637 Items

U.S. Marines fire the main gun of their M1A1 Abrams tank in the western desert of the Najaf Province of Iraq during a training exercise on Jan. 24, 2005

Gunnery Sgt. Robert K. Blankenship, U.S. Marine Corps

Analysis & Opinions - The National Interest

What Americans Owe Ukraine

| Feb. 16, 2024

Imagine that two years ago—before Putin invaded Ukraine—someone had come to the US with a credible proposition to hobble Russia’s military threat to Europe for the decade ahead without the loss of a single American soldier. How much would Americans have been willing to invest in that initiative?

A convoy of Israeli army tanks maneuvers near Israel's border after leaving Gaza, southern Israel, on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023.

AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov

Discussion Paper - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

Lessons from Israel’s Forever Wars

| Jan. 16, 2024

Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been engaged in a series of forever wars. After each war, the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet, and others in the intelligence and security community analyze what happened and summarize their findings in after-action, or “lessons learned,” reports. Former leaders from these institutions, many of whom retain close relations with their successors, also produce reports on what happened and identify takeaways for the future. Thus, in trying to make sense of what’s happening now, lessons these experts have distilled from their experiences provide a sound starting point.

Former President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom before the start of closing arguments in his civil business fraud trial at New York Supreme Court, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in New York. (Curtis Means/Daily Mail via AP, Pool)

Curtis Means/Daily Mail via AP, Pool

Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Affairs

Trump Is Already Reshaping Geopolitics

| Jan. 16, 2024

Leaders are now beginning to wake up to the fact that a year from now, former U.S. President Donald Trump could actually be returning to the White House. Accordingly, some foreign governments are increasingly factoring into their relationship with the United States what may come to be known as the “Trump put”—delaying choices in the expectation that they will be able to negotiate better deals with Washington a year from now because Trump will effectively establish a floor on how bad things can get for them. Others, by contrast, are beginning to search for what might be called a “Trump hedge”—analyzing the ways in which his return will likely leave them with worse options and preparing accordingly.

Henry Kissinger against a black background

Stephanie Mitchell

Analysis & Opinions - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

The Impact of Henry Kissinger

Henry Kissinger – longtime scholar and diplomat – died on Wednesday, November 29. Several Belfer Center foreign policy and security experts share their thoughts on the impact Kissinger has had on the U.S., the world, and on themselves.

Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden shaking hands

Eva von Maydell/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

Analysis & Opinions - The National Interest

Avoiding World War III: What the Joe Biden-Xi Jinping Summit Is Really About

| Nov. 14, 2023

What is the significance of the Biden-Xi summit on Wednesday? In one line: two adult leaders engaging in serious, candid, private conversation about the most consequential bilateral relationship in the world.

Ash Carter speaking at a Harvard Kennedy School JFK Jr. Forum on March 28, 2017. 

Martha Stewart

Analysis & Opinions - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

Ash Carter’s Lessons from ISIS for Israel’s Campaign Against Hamas

| Oct. 25, 2023

Our colleague and friend Ash Carter left us one year ago this week. As we reflect on all he brought to our lives and our nation, and face the challenge Hamas’ vicious terrorist attack that killed 1400 innocent Israelis, it is instructive to consider what the architect of President Obama’s strategy to defeat ISIS might say if asked how Israel should respond. Netanyahu has declared that Hamas is ISIS, and we will defeat it just like the enlightened world defeated ISIS.” While noting important differences between ISIS and Hamas, I suspect he would have taken this invitation to restate lessons learned from our own campaign against ISIS.

teaser image

Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Affairs

The Path to AI Arms Control

| Oct. 13, 2023

Today, as the world confronts the unique challenges posed by another unprecedented and in some ways even more terrifying technology—artificial intelligence—it is not surprising that many have been looking to history for instruction. Will machines with superhuman capabilities threaten humanity’s status as master of the universe? Will AI undermine nations’ monopoly on the means of mass violence? Will AI enable individuals or small groups to produce viruses capable of killing on a scale that was previously the preserve of great powers? Could AI erode the nuclear deterrents that have been a pillar of today’s world order?

A man standing on a flatbed truck signals a tank that is driving up a ramp onto the same truck. Crowds of people surround the track, watching.

AP Photo

Analysis & Opinions - The Washington Post

Kyiv Must Seize this Moment. Otherwise, Stalemate Might be Inevitable.

| June 26, 2023

The extraordinary coup attempt by a Russian mercenary leader provides Ukraine with an unexpected opportunity to press whatever advantages it has in its war with Moscow. If it does not seize this chance and break the stasis that governs the battlefield in eastern Ukraine, we will enter a very different chapter in this conflict.