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The Institute for National Strategic Studies serves as a focal point for analysis of critical national security policy and defense strategy issues.

 
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U.S. Marines with Animal Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare to embark an MV-22B Osprey aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 265 (Rein.) during a quick response force rehearsal as a part of MEU Exercise, at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, May 3, 2025.

May 27, 2025

How China Could Counter U.S. Intervention in War Over Taiwan

Has Beijing found a new “assassin’s mace” to keep the U.S. military out of a fight over Taiwan?

U.S. Marines in camouflage uniforms conduct field training on a grassy hillside with mountainous terrain in the background. One Marine kneels in the foreground holding a rifle with a scope, while others stand and work with communication equipment. The scene suggests a tactical or reconnaissance exercise in a remote, tropical environment.

May 22, 2025

T.X. Hammes quoted in The Economist on US shipment of missiles to the Philippines

T.X. Hammes, a distinguished research fellow in the INSS Center for Strategy and Military Power, was quoted in The Economist.

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jack Love, U.S. Forces Korea Senior Enlisted Advisor (right), along with U.S and ROK senior leaders pose inside an AAVP-7A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicle during the Ulchi Freedom Shield Battlefield Circulation, Aug. 22, 2024.

May 20, 2025

The South Korea-US Alliance Is Due for an Overhaul

At a time of growing U.S.-China competition, the purpose of the alliance is once again becoming a subject of debate.

Sea Dragons: Special Operations and Chinese Military Strategy

May 12, 2025

Sea Dragons: Special Operations and Chinese Military Strategy

Joel Wuthnow contributes to this new CSMI Red Book published by the China Maritime Studies Institute/Naval War College Press titled “Sea Dragons: Special Operations & Chinese Military Strategy.”

A map that shows the share of the port project that is owned by the Chinese government or Chinese companies and distinguishes whether the port project is located at a port that includes berths with enough depth for a naval vessel. Data is from August 2024.

May 7, 2025

China's Overseas Bases & the Transition to War, with T.X. Hammes on Midrats podcast

T.X. Hammes, Distinguished Research Fellow in the INSS Center for Strategy and Military Power, joined the Midrats podcast.

Side profile of Chinese President Xi Jinping

May 6, 2025

Xi Can’t Trust His Own Military

An unending purge in China's top military ranks raises serious questions over the country's readiness for offensive war.

U.S. Air Force Capt. Katleen Ybarra, and 1st Lt. Logan Pethtel, 91st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilots fly during a combat aerial refueling mission within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 30, 2022.

May 5, 2025

China's Cockpit Advances Pose Challenges for U.S. Combat Pilots

China’s latest AI-enabled fighter jet systems are redefining the rules of air combat. With real-time predictive targeting and near-perfect accuracy, these advancements challenge even the most skilled U.S. pilots.

A handout photo from the Iranian press office shows Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at a Nowruz event in Tehran on March 21.

March 31, 2025

What Would a Military Strike on Iran Mean for the Middle East?

An attack by the United States or Israel would have profound effects on domestic Iranian politics, the strategy of U.S. Gulf allies, and broader regional dynamics.

CSCL Arctic Ocean from afar

March 25, 2025

China’s exploitation of overseas ports and bases

This paper examines the potential for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to exploit its growing network of overseas ports and bases to challenge control of the seas in a conventional war with the United States.

Cover art for the ChinaPower podcast by CSIS. A C and P are superimposed over one another with a pair of headphones around both letters. The words "ChinaPower"are written below and "CSIS" is displayed on the top right, on a red background.

March 17, 2025

China’s Quest for Military Supremacy: A Conversation with Dr. Joel Wuthnow and Dr. Phil Saunders

In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Dr. Joel Wuthnow and Dr. Phil Saunders discuss their new book, “China’s Quest for Military Supremacy.”

Strategic Insights | Sept. 24, 2025

Beyond Mechanistic Control: Causal Decision Processing in Neuromorphic M...

Recently, a paper by Kevin Mitchell and Henry Potter in the European Journal of Neuroscience provided a valuable overview of current understanding of causation in neurocognitive processing, which has interesting implications for military applications
Strategic Insights | Sept. 17, 2025

Autonomous Artificial Intelligence in Armed Conflict: Toward a Model of ...

Artificially intelligent systems are being developed to have iteratively autonomous function, and these systems are increasingly being considered for use in military settings, weapon platforms, and operations.
INSS Around the Web | Sept. 15, 2025

The Greatest Danger in the Taiwan Strait

Dr. Joel Wuthnow writes a piece for Foreign Affairs on how a war between China and Taiwan could result from an accident or miscalculation that spirals out of control.
INSS Around the Web | Sept. 9, 2025

ROK-U.S. Alliance: The Near Future—A Dialogue with Dr. Clint Work

Dr. Clint Work joined the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) Dialogue podcast.
INSS Around the Web | Sept. 9, 2025

Expendable Drones: Appreciating the Evolving Technology – and Character ...

This publication address the expanding weaponized capabilities — and threats — of unmanned vehicular systems when coupled to iterative forms of artificial intelligence.
Strategic Insights | Sept. 8, 2025

Tiny Particles, Big Stakes: The Strategic Implications of Micro‑ and Nan...

During World War II, plastic production was ramped up to meet demands from the defense industry. In the post-war consumer culture, using technological innovations and advanced synthesis methods to create and manipulate isomers, synthetic polymers
INSS Around the Web | Sept. 4, 2025

Evaluating Anomalous Health Incidents of the Havana Syndrome: The Case f...

Dr. Giordano writes his latest publication for EC Neurology that explicates the need, and calls for the development of a systematic questionnaire to assess the symptoms of patients with anomalous health incidents (AHI) of the Havana Syndrome.
Strategic Insights | Sept. 3, 2025

Disruptive Technologies in Current and Future Warfare: Definition and De...

This week, the Center for Disruptive Technology and Future Warfare (DTFW) of the Institute for National Strategic Studies is presenting its first major conference, addressing DTFW at large, and in-depth. In the spirit of this conference, I believe it
INSS Around the Web | Aug. 27, 2025

With the Armenia-Azerbaijan Deal, It’s a New Era in the Caucasus

A peace treaty would settle a long and bloody conflict—and create new geopolitical options in the region.
Strategic Insights | Aug. 25, 2025

Moving at WARP Speed Toward Developing the Cyborg Soldier

There is an adage that the fruits of scientific achievement applicable to real-world settings tend to blossom with the fertilization of time and trends.