Director: Dr. Kim Cragin
The INSS Center for Strategy and Military Power (CSMP) supports the warfighter through research and analysis on defense strategy and policy.
Critical Threats. Research and analysis focus on critical threats arising from strategic competitors, such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Russian Federation, as well as threats posed by regional state and non-state adversaries. Recent studies and strategic support address Russia’s “concert of civilizations,” the future of Iran’s nuclear program, and PRC irregular warfare in the South China Sea, and DoW-sponsored wargames.
Defense Industrial Base. Research and analysis assesses the defense industrial base (DIB) and ways to improve and reform the United States’ DIB. Recent studies examine iterative acquisition during the Ukraine crisis, fielding weapons of affordable mass, legacy vs autonomous systems, the German defense industrial zeitenwende, and Türkiye’s role in the transatlantic DIB.
Military Allies. INSS fellows conduct research and analysis on U.S. military allies and strategic partners, including NATO, the U.S.-Republic of Korea (ROK) Alliance, and the U.S.-Japan Alliance. INSS fellows also have continuing studies related to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD). Recent projects address NATO’s eastern flank, the Nordic-Baltic alignment, Indo-Pacific deterrence, and QUAD defense activities within the Indian Ocean region.
Homeland Defense. INSS fellows conduct research and analysis on homeland and missile defense, including space strategy and policy, border security, and counterterrorism. Recent projects examine space-based missile defense interceptors, the U.S. military’s use of commercial space, novel orbits, U.S. border security and the active-duty force, as well as the evolution and adaptation of foreign terrorist fighters.