Global Security

Security Cooperation
commentary
Reconsidering U.S. Decisionmaking Within NATO After the Fall of Kabul
Andrew Radin @andrewmradin
Oct 25, 2021
War on the Rocks
With NATO, the United States often tries to have it all: U.S. leadership of the alliance and increased allied burden-sharing. But the recent experience in Afghanistan shows how the form U.S. leadership takes can frustrate allies. Prioritizing allied preferences would help to preserve alliance unity and maybe even strengthen burden-sharing.
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Russia
commentary
Russia's Neighbors Have More Leverage Than They Think
Kenneth Yalowitz, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Oct 25, 2021
The National Interest
While Ukraine, Belarus, and Georgia may be top priorities for Russia, Moscow has less room for maneuver than its power might suggest. Some of Moscow's difficulties with neighbors could leave openings for the West.
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Taiwan
commentary
Biden Administration Shows Unwavering Support for Taiwan
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Oct 20, 2021
Prospects & Perspectives
Ten months into the Biden administration, it is abundantly clear that the United States will continue to strengthen ties with Taiwan and defend the island if ever attacked by China. Through both word and deed, the United States has continued to demonstrate that Taipei should have no worries about Washington's commitment to the island.
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Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
Reducing the Role of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Could Make North Korea Happy
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Oct 20, 2021
The National Interest
The threats emanating from North Korea pose a useful case study for the potential implications of reducing the role of U.S. nuclear weapons. Additional U.S. nuclear deterrence declaratory strategy, backed up by appropriate nuclear weapon capabilities and planning, may be needed.
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North Korea
commentary
North Korea's 'Business as Usual' Missile Provocations
Soo Kim @mllesookim
Oct 14, 2021
Korea On Point
North Korea has revved up its cycle of missile provocations, its go-to method of securing leverage against the United States and South Korea in the on-again off-again nuclear negotiations. How will the United States and South Korea choose to respond?
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United States Army
blog
Gen. Charles Flynn Says Army Has Crucial Role in the Pacific Theater
Oct 13, 2021
What is the U.S. Army's role in an oceanic theater that spans half the globe, where China increasingly asserts itself for strategic advantage? Gen. Charles A. Flynn, head of the U.S. Army Pacific, discussed this and other topics related to the Army's role in the Pacific theater at a recent event at RAND.
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Military Strategy
commentary
The Big Unanswered Question of the Afghanistan War
Raphael S. Cohen
Oct 4, 2021
Lawfare
The United States' war in Afghanistan may be over, but the debate over the legacy of America's longest war has just begun. The U.S. defeat raises many questions. For the future of American defense strategy, one big question perhaps stands out above all: Does the United States still have the grit necessary to fight and win long wars?
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Middle East
blog
Panel Discusses Biden Strategy of Diplomacy as Tool of First Resort in the Middle East
Oct 1, 2021
A distinguished panel of Middle East and national security experts expressed concerns about potential side effects of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan on U.S. Middle East policy and encouraged the Biden administration to proactively engage allies in the future.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
As U.S. Shifts Arctic Strategy to Counter Russia, Allies Offer Valuable Info
Fabian Villalobos @doktor_wolfhaus
Sep 24, 2021
United Press International
U.S. strategy is shifting toward a renewed focus on the Arctic region, reflecting increasing Russian military activity there. U.S. forces could benefit from the knowledge and capabilities of partners and allies with extensive Arctic experience.
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Japan
commentary
What Instability at the Top Means for Japan's Alliance with the United States
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Sep 22, 2021
Nikkei Asia
Having shorter-serving prime ministers tends to minimize Japan's ability to operate as a strategic player. If Suga's resignation is the start of a revolving door, then the implications for Japan's policies and the U.S.-Japan alliance could be significant.
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Afghanistan
commentary
China and Pakistan See Eye to Eye on the Taliban—Almost
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Sep 21, 2021
Foreign Policy
Beijing and Islamabad share a long history of cooperation and have much in common on Afghanistan. Both are poised to benefit strategically from the Taliban's success. But the Taliban's resurrection almost certainly will add some stress to an otherwise positive and productive bilateral partnership.
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Arctic Region
commentary
No Need to Read Between the Lines: How Clear Shifts in Nordic Strategies Create Opportunities for the United States to Enhance Arctic Security
Jalen Zeman
Sep 15, 2021
The RAND Blog
Norway, Sweden, and Finland have dramatically shifted their plans and actions in response to Russian threats in the European Arctic. This change could provide an opportunity for the United States to further strengthen cooperation, enhancing security and better countering Russia in the region.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Japan's Potential Acquisition of Ground-Launched Land-Attack Missiles: Implications for the U.S.-Japanese Alliance
Jeffrey W. Hornung, Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold
Sep 9, 2021
War on the Rocks
If Japan acquired ground-based strike capabilities, it would have significant consequences for the U.S.-Japanese alliance. American and Japanese policymakers may need to have a new and expanded set of conversations about how such capabilities would be used and how the alliance could adjust to incorporate them.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Reinforcing U.S. Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific After the Fall of Afghanistan
Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold
Sep 3, 2021
RealClearDefense
China and North Korea are seizing on the U.S. departure from Afghanistan to press their own political warfare messages. What can the United States do to mitigate the impact of the Taliban takeover on America's interests in the Indo-Pacific?
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Afghanistan
commentary
Lessons from Afghanistan
Scott Savitz
Sep 3, 2021
RealClearDefense
The British invaded Afghanistan multiple times from 1839 to 1919. These wars offer wider context for understanding America's intervention in that same nation—and its ultimate failure.
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Afghanistan
commentary
Afghanistan Was Lost Long Ago
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 30, 2021
Foreign Affairs
The United States failed to build a lasting state in Afghanistan. Although the mission was not doomed from the start, early miscalculations and critical mistakes made success unlikely.
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Quoted

