Undersea Cables Are Vulnerable to Sabotage—but This Takes Skill and Specialist Equipment
Countries have come to rely on a network of cables and pipes under the sea for their energy and communications. A coordinated attack on this network could have devastating consequences. But that is difficult business in a very challenging environment.
Golden Dome Could Learn from SDI Politics
Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative should learn from the strategic miscalculations of Reagan’s SDI program.
Will Trump’s Iran Strategy Work?
In his first major policy speech as secretary of state — delivered Monday at the Heritage Foundation — Mike Pompeo set out the Trump administration’s Iran strategy.
The Real AI Race
America Needs More Than Innovation to Compete With China
American Gun Violence Goes Global
The U.S. is exporting its gun violence epidemic globally, inspiring deadly attacks abroad and damaging its international reputation. This crisis undermines U.S. soft power and fuels geopolitical adversaries while allies grow wary.
To Meet Trump’s Goals, the Arsenal of Democracy Must Deliver on Time
The U.S. defense industrial system’s chronic delays and cost overruns undermine trust with allies, embolden adversaries like China, and weaken burden-sharing efforts. While recent reforms target bureaucratic inefficiencies, the defense industry must also improve accountability in meeting delivery timelines and quality standards. Solutions include stricter contract penalties, fostering competition, and expanding options for allies beyond traditional Pentagon programs.
How Washington Is Ceding Its Geoeconomic Edge to China
Trump’s proposed changes to U.S. development finance—prioritizing domestic interests, unilateralism, and extractive projects over sustainability—could weaken America’s global influence. Unlike Biden’s multilateral partnerships, Trump’s transactional approach risks alienating allies and ceding clean energy leadership to China. The U.S. may lose ground in the Global South by abandoning inclusive, high-quality investments that counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Only American Leadership Will Prevent the Disaster of Chinese 6G Dominance
Advances in 6G seem set to produce yet another technological transformation—one the U.S. must meet with proactive leadership, not a defensive stance.
Are America’s Indo-Pacific Friends Flirting with China?
This could be the most volatile geopolitical moment in the Indo-Pacific since World War II. Extreme uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s policies is prompting U.S. allies and partners alike to explore the possibility of relying less on the United States and pivoting more toward China.
The Abraham Accords After Gaza: A Change of Context
The Arab-Israeli agreements have largely survived the war, but their future will depend on broader dynamics in the Middle East and beyond.
What the White House and Congress Can Do to Prevent Global Mass Atrocities
In Nyamagabe in southern Rwanda, flowers brought by residents attending the 28th local commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi are seen on the ground at the Murambi genocide memorial. (Photo by SIMON WOHLFAHRT/AFP via Getty Images)
Gulf Leaders Should Be Concerned About Dueling Narratives During Trump’s Visit
The U.S. president’s pomp-filled trip comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.