Content

MENASource

Jan 21, 2025

How the Gaza war brought Morocco and Israel closer

By Sarah Zaaimi

Security cooperation between Israel and Morocco is flourishing and has never been stronger, driven by a common Iranian threat and a shared vision for regional integration.

Defense Policy Economy & Business

In the News

Jan 20, 2025

Rodriguez and Geurts promote the need for rapid adoption of new defense software on Building the Base podcast

By Atlantic Council

On January 20, Stephen Rodriguez, senior advisor at Forward Defense and director of FD's Commission on Software-Defined Warfare was a featured guest on a podcast hosted by Hondo Geurts, commissioner on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

MENASource

Jan 18, 2025

Why Saudi Arabia is so keen on the Turkish KAAN

By Ali Bakir

With Saudi Arabia previously keen on acquiring F-35 fighter jets from the United States, what has steered Riyadh toward Turkish technology?

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Report

Jan 14, 2025

The next decade of strategic competition: How the Pentagon can use special operations forces to better compete

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels, Theresa Luetkefend

Clementine G. Starling and Theresa Luetkefend discuss how the Department of Defense and Joint force should more effectively leverage Special Operations forces in strategic competition.

Africa China

MENASource

Jan 13, 2025

Turkey’s Syria and Libya strategies add up to a Mediterranean power play

By Emadeddin Badi and Abdullah al-Jabassini 

By aligning its strategies in Libya and Syria, Turkey seeks to consolidate influence and amplify its leverage across both theaters.

Defense Policy Drones

UkraineAlert

Jan 7, 2025

Putin begins 2025 confident of victory as war of attrition takes toll on Ukraine

By Mykola Bielieskov

Donald Trump has vowed to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine but Vladimir Putin begins 2025 more confident of victory than ever and with little interest in a negotiated peace deal, writes Mykola Bielieskov.

Conflict Defense Policy

MENASource

Jan 6, 2025

The Netzarim Corridor: Tragedy, death, and an obstacle to a lasting ceasefire

By Ahmed F. Alkhatib

The incoming Trump administration will have to wrestle with tactical-level details—especially what happens with the Netzarim Corridor and civilians’ return to the north—if it wants to play a role in mediating a ceasefire and ending the war.

Conflict Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

Dec 24, 2024

How might Germany’s coming election shape future support for Ukraine?

By Stuart Jones, Katherine Spencer

There is a good chance Germany’s snap elections in February 2025 will result in increased support for Ukraine but Kyiv will be hoping the campaign does not send signals of Western disunity to Moscow, write Stuart Jones and Katherine Spencer.

Conflict Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Dec 18, 2024

It’s (still) more expensive to rotate military forces overseas than base them there

By John R. Deni

In his previous term, President Donald Trump ordered the US Army to withdraw one-third of its troops based in Europe. The alternative to soldiers based in Germany or Poland is rotating US-based units through Europe on nine-month deployments—and new Army data confirms this is far costlier and harder on soldier morale than forward stationing.

Central Europe Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Dec 17, 2024

Putin’s quiet Syrian surrender reveals the weakness behind his intimidation tactics

By Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin’s inability to save his Syrian ally Bashar Assad is a timely reminder that Russia is far weaker than many appreciate and Western fears of Kremlin escalation are wildly exaggerated, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

Experts

Events