Published: May 12, 2026 There is a comforting fiction at the heart of much contemporary strategic thinking: conventional military capabilities can substitute for nuclear deterrence without requiring the same political will. It is a neat idea—reassuring, technologically optimistic, and politically convenient. It is also dangerously wrong. Deterrence does not reside in platforms, precision, or posture. […]

Published: May 11, 2026 Nigeria’s worsening security crisis is, at its core, a story of military breakdown. The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) overran at least 15 military bases in 2025, captured and executed a brigadier general, and deployed armed drones that outmatched the defending units. The pattern of base overruns, mass desertions, and […]

Published: May 7, 2026 For the geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), it is a time of great anxiety. With the non-Arab actors engaging in another tense series of regional infighting, coercive diplomacy and modern warfare have halted episodic interventions from the Arab counterparts. The MENA high-fliers have moved from their traditional […]

Published: May 5, 2026 With the New START’s expiration on February 5, 2026, the world has entered a new era in nuclear arms control, reflecting the evolving realities of the contemporary nuclear order. The United States believes that nuclear limits on warheads and launchers imposed under the New START no longer serve its interests, or […]

Published: May 4, 2026 In 1987, acclaimed feminist researcher Carol Cohn released a scathing gendered critique of Cold War nuclear deterrence. Cohn argued that the ‘technostrategic,’ masculinized language used to discuss deterrence strategy was not accidental. It obscured moral responsibility, normalized violence, and made nuclear war more plausible. As one of the most influential pieces […]

Published: April 30, 2026 The nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was intended to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, and it has achieved remarkable success. Since the treaty was entered into force in 1970, only three states have managed to acquire a nuclear weapons capability, namely India, Pakistan, and North Korea. The collective West initially opted […]

Published: April 28, 2026 Amid U.S. involvement in a war against Iran, President Donald J. Trump has decided to double down on previous public expressions of disregard and distrust toward NATO. President Trump has threatened to withdraw the United States from NATO several times since his reelection. His repeated jibes at the alliance have raised […]

Published: April 27, 2026 Introduction Russia’s recent deployment of a conventionally armed, diesel-powered submarine to Indonesia should not be dismissed as routine naval activity. It is a calculated strategic signal. One that highlights a growing challenge for Australia and calls into question the resilience of U.S. extended deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. While such deployments fall […]

Published: April 23, 2026 Proliferation of unmanned systems in modern warfare has popularized the notion that traditional platforms have reached the end of their operational relevance. Particularly, the Russia-Ukraine war has deepened the perception that small, agile, and inexpensive drones have rendered manned platforms in land, air, and sea domain obsolete. This argument gains credibility […]

Published: April 21, 2026 The amalgamation of emerging technologies and nuclear weapons systems is significantly impacting the landscape of strategic stability. The primary problem associated with such technologies is their dual-use nature, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), hyper sonics, quantum computing, and cyber warfare. These technologies are evolving more rapidly than the treaties meant to […]

Published: April 20, 2026 West Africa has experienced an increasing number of national security challenges over the past two decades. Violent extremism, political instability, transnational organized crime, and maritime insecurity have created complex threats that undermine governance, economic development, and regional stability. According to the United Nations Africa Renewal, instability in the Sahel has become […]

Published: April 16, 2026 The ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel has produced one of the most significant case studies in the evolution of contemporary warfare. Iran, a state that lacks a competitive air force and possesses limited naval power, has demonstrated that ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial systems can […]

Published: April 14, 2026 For more than half a century, U.S.–Russian nuclear arms control has served as a central mechanism for managing strategic competition. Beginning with the 1972 Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT I), successive agreements institutionalized transparency, predictability, and mutual restraint. New START, which entered into force in 2011, represents the culmination of this […]

Published: April 13, 2026 Judicial reform for many post-socialist countries is an ongoing process. The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 saw several Eastern European states embark on a journey to integrate into the EU, facing extensive pressure to conform to more stringent standards of judicial independence and rule of law. Anti-corruption campaigns have […]

