Defense and National Security Program

The U.S. weapons arsenal has been depleted and no longer has the capacity to deter a Chinese attack against Taiwan. In order to prepare for future conflicts in the South China Sea and elsewhere, the United States should undertake reforms of its defense industrial base to focus on the scaling of precise mass systems.

Ukraine’s continuing innovation in emerging capabilities—such as longer-range systems operating deeper into Russian territory, greater autonomy to avoid Russian jamming, and success in the Black Sea—have reversed recent Russian gains and presented new avenues for its success.

Iran’s use of memes and AI-generated content in its social media offensive is nimble, culturally resonant, and revealing a gap in Washington’s defenses.

President Trump’s decision to pause arms sales to Taiwan will embolden China and weaken deterrence.