War on the Rocks

New today for War on the Rocks members:


Day Three in Iran: Who’s Calling the Shots?


The Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs


Missed Signals and Middle East Shockwaves warontherocks.com/ca...

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.

In Ukraine, the war is fought on more than one front. This week’s arguments show how much is at stake beyond the battlefield.

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.

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:


Foundry, Fleet, and Fight: Hedging the U.S. Navy


Why Satellites Fail — and How to Protect Them

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.

A Proxy Without a Purpose: Hizballah and the Iran Crisis What use to Iran is Hizballah in the event of all-out war against the regime? In principle, a great deal. In practice, not so much. The ongoing U.S. and

Iran’s primary proxy in Lebanon has long been seen as a strategic asset. Its real value may look very different under strain.

Membership War On The Rocks Platinum An All-Access Pass to War on the Rocks What Our Members Are Saying “I’ve been a member since 2016. War on the Rocks is a melting

Stay sharp. Stay informed. War on the Rocks delivers the insights serious professionals rely on. Join now.

One of the most notorious figures in Mexico’s cartel wars is gone. The consequences are still unfolding. (Members Only)

Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep... warontherocks.com/ep...

What will it take to rebuild the foundation of American military power?

Listen here: pod.link/682478916/e...

Why Trump's Criticism of Maliki Strengthens Him in Iraq Is publicly confronting the likely next prime minister of Iraq the right strategy for the United States? The nomination of Nouri al Maliki by the

A public rebuke from the White House was meant to sideline Iraq’s likely next prime minister. It may have rallied his rivals behind him

Twice Bombed, Still Nuclear: The Limits of Force Against Iran’s Atomic Program On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated but separately named military campaigns against Iran — the United States under Operation

Can military force in Iran succeed against Iran's atomic program where diplomacy did not?

Washington Built the AI Infrastructure AUKUS Needs — Then Locked Allies Out The Manhattan Project brought allied scientists to Los Alamos because winning required pooling allied scientific capacity. Today, as Australia

The Genesis Mission unifies America’s exascale infrastructure for AI development. It did not unify the allies who are supposed to build those systems together.

Why Trump's Criticism of Maliki Strengthens Him in Iraq Is publicly confronting the likely next prime minister of Iraq the right strategy for the United States? The nomination of Nouri al Maliki by the

A fight over one candidate has turned into a broader test of sovereignty, leverage, and U.S. influence in Baghdad.

The Supreme Court just struck down a major pillar of recent U.S. tariff policy. What does that ruling change and how could the White House respond? (Members Only)

Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...

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

Guam sits at the center of America’s Indo-Pacific posture, yet its role is often overlooked at home. That gap carries strategic consequences.

Washington Built the AI Infrastructure AUKUS Needs — Then Locked Allies Out The Manhattan Project brought allied scientists to Los Alamos because winning required pooling allied scientific capacity. Today, as Australia

AUKUS was meant to pool allied innovation. What it has now is fragmented compute, national silos, and parallel AI development tracks.

Membership War On The Rocks Platinum An All-Access Pass to War on the Rocks What Our Members Are Saying “I’ve been a member since 2016. War on the Rocks is a melting

Don’t just keep up. Get ahead. Become a War on the Rocks member and join thousands of professionals who already have.

AI Is Being Misunderstood as a Breakthrough in Planning. It’s Not. In the age of AI, the scarcest resource in headquarters is no longer time. It is, rather, the willingness to say no. Artificial intelligence is moving

What began as a drafting aid is now setting the baseline for how options are framed and debated.

For Iran’s Regime, Better to Take a Beating than Capitulate It seems natural to assume that relentless pressure will force authoritarian leaders to yield, yet the opposite is often true. When survival is at stake,

Military superiority can be clear on paper yet murky in practice. Persian Gulf history shows how leaders weigh risks differently.

Xi Has Made China’s Currency Ambition Explicit What changes when China’s leader finally states a reserve currency ambition explicitly? Xi Jinping has now done so, calling for the renminbi to attain

Much of the renminbi’s rise has happened quietly through trade and finance channels. The question is what happens if ambition outpaces design.

All Too Quiet on the Western Neuroenhancement Front “A merry little surge of electricity piped by automatic alarm from the mood organ beside his bed awakened Rick Deckard.” The characters in Philip K.

Strategic competitors are integrating biotechnology and AI with clear military intent. Yet Western institutions are still proceeding cautiously, even as the stakes are rising.

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.

Membership War On The Rocks Platinum An All-Access Pass to War on the Rocks What Our Members Are Saying “I’ve been a member since 2016. War on the Rocks is a melting

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.

Becoming a Navy linguist starts in the classroom but does not end there. The path stretches from immersion training to operational life. (Members Only)

Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...

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

Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...

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.

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

Listen here: warontherocks.com/20...

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)

Listen here: warontherocks.com/ep...

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

Want to write for War on the Rocks?