Published: April 9, 2026 The Indo-Pacific is rapidly emerging as the central theatre of global strategic competition. Unlike the Cold War in Europe, where nuclear deterrence involved two superpowers across relatively defined front lines, the Indo-Pacific presents a far more complex landscape. The region spans vast maritime distances, multiple potential flashpoints, and several nuclear-armed adversaries. […]

On Saturday, the 14th of March 2026, President Donald Trump stated that the United States had destroyed ‘100% of Iran’s military capability’. If there is one thing that the war in Ukraine has taught, it is that when properly motivated, a state can scale its wartime arms production with serious speed. President Trump may have […]

Published: April 6, 2026 Strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific is increasingly taking place in the “gray zone”—the space between routine state competition and open warfare. Rather than relying solely on conventional military confrontation, states are employing hybrid tactics such as economic coercion, cyber operations, disinformation campaigns, and limited military provocations to gradually shift the strategic […]

Published: April 2, 2026 On December 23, 2025, the Pentagon released its annual 2025 China Military Power Report to Congress—a reminder that America is still trying to deter tomorrow with yesterday’s force. The report assesses China’s stockpile stayed in the low 600s through 2024 but remains on track to have over 1,000 nuclear warheads by […]

Published:  March 31, 2026  Technological advances and rising military expenditures in recent years have accelerated the development of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS). Though this technology is still in its infancy, it has already transformed modern warfare. LAWS, when fully evolved, will provide means for precise and independent selection and engagement of targets without exposing soldiers to […]

Published: March 30, 2026 A nation does not need to lose a battle to look weak. Sometimes it only needs to miss a paycheck. Washington often treats budget shutdowns as partisan spectacle, but America’s adversaries see something far more useful: a live demonstration of self-inflicted fragility. When the federal government allows frontline security personnel to […]

Published: March 26, 2026 Strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific increasingly occurs in the grey zone, the space between routine statecraft and open armed conflict. China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran employ a range of coercive tactics designed to alter the strategic environment without triggering a conventional military response. These activities include cyber operations, maritime harassment, […]

Published: March 24, 2026 The international system is undergoing a profound global power shift characterized by the resurgence of great power competition and a broad diffusion of technical capabilities. This environment is intensifying security competition across all domains. Concurrently, the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) and other disruptive technologies has fundamentally transformed espionage and defense. […]

Published: March 23, 2026 Two parties have watched Operation Epic Fury (OEF) from a distance. China has been taking notes. The United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) has tracked munitions consumption rates of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Both the PRC and INDOPACOM know that what is happening above, in, and around Tehran will impact Beijing’s plans […]

Published: March 19, 2026 The digital public square has transformed how Americans encounter information, debate ideas, and form political identities. Social media platforms promise open dialogue, but their algorithms often reward emotionally charged content, amplifying voices that confirm what users already believe. In this environment, misinformation spreads quickly, and communities increasingly cluster around shared narratives […]

Published: March 17, 2026 Ideology matters, as I learned from surviving 18 years under the Chavista regime in Venezuela. The United States pretended otherwise for three decades, clinging to the “end of history” and similar dreams. Today, with ideologically driven conflicts simmering around the world, it is time for America to integrate deterrence, defense, and […]

Published: March 16, 2026 In the summer and fall of 2025, Washington’s decision-makers faced an urgent question: which partners could act immediately and deliver tangible results? This focus on short-term capability, rather than potential or size, has brought Pakistan back into the spotlight of U.S. foreign policy. Its importance today is tied not to historical […]

Published: March 12, 2026 Whenever the United States resorts to military force, the same question echoes through Washington and beyond: Did President Trump act within the law? Recent controversies surrounding the War Powers Resolution—especially the requirement to notify Congress—have only intensified that debate. This article steps aside from that familiar battleground. Instead, it asks a […]

Published: March 10, 2026 (Editor’s Note: This article was submitted before the U.S.-Iran conflict began. We intentionally left the article as “forward looking” to signify the value of the analysis.) The Red Sea theater sits in a fragile equilibrium. Commercial shipping lines have cautiously begun returning to the Suez corridor after months of rerouting around […]

