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Global Security

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Global security includes military and diplomatic measures that nations and international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO take to ensure mutual safety and security. RAND provides analyses that help policymakers understand political, military, and economic trends around the world; the sources of potential regional conflict; and emerging threats to the global security environment.

Project

Exploring the Future of Global Security

Apr 24, 2018

The Security 2040 initiative explores technologies and trends that are shaping the global security landscape. By focusing on lesser-known security risks, Security 2040 aims to help decisionmakers anticipate and respond to threats on the horizon.
Multimedia

How to Achieve Accountability in Cyberspace

Jan 14, 2019

Identifying the responsible party behind malicious cyber incidents is necessary for holding bad actors accountable. But there are many challenges that accompany cyber attribution. Creating an independent, global organization that investigates and publicly assigns blame for major hacks could help.

Explore Global Security

Commentary

Iran's Network of Fighters in the Middle East Aren't Always Loyal to Iran

Iran's nonstate partners are emerging as central players in the escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, and may be a driver of further escalation. But how involved is Iran with these proxy groups?

May 21, 2019
Commentary

Can Anyone Save the Iran Nuclear Deal Now?

Europe faces mounting pressure from both Tehran and Washington regarding the Iran nuclear deal. European countries could take steps to signal their commitment to upholding the deal, but doing so may alienate the United States.

May 10, 2019
Report

Gaps Exist Between U.S. Strategy and Military Capacity

There will not be enough resources to close the technological, doctrinal, and budgetary gaps between stated U.S. aims and the military capabilities needed to achieve them. What changes to U.S. strategy and investments could help close these gaps, and which missions should be prioritized?

May 7, 2019
News Release

News Release

U.S. Military Gaps in Funding and Personnel Need Addressing to Deter Global Aggression

A significant gap exists between the stated strategic and defense policies of the United States and the resources and capabilities required to implement those policies successfully.

May 7, 2019
Commentary

With Little Fanfare, Japan Just Changed the Way It Uses Its Military

In early April, Japan deployed its Self-Defense Forces (SDF) abroad to join a multinational force not connected to the United Nations. This is the first time that SDF personnel will participate in overseas peacekeeping operations not under UN control. The difference may not seem important, but it is.

May 3, 2019
Tool

DPRK Sanctions: Countering DPRK Proliferation Activities

This tool provides an understanding of sanctions regimes currently in force against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Apr 29, 2019
Report

Report

Extending Russia: Competing from Advantageous Ground

As the U.S. National Defense Strategy recognizes the United States is currently locked in a great-power competition with Russia. This report analyzes how the United States can compete to its own advantage and capitalize on Russia's weaknesses.

Apr 24, 2019
Research Brief

Ways the United States Could Overextend and Unbalance Russia

Despite its vulnerabilities and anxieties, Russia remains a formidable opponent in a few key domains. What non-violent, cost-imposing measures could the United States pursue to stress Russia's economy, its military, and the regime's political standing at home and abroad?

Apr 24, 2019
News Release

News Release

Nonviolent Ways the United States Could Exploit Russian Vulnerabilities

Russia's use of information warfare and its conventional military arsenal make it a formidable opponent, but the state also has significant weaknesses that could be exploited. A range of nonviolent measures could stress Russia's military, its economy, and the regime's political standing at home and abroad.

Apr 24, 2019
Commentary

Syrian Refugees Won't Be Going Home Any Time Soon

Active fighting in Syria is dwindling. But Syria remains divided in a frozen conflict and empty peace, unstable and unlikely to attract the investment in reconstruction, public institutions, job creation, and local reconciliation efforts needed to motivate Syrians in large numbers to return home.

Apr 19, 2019
Commentary

Yes, the U.S. Could Be Drawn Into Yet Another Big War

The outcome of the Iraq invasion has done little to alter the factors that have led American leaders and the public into unwise military adventures. Today's big idea of America's mission is not so different from what it was in 2003. Any number of events could spark a new moral imperative to act.

Apr 19, 2019
Commentary

Book Review: Ukraine and the Art of Strategy by Lawrence Freedman

The crisis in Ukraine has proved a watershed moment for Russia's relations with the West. In Ukraine and the Art of Strategy, Lawrence Freedman presents a brief history of the conflict and analyzes it in the context of strategic theory.

Apr 16, 2019
Commentary

The U.S. Designated the Revolutionary Guards as a Terrorist Group. What Happens Next?

The U.S. designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization was meant to serve America's interests by isolating Iran. Instead, it may increase the likelihood of a tit-for-tat escalation that will require significant resources to avoid a broader regional conflagration.

Apr 11, 2019
Commentary

'Game of Thrones' Reflections on International Relations

As two RAND researchers join millions of others in eagerly awaiting the final season of Game of Thrones, they reflect on one of the show's central themes: rival views of the nature of power and justice.

Apr 11, 2019
Testimony

What the Demise of the INF Could Mean for Russia-China Relations

The U.S.-Russia impasse and effective collapse in recent months of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) will likely affect Russia-China relations. The impact will depend on future U.S. and Russian decisions about INF missiles and on the broader dynamics in great-power relations.

Apr 10, 2019
Commentary

The Syrian Civil War Is Coming to an End

Coalition forces have driven ISIS from its final patch of territory in Syria. But the bigger challenge will be ending the ongoing civil war and rebuilding Syria to bring home millions of refugees and internally displaced people. This means creating a state that can provide safety, security, and opportunity that forestalls further rebellion and devastation.

Apr 8, 2019
Commentary

Is an Escalation Imminent in Western Libya?

The Libyan Civil War has largely been contained to pockets of violence. Prolonged battles decimated cities such as Benghazi, Derna, and Sirte, but the majority of the country has been spared large-scale destruction. However, that could change soon.

Mar 27, 2019
Testimony

The U.S.-European Partnership Since World War II

The relationship between the United States and Europe has advanced U.S. and global security since the end of World War II. The partnership has benefited the United States several times, including during the post-Cold War period, the years after the September 11 attacks, and the current era of strategic competition with Russia and China.

Mar 26, 2019
Multimedia

The United States and Europe Since World War II: A Mutually Beneficial Partnership

An overview of testimony by Christine Wormuth presented before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment on March 26, 2019.

Mar 26, 2019
Report

Report

Targeted Interoperability: A New Imperative for Multinational Operations

This report looks at what motivations exist for interoperability and defines a reasonable framework from which to work if and when interoperability needs and investments meet strategic language in the United States.

Mar 25, 2019

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RAND Topic:
Global Security

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