Security & Defense

State of the Order: Assessing January 2022

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

For Biden, wreaking havoc on Russia’s economy is the least bad option

By Brian O’Toole, Daniel Fried, Edward Fishman

Putin is testing the West’s resolve for tough measures—which is why maximalist banking sanctions are the linchpin of an effective deterrent.

Global Strategy 2022: Thwarting Kremlin aggression today for constructive relations tomorrow

By John E. Herbst, Anders Åslund, David J. Kramer, Alexander Vershbow, and Brian Whitmore

How can the United States and its partners counter the Kremlin’s aggressive policies abroad while laying the groundwork for what could one day be a mutually beneficial relationship with a Russia that respects the rule of law and international norms?

Still not too late for Germany to honor its commitment to Ukraine

By Eugene Czolij

Germany says a sense of "historical responsibility" over Nazi crimes prevents Berlin from adopting a firmer stand against Russia. Many in Ukraine ask why this logic does not also apply to the millions of Ukrainian WWII victims.

Belarus emerges as key front in Putin’s war against Ukraine and the West

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

With tens of thousands of Russian troops currently deployed in Belarus, fears are mounting that the country could serve as a springboard for Vladimir Putin’s threatened full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Death of Islamic State leader was necessary, but there’s a better way to fight terrorism

By Ben Connable

The Islamic State will probably continue to recover from its operational defeat in Syria and Iraq. It will take capacity building over generations to defeat them.