As shown in Afghanistan, the United States faces a tradeoff between incorporating allied views into U.S. decisions and compromising allies' support for U.S. policy. If the United States is serious about strengthening alliances and burden-sharing, this may require finding ways to better incorporate allied concerns into U.S. decisionmaking.

Andrew Radin

Political Scientist

Source: War on the Rocks

The nuclear weapons the United States already has should be adequate to counter the threat posed by new Chinese missiles even under very pessimistic assumptions. And if U.S. officials eventually decide they have to target the Chinese silos, nonnuclear weapons and sensors would provide a more credible deterrent than building additional nuclear weapons would.

Edward Geist

Policy Researcher

Source: The Washington Post

ExpertLens: An Online Modified-Delphi Approach to Stakeholder Engagement and Expert Elicitation

How Could the U.S. Military Counter Extremism in Its Ranks?

Reconsidering U.S. Decisionmaking Within NATO After the Fall of Kabul

Russia's Neighbors Have More Leverage Than They Think

Afghanistan’s Refugee Crisis: Forty Years in the Making

The Policy Currents Podcast

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Global Security

Reconsidering U.S. Decisionmaking Within NATO After the Fall of Kabul

Russia's Neighbors Have More Leverage Than They Think

Biden Administration Shows Unwavering Support for Taiwan

Reducing the Role of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Could Make North Korea Happy

North Korea's 'Business as Usual' Missile Provocations

Gen. Charles Flynn Says Army Has Crucial Role in the Pacific Theater

The Big Unanswered Question of the Afghanistan War

Panel Discusses Biden Strategy of Diplomacy as Tool of First Resort in the Middle East

As U.S. Shifts Arctic Strategy to Counter Russia, Allies Offer Valuable Info

What Instability at the Top Means for Japan's Alliance with the United States

China and Pakistan See Eye to Eye on the Taliban—Almost

No Need to Read Between the Lines: How Clear Shifts in Nordic Strategies Create Opportunities for the United States to Enhance Arctic Security

Japan's Potential Acquisition of Ground-Launched Land-Attack Missiles: Implications for the U.S.-Japanese Alliance

Reinforcing U.S. Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific After the Fall of Afghanistan

Lessons from Afghanistan

Afghanistan Was Lost Long Ago

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