Highlighted content

Describe the kind of content you are highlighting here, why you are highlighting, and what it says about the work your program focuses on and how it makes an impact in the real world. Below, select three top pieces of commentary & analysis to feature from the past days or weeks. Update monthly via board process with Graeme Cranston-Cuebas and Vriddhi Sujan.

All impact stories

In the News

May 29, 2025

Michta in 19FortyFive, RealClearDefense, and RealClearWorld on Putin’s strategic objectives in Ukraine

On May 29, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was published in 19FortyFive on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambition to restore “Russia’s imperial dominion.” He argues the Trump administration has failed to bring an end to the war in Ukraine because it does not fully grasp Putin’s worldview and warns that diminishing support […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 28, 2025

Hammes speaks about China’s maritime expansion on Midrats podcast

On May 5, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow T.X. Hammes was a guest on the Midrats podcast. The episode, titled “China’s Overseas Bases & the Transition to War,” discusses how China continues to expand its ownership, access, and control of ports globally while simultaneously building the world’s largest navy and diverse set of military capabilities […]

China Conflict

In the News

May 28, 2025

Hammes quoted in The Economist article on US shipment of ship-killer missiles to the Philippines

On May 22, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow T.X. Hammes was quoted in The Economist in an article titled “America’s new ship-killer missiles come to the Philippines.” Hammes believes that the deployment of the short-range missile system will create uncertainty for China’s military leaders, enhancing US deterrence efforts in the region.

China Defense Policy

In the News

May 27, 2025

Soofer’s report, “Strengthening Deterrence with SLCM-N,” quoted in Asia Times article

By Atlantic Council

On May 13, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in an Asia Times article titled, “US Navy wants sea-launched nuke missiles to hold China at bay.” The article cites his Atlantic Council issue brief, co-authored with John Harvey, “Strengthening Deterrence with SLCM-N.” The article references their argument that SLCM-N capabilities address “a US […]

China Defense Policy

In the News

May 27, 2025

Michta featured in RealClearDefense on concrete actions to strengthen NATO’s resolve amid shifting geopolitics  

On May 21, 2025, Andew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was highlighted in RealClearDefense on a report on how NATO can deter Russian aggression without an overreliance on US military power, which he co-authored with Scott Lee, Peter Jones, and Lisa Bembenick of MITRE. The authors argue that, as the United States pivots […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 27, 2025

Eftimiades interviewed by NTD on Chinese espionage

By Atlantic Council

On May 20, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed by NTS News, in a segment entitled, “Former Intelligence Officer: China Leverages Entire Society for Intel.” With Tiffany Meier, Eftimiades discusses the Chinese Communist Party’s espionage strategy, pulling insights from his book, Chinese Intelligence Operations and Tactics.

China Defense Policy

In the News

May 26, 2025

Murray in Politico Europe on Defense Finance in Europe

By Atlantic Council

On May 26, Rob Murray published a piece in Politico Europe on the proposed multilateral Defense, Security, and Resilience (DSR) Bank and the importance of defense financing mechanisms to boost European defense spending.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

May 20, 2025

Cole speaks about the role of fiction and narrative in current affairs on the Marine Corps Association Scuttlebutt podcast

On May 15, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow August Cole was a featured guest on the Marine Corps Association podcast Scuttlebutt. In this episode, titled “Useful Fiction With August Cole From Modern Day Marine,” Cole discusses how asymmetric forces like fiction and narrative have an outsized impact on today’s battlefield.

Defense Policy Intelligence

In the News

May 13, 2025

Cole interviews US Marine Corps Major General Peter D. Huntley on MARSOC podcast

On April 25, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow August Cole sat down with US Marine Corps Major General Peter D. Huntley, Commander of the Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), to discuss the command’s future pathways and the strategic challenges it faces today.

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

May 13, 2025

Starling-Daniels and Luetkefend quoted in WMAL article titled “In Great Power Competition, Special Ops to Play Key Role”

On May 3, Forward Defense director Clementine Starling-Daniels and assistant director Theresa Luetkefend were quoted in a WMAL article titled “In Great Power Competition, Special Ops to Play Key Role.” The article highlights their argument that, after two decades primarily focused on counterterrorism and direct-action missions during the Global War on Terror, today’s peer and […]

Africa Defense Policy