Published: March 9, 2026 (Editor’s Note: This article was submitted before the U.S.-Iran conflict began. We intentionally left the article as “forward looking” to signify the value of the analysis.)  After successful US regime-change operations in Venezuela, Washington is aiming for similar endeavor again, this time in Middle East against Iran. Mass mobilization of US […]

Published: March 5, 2026 The Indo-Pacific is entering a far more dangerous strategic era. Military modernization, grey-zone coercion, and rapid nuclear expansion are reshaping the regional balance of power. Most notably, China is undertaking a historic expansion of its nuclear arsenal, investing in silo fields, road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles, ballistic missile submarines, and dual-capable systems. […]

Experts call the current state of the world the third nuclear age, embodied by various emerging technologies. It is characterized by expanding nuclear arsenals, diminishing arms control agreements, and technological developments that have made it increasingly difficult to distinguish between war and catastrophic disasters. These changes necessitate not only an examination of the weapons being […]

The morning of January 3rd, 2026, a U.S. Army delta-force team conducted an operation in Caracas, Venezuela, capturing President Maduro and his wife. The operation comes in the wake of constant threats of regime change in Venezuela made by President Trump. Trump accuses the Maduro regime of supporting cartels that supply fentanyl to America, a […]

Contemporary defense analysis largely focuses on the opening phases of conflict. Initial force posture, technological advantage, and early operational momentum dominate planning assumptions. However, experience from recent high-intensity wars suggests decisive failure often occurs later. Military effectiveness erodes as institutional stress accumulates, undermining operational performance and strategic deterrence. This highlights a critical gap in deterrence […]

Since the Cold War, space has served as a powerful symbol of American identity. It is an arena where national pride, technological daring, and the spirit of exploration converge. It has embodied the same frontier ethos that once drove the settling of the West, while simultaneously showcasing the unity and resolve that defined U.S. competition […]

Published: February 23, 2026 In his speech before the United Nations General Assembly on 8 December 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower proposed – in paraphrased terms- that the atom bomb be given to those who can “strip its military casing and adapt it to the arts of peace.” Commonly referred to as the ‘Atoms for Peace’ […]

A cultural feud over the legacy of the American Civil War has raged in the United States for over 150 years, pitting sympathizers of the Lost Cause against their opponents over historical monuments and symbols. A similar but lesser-known war over a different chapter in history has been raging in the city of Narva, in […]

How could a quiet sentence from Washington rattle an entire European nation? Newly installed in the Oval Office, Donald Trump caused Europe to hold its breath when, in one of his most baffling statements, he claimed that Spain was part of the BRICS. An apparent presidential slip-up was enough to shake an entire national government […]

From the 1957 Sputnik-1 satellite to more contemporary explorations such as NASA’s Artemis III program, space has become the high ground for state competition due to its multifaceted military and civilian applications. The behavior of states within the space domain mirrors the earthly quest for dominance to plant flags on the uncharted territories. Orbits have […]

As contemporary rivals, the United States and China echo historical patterns of major competition between an established and a rising power, described within Graham Allison’s article, “The Thucydides Trap: Are the U.S. and China Headed for War?” Allison warns of an apparent tendency towards war when an emerging power threatens to displace an existing great […]

The United States’ 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) is a document that has been written under the shadow of economic strain and military overreach, and it raises the slogan of “America First” while shifting the burden to partners and allies. The document was presented as a thoughtful adjustment of American priorities and speaks the language […]

Greenland’s strategic importance lies not in symbolism, climate change, or future economic potential, but in its role at the center of modern deterrence. The island anchors the ability of the United States and its allies to deny Russian and Chinese forces access through critical Arctic and North Atlantic air and sea gaps. That denial mission […]

The expiration of the New START Treaty on February 5, 2026 has fueled concerns that, absent formal limits, uncertainty surrounding U.S. and Russian nuclear forces could generate instability and elevate the risk of arms racing or the threat of nuclear conflict. Although arms control agreements have historically been promoted as acts of transparency and predictability, […]

