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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Nov. 2, 2023
Toward Integrated Deterrence: Sweden's Role on NATO's Northeast Flank
This study evaluates Sweden’s potential contributions to the US concept of Integrated Deterrence in northern Europe as Sweden and Finland prepare to join the NATO alliance.
Autonomous Weapons are the Moral Choice
To succeed in the battlespace, the United States must field autonomous weapons.
Sept. 29, 2023
Agile and Adaptable: U.S. and NATO Approaches to Russia's Short-Term Military Potential
Russia’s war in Ukraine has triggered the worst security crisis facing Europe since the end of the Cold War. It brought a major conventional war of aggression to the European continent and enormous human suffering, but in doing so it has also unified and reenergized the NATO alliance and accelerated efforts to reconstitute transatlantic defense and deterrence.
The Future of Security in the Black Sea Region
19 September 2023 — Please join the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program for an online-only event discussing the future
China's Expanding Nuclear Capabilities: A Conversation with David Logan and Phil Saunders
Why Xi Jinping Doesn't Trust His Own Military
Over the last two months, a series of senior Chinese generals have disappeared from public view, including the defense minister and the leadership of the force responsible for China’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). These disappearances are surprising given the perception that Chinese President Xi Jinping dominates the People’s Liberation Army and his ruthless commitment to rooting out malfeasance earlier in his tenure. In fact, that such incidents have not only continued but also affected some of the most sensitive parts of the PLA showcases the limits of Xi’s power.
Sept. 5, 2023
Constructing Russia's Strategic Space: Empire, Identity, and Geopolitics
The war in Ukraine may be Russia’s most blatant attempt to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a neighboring state, but it is in keeping with a long history of Russian attempts to dominate its smaller neighbors.
Aug. 22, 2023
Next Door to Ukraine, Moscow’s Grip is Tightening
In Belarus, Georgia, and Moldova, the Kremlin is waging a quiet war to consolidate its hegemony.
July 11, 2023
Priorities for NATO Partnerships in an Era of Strategic Competition
Since 2014, NATO has paid relatively little strategic attention to partnerships with nonmember states around the world. This study evaluates how select NATO partner states in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region see the strategic value of cooperating with NATO as the Alliance adapts for strategic competition, and it assesses the prospects for future cooperation.
Proxy Wars and Strategic Competition
Routledge — This chapter of the Routledge Handbook of Proxy Wars (Eds. Assaf Moghadam, Vladimir Rauta, Michael Wyss) explores the character of proxy wars through the lens of great power competition, where conventional warfare remains a major concern given its potentially catastrophic consequences.