Ukraine war has side effects on Middle East geopolitics
Here’s what our 2022 survey of Middle East scholars found.
Biden is threatening Putin with European energy sanctions. That may be difficult to pull off.
Europe is counting on a new Russian gas pipeline to alleviate energy shortages
Last month, three drones attacked an Israeli tanker. Here’s why that’s something new.
Will Iran’s ‘shadow war’ slip into the open?
Fights over marine boundaries are creating safe zones for pirates
New research reveals how contested waters have become maritime hot spots
The U.S. and Russia kept a bilateral nuclear weapons deal alive. The harder part comes next.
These five developments make arms control agreements even more complicated
These were our 10 most popular posts of 2020
Readers were very interested in elections, successions, and a virus we hadn’t heard of just a year ago.
Greek and Turkish ships are playing chicken at sea. There’s already been one crash.
Here’s why international law doesn’t offer clear-cut solutions
The U.S. Navy’s RIMPAC 2020 maneuvers bring 20 ships and 10 Pacific nations together
The world’s largest maritime exercise may be more about showcasing defense capacity — and less about military diplomacy
Does the global pandemic open new South China Sea opportunities for Beijing? Not really.
China is just continuing its longtime strategy
States lead the fight against covid-19. That means we all depend on Medicaid now.
And state Medicaid systems differ dramatically — giving the nation 50 different public health systems.
Asians are stereotyped as ‘competent but cold.’ Here’s how that increases backlash from the coronavirus pandemic.
Leaders can make this better — or worse
The U.S.-Iran crisis has calmed down — but things won’t ever go back to how they were before
The U.S. has to worry about more-accurate Iranian missiles, while the downed airplane has brought Iranian protesters to the street
The U.S. Navy and Southeast Asian nations held joint maneuvers for the first time. What are the key takeaways?
Beijing held similar maritime exercises in 2018.
U.S. military confrontation with Iran would be unpopular. Here’s why.
Survey data shows when Americans are – and aren’t – up for intervention.
Why Iran’s ‘oil weapon’ isn’t that scary
Blocking access to oil supplies rarely works as a strategy.
What China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea means — and what comes next
China’s ‘maritime gray zone operations’ target U.S. naval vessels.
Israel responded to a Hamas cyberattack with an airstrike. That’s not such a big deal.
Policymakers are debating how best to retaliate against cyberwarfare actions — and how not to.
Is China’s cyberespionage a military game-changer?
There’s no magical shortcut to catch up on the latest weapons tech
Trump and Xi will soon meet. What can political science tell us about current U.S.-China tensions?
[caption id="attachment_80852" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump with Chinese President Xi
Today, NATO begins a huge military exercise. Here’s what you need to know.
[caption id="attachment_79358" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The U.S. Marine Corps version of
Former U.S. Special Forces were reportedly hired to kill Yemen’s leaders. Did the government know?
[caption id="attachment_79057" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The carcass of a car reportedly
China just asserted its hold over the South China Sea. Will ASEAN nations push back?
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A photo taken April 21, 2017,
No matter what Trump says, Russia is unique in trying to hack other countries’ democracies
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/world/segments/trump-putin-address-election-interference/2018/07/16/baff2fa8-890e-11e8-9d59-dccc2c0cabcf_video.html Not everyone hacks democracy. States don’t “all do it,”
Trump’s threats are unlikely to hurt Sen. Jon Tester. In fact, they may help him.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/trump-i-know-things-about-sen-tester/2018/04/28/0882947c-4b3e-11e8-8082-105a446d19b8_video.html In late March, President Trump nominated the White House
Attacking Syria wasn’t legal a year ago. It’s still not.
[caption id="attachment_72115" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. Navy sailors staff the Arleigh Burke-class
There’s more to Russia’s cyber interference than the Mueller probe suggests
An underlying theme running through special counsel Robert S. Mueller
Should the U.S. try to deter cyberattacks by promising nuclear retaliation?
[caption id="attachment_68522" align="aligncenter" width="960"] (U.S. Air Force/AP)[/caption] Washington security circles
Trump breaks these 3 rules about how U.S. presidents relate to the military
Editors’ note: After President Trump’s announcement Monday night that the
No, al-Shabab is not deadlier than Boko Haram. Here are better numbers.
[caption id="attachment_61248" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Somali soldiers stand guard at the
Trump is trying to send North Korea a message. He’s got a long way to go.
On Wednesday, President Trump will summon the entire Senate to
So China seized a U.S. drone submarine? Welcome to the future of international conflict.
[caption id="attachment_51720" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Chinese media reported on the seizure
Trump risks war by turning the One China question into a bargaining chip
President-elect Donald Trump has just said that he considers America’s
Things are heating up in eastern Ukraine. Here are three reasons why.
[caption id="attachment_41239" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Members of a volunteer battalion and
Do we really need a new U.N. oceans treaty? Yes, and here’s why.
[caption id="attachment_39536" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A researcher studies coral reef "bleaching," a
Recent veterans are more Republican than older ones. Why?
[caption id="attachment_32022" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Phil Kirstein, a Vietnam War veteran,
Who needs Congress?
[caption id="attachment_14696" align="alignleft" width="908"] A U.S. Navy F/A-18 launches off
Is vengefulness driving American foreign policy attitudes?
[caption id="attachment_10375" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] A rally outside the White House
The political science of cybersecurity IV: How Edward Snowden helps U.S. deterrence
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606"] U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Michael Rogers
'Salami tactics' in the East China Sea
[caption id="attachment_3656" align="aligncenter" width="600" special=""] (Tim Carman/The Washington Post)[/caption] While
Robots don't lactate: Humanoid robots, warfighting and gender
This is a guest post from Heather Roff-Perkins, a visiting
Our 10 Most Popular Posts of 2012
The Declining Culture of Guns and Violence in the United
How Strong Is the U.S. Navy Really?
This is a guest post by political scientists Brian Crisher
Iran’s Dangerous Bluster over the Strait of Hormuz
The following is a guest post from Caitlin Talmadge, a