For decades, intelligence agencies in developing countries, especially in South Asia, have been portrayed as all-knowing, all-seeing, and deeply involved in every part of politics and security. Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) are often mythologized as all-powerful institutions capable of shaping domestic politics and manipulating regional events. However, this […]

Netflix’s The House of Dynamite dramatizes a nightmarish scenario that feels uncomfortably plausible. An unidentified ballistic missile appears mid-flight over the Pacific, while the time for decision-making is compressed and attribution is unclear. The U.S. responds by firing two ground-based interceptors (GBIs) from Alaska, but they fail. As a result, the president faces the most […]

The year 2026 arrives with looming threats of nuclear weapon employment more than ever, as the world is faced with eroding arms control agreements and the global environment seems increasingly fragile. With several key treaties set to expire in 2026 and countries rapidly expanding their nuclear arsenals in response to growing international conflict 2026 will […]

At the sidelines of the G20 Summit held in late November 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Prime Ministers of Canada and India agreed to enhance bilateral relations amid recent years of tense exchanges. Both leaders found consensus on a new uranium export deal worth 2.8 billion dollars, restarting a previous deal that ended in […]

India’s accelerating induction and expansion of long-range air-to-surface missiles (LR-ASM) into its conventional stockpile marks a shift in its military doctrine after the May 2025 war with Pakistan. While Indian officials frame this build-up to strengthen deterrence, the pattern raises deeper concerns. By favouring LR-ASMs, India is preparing for deep strikes without risking aircrew. This […]

Ukraine did not just resist invasion; it shattered Western assumptions. In the weeks leading up to Russia’s 2022 invasion, the dominant view across Europe and the United States was that Ukraine would fall quickly. When Ukrainian forces held, the West was forced to improvise in real time, exposing how thin its strategic preparation had become. […]

The renewed attention on Greenland did not begin with Arctic ice melt or the quest for rare earth minerals. It began with discomfort, specifically, American discomfort with a long-standing European contradiction: claiming sovereignty over strategically vital territory while outsourcing its defense to others. That contradiction has come into sharp relief during the presidency of Donald […]

The Global Security Review Journal is a division of The National Institute for Deterrence Studies (NIDS)  The National Institute for Deterrence Studies (NIDS) is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit “think tank” that provides deterrence education, national security analysis, and policy solutions. It informs involved or interested parties while advocating for peace through the responsible application of America’s […]

In November 2025, China held a high-profile commemoration for the 110th birthday of Hu Yaobang, a historically liberal Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader. Some international subject matter experts thought it might herald a return to a Deng Xiaoping-style reform amid China’s economic slowdown. Far from usual analysis, the recent tribute was not an embrace of […]

The announcement of Golden Dome in May 2025 has reinvigorated discussions around the often-maligned concept of space-based missile defenses. Ever since President Reagan’s 1983 speech  announcing the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), space-based missile defenses have been opposed by some as unrealistic. Although SDI was successful in bankrupting the Soviet Union, many in Congress never viewed […]

Protests in Iran are continuing to escalate. What started as a protest by local traders against the fall in the value of the local currency, rising prices, economic mismanagement, and worsening economic conditions in the country has quickly transformed into a growing movement for political change. Reports of a crackdown, clashes with the security forces, […]

Picture a late-night briefing room in Europe. Screens glow. A map of western Ukraine fills the wall. A red arc appears, moving faster than anything else in the inventory of legacy air defenses. The impact point flashes near Lviv, close enough to Poland that no one misses the implication. No one asks what it was. […]

Russia’s conduct of military operations in Ukraine cannot be understood without revisiting one of the most influential concepts in Soviet and Russian operational art: Deep Battle. Developed in the 1920s and 1930s by theorists such as Vladimir Triandafillov, Deep Battle emphasized striking not only the enemy’s frontline forces but also the entire depth of their […]

On December 3, Hong Kong’s main English newspaper, The South China Morning Post, posted on the social media website X, “Breaking: Japan’s Sanae Takaichi reaffirms Taiwan is a part of China.” The same day, The United Daily News, a Taiwanese newspaper, published a Chinese-language article that mirrored the same claim. Whether knowingly or not, these […]

