
Biden Defends Choice of Austin for Defense Secretary
Some lawmakers and many national security experts are wary of another general atop the Pentagon, but Lloyd Austin has the president-elect’s ear—and backing.

Cameroon’s Government Is Deceiving the West While Diverting Foreign Aid
Paul Biya’s regime is ignoring the battle against Boko Haram and the Islamic State and using foreign counterterrorism assistance to fund its brutal repression of citizens with legitimate grievances.

The UAE Is Turning Into the World Capital for Weapons Makers
Years of quiet development are finally paying off, and Abu Dhabi’s defense industry can largely stand on its own feet.

How to Trim the Defense Budget Without Harming U.S. Security
The first step is deciding what the United States wants its military to do.

Want to Learn How the Pentagon Works? Then Play This Board Game.
A new game meant to help the U.S. government write the 2018 National Defense Strategy shows what happens when resources and commitments collide.

The U.S. Is a Haven for Money Laundering. That Might Be About to Change.
Tucked into the sprawling defense authorization bill are measures to create a corporate ownership registry, which would plug one of America’s glaring gaps.

China’s Superpower Dreams Are Running Out of Money
When the coronavirus crisis is over, China will be forced to embrace a less ambitious future.

Congress Seeks to Confront China With $6 Billion in New Defense Spending
If Beijing is the problem, let’s “put our money where our mouth is,” says a senior Republican.

Everyone Knows America Lost Afghanistan Long Ago
Inflated threats, concealed costs, and lack of accountability for failure—and the complicity of the foreign-policy establishment—have kept the infinity war going for 18 years.

Kobani Today, Krakow Tomorrow
Washington has abandoned the Kurds. If Europe doesn’t bolster its defenses, the Poles, Lithuanians, and Latvians could be next.

Germany Isn’t Special
To pull its weight, it needs to start seeing itself as a normal country, subject to the same pressures as all its neighbors.

Uncle Sam Doesn’t Have Your Back
Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo have made it clear that the United States is no longer committed to protecting Europe. The need for a viable pan-European defense force has never been greater.

Democrats Face a Defense Spending Conundrum
The U.S. foreign-policy establishment shouldn’t balk at pledges to roll back national security commitments.

The Outdated Alliance?
On NATO’s 70th anniversary, it is time for burden shedding—not burden sharing.

Could NATO Be the Downfall of Angela Merkel’s Government?
A fight over defense spending could soon split Germany’s ruling coalition.

Scandinavia Won’t Be Russia’s Next Target
Mikheil Saakashvili’s country was a victim of Putin’s aggression. Finland and Sweden won’t be.

The Japanese Air Force Needs an Upgrade
Faced with China’s increasing aggression, Japan must invest in fifth-generation fighter jets to deter Beijing’s expansion.

Pentagon Eyes Windfall as Trump Seeks $750 Billion Defense Budget
The White House’s annual budget request would give the Defense Department even more than it hoped for.

Whoever Predicts the Future Will Win the AI Arms Race
China, Russia, and the United States are approaching the long-term strategic potential of artificial intelligence very differently. The country that gets it right will reap huge military benefits.

Dear Pentagon: It’s Not How Big Your Budget Is. It’s How You Use It.
Arguments about defense spending should be focused on foreign policy and what the military actually wants to do.