War on the Rocks

Behind closed doors, conversations about Europe’s nuclear future have been building for years. Macron just brought them into the open. (Members Only)

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Cogs of War Our dedicated vertical on defense tech & industry, brought to you by an epic partnership between War on the Rocks & Booz Allen Hamilton. National security is inextricably linked to technological prowess, talent, and industrial capacity. We aim to leverage deep expertise and thought leadership to foster the most substantive, impactful conversation possible.

Builders, policymakers, investors, and operators: this is your arena. Follow @Cogs0fWar to join the conversation on the future of defense innovation.

Technology may be changing warfare, but experience and judgment still sit at the center of every critical decision. (Members Only)

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The Adversarial: War in Iran Shapes Adversaries' Calculations Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea,

A widening war in the Middle East is forcing America’s rivals to make quiet calculations. From Russia to North Korea, the strategic picture is shifting. (Members Only)

Why Washington’s Kurdish Gambit Could Backfire in Iran The Trump administration should abandon any plans to arm Iranian Kurdish forces before the first fighter crosses the Iraqi-Iranian border. Not refine it.

Washington is weighing a risky new lever against Tehran. The consequences could reach far beyond Iran’s borders.

Home A platform for analysis, commentary, debate and multimedia content on foreign policy and national security issues through a realist lens.

Today in War on the Rocks:


Quenching the Nuclear Stockpile’s Thirst for Tritium


Why Washington’s Kurdish Gambit Could Backfire in Iran

Events and Sponsorships War on the Rocks is in a category of its own in terms of audience, reach, and convening power. Our audience is composed of policymakers, current and

War on the Rocks brings together the best minds in strategy and defense. Join us in shaping the conversation.

How Arab Gulf States Are Responding to the War with Iran Iran has targeted multiple Arab states in response to the U.S. and Israeli strikes that began on Feb. 28. Afshon talks with Sanam Vakil about...

Iran’s war is reshaping the politics of the Persian Gulf. The region’s closest neighbors now face choices they hoped to avoid. (Members Only)

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Foundry, Fleet, and Fight: Hedging the U.S. Navy The U.S. Navy got some serious nautical miles under its belt during the first year of this administration, with combat operations from the Caribbean to

From maintenance backlogs to drone swarms, the Navy’s latest strategy confronts hard truths about readiness and risk. Writing the plan was the easy part.

Bonus In Brief: Global Reaction to the War in Iran On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched major, ongoing strikes against Iran — including killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many other

The U.S.–Israeli war with Iran is already rippling far beyond the battlefield. Governments around the world are scrambling to adjust. (Members Only)

The Bay of Bengal Flank: India’s Three-Front Dilemma and Its Implications for Taiwan What if the biggest variable in whether China attacks Taiwan is how many directions New Delhi is forced to look at once? When considering a Taiwan

A more encircled India is a less flexible India. That dynamic could reduce pressure on China precisely where the United States needs it most.

Fighting an Economic War Without Fused Intelligence Editor’s note: This article is the third in an 11-part series examining how the United States should organize, lead, and integrate economic statecraft

National security decisions are being made in boardrooms without the intelligence to price the risk. How can leaders assess what the system is not built to show them?

Innovation, irreverence, and responsibility all start with one thing: taking care of airmen so they can take care of the mission. (Members Only)


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Israel is fighting on multiple fronts as strikes with Iran intensify and Hezbollah reenters the fray. What comes next could reshape the region. (Members Only)

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The Burden That Should Not Be Theirs: How Congress Turned the Military into the Last Check on Illegal War Congress has unintentionally shifted the burden of preventing an unconstitutional war squarely onto the military. By failing to exercise its war powers,

Democrats on the Hill say the U.S. military should refuse illegal orders. They might be right on the law, according to this former Air Force lawyer, but it's not that simple. Not even close.

Military activity, economic coercion, and nationalist sentiment are all in play as China and Japan spar. Where could this trajectory lead? (Members Only)

Why a $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget Request Might Slow the Pentagon’s Reform Efforts On Jan. 7, 2026, President Donald Trump announced: I have determined that, for the Good of our Country, especially in these very troubled and dangerous

History shows Congress rarely funds defense requests in full. What happens when the shortfall runs into the hundreds of billions?

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The key question now is whether the Iranian regime can survive. If U.S. or Israeli forces sustain an aerial presence to target repressive forces, it could shape what follows. (Members Only)

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As the war widens, Hizballah has stepped in alongside Tehran. The risks are multiplying across the region. (Members Only)

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Innovation, irreverence, and responsibility all start with one thing: taking care of airmen so they can take care of the mission. (Members Only)


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The Deluge, the Paper Cup, and Washington’s Lack of Urgency on Guam As I conclude nearly four decades of military and public service, including as lieutenant governor of Guam, a line from the 1986 Crowded House song “Don’t

Homeland defense looks different from 6,000 miles away. On Guam, it is immediate.

Foundry, Fleet, and Fight: Hedging the U.S. Navy The U.S. Navy got some serious nautical miles under its belt during the first year of this administration, with combat operations from the Caribbean to

Adm. Daryl Caudle has laid out a hedge strategy built on foundry, fleet, and fight. Whether it reshapes the Navy or joins a shelf of unrealized reforms depends on follow-through.

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Get exclusive insights from Michael Kofman on The Russia Contingency and Afshon Ostovar on The Iran Reckoning: only for War on the Rocks members. Join today.

Missed Signals and Middle East Shockwaves Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members.

Four years after the invasion, consensus is hard to find. Ukrainian voices are openly challenging the path forward. (Members Only)

Cogs of War Our dedicated vertical on defense tech & industry, brought to you by an epic partnership between War on the Rocks & Booz Allen Hamilton. National security is inextricably linked to technological prowess, talent, and industrial capacity. We aim to leverage deep expertise and thought leadership to foster the most substantive, impactful conversation possible.

If you’re working where defense meets innovation, @Cogs0fWar is for you. Follow our dedicated vertical on defense technology and industrial base issues for cutting-edge analysis.

Fighting an Economic War Without Fused Intelligence Editor’s note: This article is the third in an 11-part series examining how the United States should organize, lead, and integrate economic statecraft

National security decisions are being made in boardrooms without the intelligence to price the risk. How can leaders assess what the system is not built to show them?

Submissions Want to write for War on the Rocks? Start here.

Want to write for War on the Rocks?

The Bay of Bengal Flank: India’s Three-Front Dilemma and Its Implications for Taiwan What if the biggest variable in whether China attacks Taiwan is how many directions New Delhi is forced to look at once? When considering a Taiwan

The Bay of Bengal was once an area of relative comfort for New Delhi. It is increasingly becoming another source of strategic strain.