The 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) dropped on December 4th. The Secretary of War said: “Out with utopian idealism, in with hard-nosed realism.” The NSS could even further be translated as “Out with neoconservative/neoliberal ideological mythologies, in with fiscally responsible, economy-driven geostrategic deterrence.” The NSS bottom line is that America should remain an 800-pound gorilla […]

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on national security at large and deterrence specifically cannot be overstated. The business leaders competing in the field of AI, like Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg comprehend this truth, although they probably know little about the impact on deterrence theory. Superintelligence is just around the corner, and […]

After ten months in office, the Trump administration has released its 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS), marking a clear shift toward an “America First” approach that emphasizes core U.S. national interests, economic strength, and strategic restraint overseas. At its core is a familiar axiom: peace rests on strength. The national security strategy outlines the president’s […]

Many of the world’s strategists still share the same conviction: as Kathryn Bigelow’s film A House of Dynamite (2025) dramatizes, nuclear escalation can only originate from a missile of unknown origin heading straight for Chicago. Yet, this old “Cold War” vision no longer seems entirely relevant. As cyberattacks target critical infrastructure, a long-taboo question arises: […]

The world is entering a new age of nuclear competition, characterized by the breakdown of nuclear arms control and the return of great power competition and conventional war to Europe. Further compounding this issue is the increasing normalization of nuclear threats in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific, the rapid growth of Chinese and North Korean […]

The traditional purview of counterintelligence has long been associated with protecting state secrets and military capabilities from foreign adversaries. While this function remains paramount, a profound shift in global power dynamics and technological proliferation has expanded the scope of counterintelligence to include the protection of a nation’s economic and corporate interests. The rise of economic […]

At first glance, President Donald Trump’s November meeting with the leaders of five Central Asian countries under the C5+1 framework appears to signal a revival of America’s expansionist economic diplomacy. In reality, however, it reflects a fundamental shift in the United States’ geopolitical calculus driven by three decisive factors: the stalemate over the war in […]

The 28-point Ukraine peace plan the Trump administration recently delivered is highly problematic for a number of reasons. The document’s starting point, endpoint, and very premise raise concern for anyone sympathetic to Ukraine.

The tech industry can increase the nation’s trust in government by becoming a reliable and visibly accountable partner for securing America’s technological edge. Specifically, the tech industry can help Congress codify critical capabilities in law and funding provisions that outlast political cycles. Doing so successfully will require long-term relationships with legislators, bipartisan support, and clear […]

Hosted by the National Institute for Deterrence Studies (NIDS), this seminar explores how popular films and narratives shape public perceptions of nuclear deterrence—and how those portrayals often diverge from reality. Featuring insights from Peter Huessy and Dr. Adam Lowther, the discussion examines the myths perpetuated by Hollywood, the historical context of deterrence policy, and why […]

In October 2025, the United States and India agreed to a 10-year defense partnership. It is an attempt to renew defense relations between the two countries. The partnership developed from past defense collaboration agreements between the US and India that included exercises, technology exchanges, and manufacturing collaboration. While the partnership received considerable media attention, it […]

Not long ago, uttering words like “human element” or “psychology” at a physics or engineering national laboratory would make scientists’ eyes roll. Their silence was a clear “does not compute” message.  It was as if Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence, or Edward Teller had forbidden the “soft sciences” from entering those hallowed laboratory grounds. Those days are […]

Sanae Takaichi was elected Japan’s first female prime minister (PM), heralding a new dawn for the country’s defense and security policy. This watershed moment witnesses the conservative Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) shift away from its pacifist former coalition partner Komeito, toward Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party). A protégée of former PM Shinzo Abe, […]

On September 9, 2025, Israel launched a daring attack on Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar, that took American forces by surprise. The attack was conducted by an air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) that ascends to space before diving back to earth with lethal accuracy. An American ally conducting a precision strike on another American ally was […]

