In-depth research & reports

Report

Aug 1, 2025

Defining Canada’s threat landscape: Resetting for a new reality

By Peter Engelke, Ginger Matchett, Samantha Wong

In a changing strategic landscape, Canada must reinforce its national security and confront the threats of geopolitics, climate change, and emerging technology.

Climate Change & Climate Action Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 24, 2025

Five pillars for deterring strategic attacks

By Mark J. Massa, Alyxandra Marine

As its highest priority, the Department of Defense must deter strategic attacks on the United States. A five-pillar strategy could guide efforts to prevent nuclear and nonnuclear threats while ensuring resilience and readiness against large-scale nuclear attacks on the US homeland.

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

Issue Brief

Jul 24, 2025

Rethinking combined arms for modern warfare

By Edward Brady

To conduct all-domain operations, modern warfare requires a new approach to combined arms. The US military should reassess the future composition of its forces, integrating high-end manned platforms with low-end, attritable vehicles.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 23, 2025

Invest in space or lose the high ground

By Edward Brady, Clementine G. Starling-Daniels

Space superiority underpins military dominance across all domains. To deter and win future conflicts, the United States must significantly invest in the capabilities of its Space Force—including space command and control, as well as domain awareness.

Defense Industry Defense Policy
21st Infantry Division guard post on the Korean Demilitarized Zone

Issue Brief

Jul 17, 2025

Collective security in the Indo-Pacific: Rethinking the United Nations Command

By Richard D. Butler, Shawn P. Creamer

Europe has NATO. The Indo-Pacific needs a similar mechanism. Enter the United Nations Command, a legacy of the Korean War ready to be refitted for the current threat landscape in the Pacific.

Indo-Pacific NATO
Republic of Korea Marines storm onto beach during a simulated amphibious assault

Issue Brief

Jul 10, 2025

South Korea is the ideal anchor for the first island chain

By Brian Kerg

The assumptions underpinning analysis and discussion of conflict in the Indo-Pacific are due for a rethink. Though many conversations about Chinese military aggression assume South Korea would not get involved, it could play a decisive role in deterring and defeating an attack on Taiwan.

China Conflict

Report

Jul 8, 2025

For the US and the free world, security demands a resilience-first approach

By Elizabeth Sizeland

This report is the foundational document of the Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative and outlines a bold vision to embed resilience as a core pillar of US and allied security. As crises compound, this report calls for investing across individual, institutional, and international levels of resilience to withstand, adapt, and thrive amid disruption. 

Crisis Management Cybersecurity

Issue Brief

Jul 3, 2025

A US defense strategy to win the next conflict

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels

Amid rising global tensions and rapid technological change, the forthcoming National Defense Strategy is set to reshape US military strategy. Its success hinges on five key priorities.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 3, 2025

Homeland defense in an era of new strategic threats

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels, Amy Cowley

From launching cyberattacks to targeting critical infrastructure, US rivals are bringing the fight closer to home. Defending against these threats will require not just military might, but smarter defense planning, greater resilience, and military modernization.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 3, 2025

A pivot to China—not Asia

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels, Edward Brady, Theresa Luetkefend

The next National Defense Strategy must prioritize competition with China beyond the Indo-Pacific—and clearly define how to recalibrate the size, structure, and posture of US forces.

Defense Industry Defense Policy