraine’s Abrams tanks?

Recent losses underscore the importance of doctrine and training—not just weapons—in war.

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Defense One Radio, Ep. 148: The state of the Marine Corps

Our annual State of Defense series continues with a focus on the Marines.

Ideas

How to fix the military’s software SNAFU

Too many of its apps are built on code riddled with vulnerabilities—and distributed by the Pentagon itself.