In this episode, Adam and Curtis discuss the implications of Japan’s new Prime Minister on regional security, regarding Taiwan and China, and supporting their ally, America. They examine the historical context of Taiwan’s relationships with Japan and China, as well as Taiwan’s current defense strategies and the possible roles the U.S. could play in supporting […]

When the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant began delivering electricity to the national grid in 2021, it marked more than a technical achievement. It signalled a strategic reorientation in how the United Arab Emirates (UAE) understands energy security, economic competitiveness, and regional leadership in advanced technologies. The first commercial nuclear power plant in the Arab world […]

The United States needs a nuclear posture that supports its commitment to deterrence and averts costly wars. America’s traditional nuclear deterrence strategy is ill-suited for today’s accelerating threat environment and future challenges. The current approach, developed during a period of adherence to global norms, reached its limits amid intensifying great power competition, the expansion of […]

Join the National Institute for Deterrence Studies (NIDS) for an in-depth discussion on The Heritage Foundation’s report on America’s nuclear and missile defense priorities for the FY 2027 budget. Our featured speaker, Bob Peters of The Heritage Foundation, shares expert insights on: Key wins and gaps in recent defense allocations, Modernization of the nuclear triad […]

On October 30, 2025, President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social, “The United States has more nuclear weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my first term in office. Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it but had no choice! […]

On October 29, 2025, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he “instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis.” This statement, made just before a high stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marked a dramatic shift in American nuclear policy and raised immediate questions about […]

“Hopefully, he’ll become reasonable,” President Donald Trump recently said of Vladimir Putin. There is a fundamental problem with that idea: it is not prudent to base US foreign policy and national security on hope. Trump’s insistence on deferring to Putin and hoping that Putin—after one more round of diplomacy, one more summit, one more phone […]

“Words matter,” explained Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, while delivering a statement on why President Donald Trump rebranded the Department of Defense the Department of War. Trump’s executive order states that the new name signals American resolve and better “ensures peace through strength.” Earlier this year, Trump signed another executive order, “Restoring Names that Honor […]

The European Space Agency (ESA) will ask for 1 billion euros ($1.16 billion) for the development of a network of military-grade reconnaissance satellites. By transmitting ultra-high-resolution optical images to Earth at intervals of less than 30 minutes, this new ESA intelligence constellation will help counter threats and mitigate the consequences of natural disasters. This 1 billion euros will […]

On September 28, 2025, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) re-imposed previously lifted sanctions against Iran. The move occurred when the European powers triggered the “snapback” mechanism of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on August 28, 2025. This marked the collapse of a decade-long diplomatic agreement that once promised to restrain Iran’s nuclear […]

Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) signed a strategic mutual defense agreement (SMDA) on September 17, 2025, cementing a decades-long security partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh. This new mutual defense pact strengthens previous agreements with Riyadh that date back to the 1960s, further reiterating the principle that “aggression against either country shall be […]

Hosted by the National Institute for Deterrence Studies (NIDS), this virtual seminar brought together leading experts to examine the evolving nuclear landscape in Iran. Moderated by Peter Huessy, Senior Fellow at NIDS, the event featured distinguished speakers Olli Heinonen and Sarah Burkhard, who offered deep insights into Iran’s nuclear ambitions, recent military strikes, and the […]

The declaration of the Pukpuk Treaty between Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia is a significant shift in the security order in the Pacific. Where small states were traditionally regarded as passive players in the competition among larger states, PNG’s role in initiating, shaping, and negotiating this treaty indicates the growing agency of small states […]

Recent, statements by Indian Air Force Chief Marshal AP Singh and Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reflect how India’s military doctrine is transforming, which, in recent years, has undergone a significant shift and is marked by a more offensive and assertive approach. India continues to expand its military modernization program beyond its defense needs, […]

Carl and Christine explore how Australia can strengthen deterrence through air power—its challenges, strategic options, and evolving force structure. They’re joined by Chris McInnes, Executive Director of the Air Power Institute, to discuss the unique role of air power in securing Australia’s vast maritime environment and examine how emerging technologies like drones and long-range strike […]

