Joshua Ball

Defense & Security, Deterrence & Foreign PolicyAmericas, Foreign Policy, North Korea, Syria

What is U.S. Foreign Policy Under the Trump Administration?

Joshua Ball

The Trump Doctrine: America First Means More Military As a candidate, Donald Trump structured his narrative around the idea that the U.S. had overextended itself—that allies were taking advantage of…

Defense & SecurityChina, North Korea, South Korea, United States

China’s Response to Trump’s Threat to “Totally Destroy” North Korea

Joshua Ball

"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”…

Defense & SecurityChina, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, United States

Japan installs anti-missile systems in north of country due to North Korean threat

Joshua Ball

Japan will install a new PAC-3 missile interceptor on the northern island of Hokkaido. This is a direct response to the two missiles launched by North Korea that have flown…

Defense & SecurityChina, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, United Nations, United States

Trump tells UN: North Korea “Will be Destroyed” if Threats Persist

Joshua Ball

Trump Maintains Hostile-Yet-Vague Rhetoric while Addressing the U.N. General Assembly On August 19, 2017, President Donald Trump gave his first speech to the UN General Assembly. In his speech, he…

Defense & SecurityBelarus, Crimea, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, NATO, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Zapad-2017

Zapad-2017: Analyzing Troop Numbers & Economic Factors

Joshua Ball

The Kremlin must be sure of Russia's ability to prevail in any forceful confrontation, or at least ensure a stalemate. While eastern European leaders are certainly justified in their concern,…

Defense & SecurityChina, Deterrence, North Korea, South Korea

North Korea Fires Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile Over Japan

Joshua Ball

Termed a "grave threat" by the Japanese Prime Minister, the newly-unpredictable nature of U.S. policy makes this situation exponentially more dangerous.North Korea has fired a ballistic missile that flew over Japan…

Defense & SecurityAmericas, Asia, China, International Security, Taiwan, United States

China, the United States, and the Thucydides Trap

Joshua Ball

An Analysis of Great Power Relations in the 21st Century China is a rising power. It is agreed that China has the capabilities to eventually significantly surpass the United States…

Deterrence & Foreign PolicyForeign Policy, NATO, Russia, Ukraine, United States

Russian National Security & Foreign Policy under Putin

Joshua Ball

The security perspective from Moscow Under the leadership of President Vladimir V. Putin, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, subsequently invading eastern Ukraine to foment a nationalist civil war, and directly engaged in…

Deterrence & Foreign PolicyAmericas, Foreign Policy, Iran, National Security, Russia

Madman Theory 2.0: The Trump Administration Foreign Policy

Joshua Ball

Is there a method to the madness? Based on President Trump’s stated policy of unpredictability and instability, it’s difficult to say what his end-goals may be—or if he even has…

Defense & SecurityAmericas, Asia, China, International Security, North Korea

Escalation on the Korean Peninsula

Joshua Ball

Heightened Tensions with North Korea as US Navy Deploys a Third Carrier Strike Group to the Region. Under Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense led by Secretary James Mattis has…

Government & PoliticsAmericas, National Security, Russia, Ukraine

Jared Kushner Wanted Secret Back-Channel with Russia

Joshua Ball

Members of Congress, former intelligence officials call for Kushner's security clearance to be revoked. Jared Kushner reportedly discussed the possibility of setting up back-channel communications with Russian Intelligence Officials to…

Defense & SecurityEstonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, United States

Is Russia Preparing for War with NATO and the West?

Joshua Ball

Analyzing Discourse, Russian Military Exercises and Troop Movements Domestically and in Russia's "Near-Abroad" A question facing foreign policy experts the world over is whether or not the Russian Federation is…