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Centers & Programs

National Security and Defense Program

The stakes are high. Both Russia and China are increasingly challenging the United States and its allies. Iran is ramping up its nuclear program. North Korea can now hit the United States with nuclear-tipped missiles. Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups may step into the vacuum created by the U.S. departure from Afghanistan. Nations like Libya and Yemen are in chaos. The U.S. military faces the twin challenge of maintaining its combat advantage in the information age while facing looming budget constraints. The National Security and Defense program aims to help policymakers and the public better understand these and other threats facing the United States and the options available for responding to them.

$816.7 billion 2023 Military Budget

Program Experts

Max Boot

Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies

Richard K. Betts

Adjunct Senior Fellow for National Security Studies

Stephen Biddle

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Defense Policy

Richard A. Falkenrath

Senior Fellow for National Security

Bruce Hoffman

Shelby Cullom and Kathryn W. Davis Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security

Farah Pandith

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Carla Anne Robbins

Senior Fellow

Jacob Ware

Research Fellow