When India’s AI-powered missile defense system intercepted a simulated hypersonic threat in 2023, American analysts were surprised by the ethical framework guiding its development. In South Asia, rapid AI adoption intensifies deterrence challenges as India and Pakistan field autonomous strike capabilities. Existing arms control regimes fail to account for the region’s rivalries, asymmetric force balances, […]

After World War I, the United States and its allies sought arms control solutions to what were political problems. Proposals such as a ban on war and restrictions on the size of naval vessels and army divisions were adopted. These efforts came to naught by 1936, when Germany began its aggressive march across Europe. After […]

In late September 2025, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink made history when he suggested the US Space Force is going full “space control” mode. This is the 2025 equivalent of a Sputnik moment, and it ends decades of political correctness by the West. There is no more pretending that adversary weaponization of space […]

Russia’s potential use of nuclear weapons early in the Ukraine conflict presents an interesting dilemma. For many analysts, this conflict exemplifies the limits of nuclear deterrence, an issue worth exploring. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany was one of Russia’s closest economic partners. At the outset of the war, Germany was criticized for its […]

The world today is more unsettled and volatile than ever. The war in Ukraine has become Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. Tensions between Israel and Iran cast a heavy shadow over the Middle East. Taiwan issues spark new threats almost daily. The gap between Europe and the United States is becoming increasingly evident. […]

The Department of War’s (DoW) Maven Smart System (MSS) may not yet constitute a revolution in military affairs (RMA), but it strongly signals one. The MSS is a relatively new system designed as the DoW’s answer to the challenges posed by the transition to multi-domain operations and artificial intelligence (AI) integration. It seeks to enhance […]

In this special edition of The NIDS View, Jim and former Congressman Chris Stewart discuss the implications of government shutdowns on national security and deterrence. They explore the internal and external perceptions of these shutdowns, the impact on contractors and the defense industry, and the vulnerabilities that arise during such periods. The conversation also touches […]

On June 22, the United States struck multiple Iranian nuclear sites, marking a tipping point in its deterrence of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear ambitions. It was no longer enough to institute unilateral or multilateral sanctions against the regime, carry out strikes against its proxies, or support Israel’s own military action; direct American military power was […]

The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty was signed between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987; it lasted until the United States withdrew in 2019. It contributed to lowering the risk of an unexpected nuclear escalation in Europe and Asia during the Cold War by banning a whole range of conventional and nuclear […]

The recent agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, goes beyond military exercises and intelligence sharing; it paints a picture of complex regional realities and the two countries’ divergent priorities. Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen strategic independence, enhance intelligence capabilities, and manage threats without relying on others, while Pakistan seeks political influence, economic opportunities, and military […]

  Since the beginning of the nuclear age, the international community consistently made efforts toward disarmament. However, the world saw both vertical and horizontal nuclear proliferation. Nuclear-armed states are modernizing their nuclear forces. Although there are notable breakthroughs in efforts to reach agreements on arms control and disarmament, the world remains far from achieving disarmament […]

  Although the war in Ukraine firmly established the utility of drones in warfare, the relationship between drones and nuclear deterrence is still a largely unsettled topic. Suggesting that they are relevant is unlikely to draw much disagreement, but the exact form that relevance takes is where there may be disagreement. This leads to the […]

The US Space Force (USSF) recently published its US Space Force International Partnership Strategy. The USSF international strategy aims to operationalize “strength through partnerships” by aligning allied and partner nations with US space efforts across all strategic levels. However, there are at least two major areas of concern for an effective future USSF international strategy: […]

Mutually assured destruction or MAD is not an American doctrine or military strategy. Those who believe MAD is how America deters nuclear-armed adversaries assume that any use of nuclear weapons by the United States will be massive, and that any alternative, such as limited nuclear use, will quickly escalate to a full-scale nuclear Armageddon. As a strategy, MAD was […]

This past week was maelstrom of activities in deterrence. We are seeing a shift of the forces reshaping deterrence across domains. Paramount is the urgency of integrating allied doctrine, accelerating resilient capabilities, and rigorously testing new systems to ensure credibility against adversaries. The future of deterrence will be secured not by isolated efforts, but by […]