Commentary

By halting Ukraine aid, Trump courts personal defeat

There’s still time to avoid emboldening America’s enemies—and a humiliation that dwarfs his predecessor’s Afghanistan withdrawal.

To China, DeepSeek is more than an app—it's a strategic turning point

Beijing views the AI tool as a breakthrough that reinforces its strategic autonomy and reshapes the U.S.-China balance of power.

How Trump could productively reshape the transatlantic defense relationship

If rearming Europe and ending the war in Ukraine deters China, all the better.

The future of military logistics is predictive

A recent commander of Army Materiel Command says the war in Ukraine illuminates the path to data-driven sustainment.

Teach how to think, not what to think

Professional military schools should not go overboard in interpreting the SecDef’s anti-DEI memo.

Trump must keep arming Ukraine if he wants a good peace deal

Europe must do its fair share, but it cannot carry the burden alone.

Trump’s tariffs fit a growing global trend of hardball migration diplomacy

Such diplomacy works both ways, but richer countries by and large have the upper hand.

The future of China's new information support force

In a bid to dominate the information environment, the PLA created a force to build a resilient network system and drive innovation of cutting-edge tech.

Let's talk about the next US-Israel military-assistance agreement

I helped negotiate the current one. It's high time to get started on its successor.

It's time for a new Key West agreement

Airpower, air defense, Marines’ role—all need revisiting, three-quarters of a century after the seminal roles-and-missions pact.

Trump wants a faster security clearance process, too

But can he avoid politicizing it? On Day One, he stripped clearances from people he doesn't like and created a temporary end-run for people he does.

As the US and China race to the Moon, loopholes in space law could allow conflict

The prospect of “space water wars” is nearer, timewise, than the prospect of providing clean drinking water to everyone in the developing world.

Lone-wolf attacks have become a hallmark of post-caliphate ISIS

The group's propaganda inspired the New Orleans attack, which proceeded without direct operational support.

2024 in review: Commentary

Defense One contributors gathered lessons from around the globe and looked ahead to the new administration.

In defense of the military’s unfunded priority lists

The service branches’ “wish lists” are a key part of Congress’ oversight process.