Articles

Getting ready for lunar planetary defense

July 13, 2026 Peter Garretson Space News

As we become an interplanetary species, it is important to protect this multi-year, multi-billion-dollar investment while building a habitable environment. That starts with bolstering the Space Force’s ability to detect and counter asteroid threats to American lunar infrastructure.

Why Putin May Be Eyeing Another Mobilization

July 10, 2026 Ilan I. Berman Newsweek

Is Russia on the cusp of another military draft? Just a few weeks ago, the idea was pretty much unthinkable, and for good reason. These days, however, it’s becoming more and more difficult for Moscow to avoid the specter of another military call-up.

A Constitutional Change Needs To Be Armenia’s Next Evolution

July 8, 2026 Ilan I. Berman Forbes

As long as Armenia’s constitution is still based on territorial claims that conflict with its neighbors, Yerevan’s recent strategic gains can still be reversed. Without that change, the current peace in the South Caucasus might last only as long as the current government remains in power in Yerevan. The United States and Armenia’s allies in the West have a stake in it lasting much longer.

One Cheer For Trump’s Iran Deal

June 18, 2026 Ilan I. Berman Forbes

“The terms of the new Memorandum of Understanding agreed to between Washington and Tehran over the weekend have now been made public, and the agreement as currently formulated is more lopsided and less favorable than even the skeptics had initially predicted.”

Why NATO’s Weakest Link Is Spain

April 28, 2026 Ilan I. Berman Newsweek

Recent weeks have made clear that the alliance doesn’t just have a Turkey problem. It has a Spanish one as well, and the latter is likely to emerge as a real headache for U.S.-NATO relations when the dust from the current Iran conflict finally clears.

Insecurity Is A Key Lesson Of The Iran War

April 14, 2026 Ilan I. Berman The Washington Times

After the failed negotiations this weekend in Islamabad and the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas, the conflict appears poised to resume. Yet Washington heads into the next phase with a clearer understanding of the stakes because the past six-plus weeks have offered a stark lesson about the insecurity of global energy and the vulnerability of maritime choke points.

Israel’s India Opportunity

April 2, 2026 Eran Ortal The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune

Although it has since been overshadowed by the new Gulf war, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent state visit to Israel – complete with a historic address to the Knesset – speaks volumes about how New Delhi sees the Jewish state, and how one of Israel’s most promising bilateral partnerships might progress.

Kyiv Is Learning To Fight Without China

March 26, 2026 Ilan I. Berman Forbes

Over the past four years of war, the government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv has been engaging in a delicate balancing act. Western aid – including from the United States – represents a vital lifeline that has enabled Ukraine to successfully battle back against Russian aggression. That support, however, has required careful alignment with Washington and other Western capitals on an array of issues. This, in turn, has meant Kyiv has had to wrestle with just how much it should cooperate with China.

The Third Act of Epic Fury: Why the War of Attrition Against Iran Now Favors America

March 24, 2026 Eran Ortal 1945

As of late March 2026, the strategic landscape of Operation Epic Fury has shifted from a high-intensity “shock” campaign to a calculated war of attrition. According to Brig. Gen. (res) Eran Ortal, the conflict has entered a decisive third phase where the combined industrial and logistical weight of the United States, Israel, and the Gulf states is systematically dismantling the Iranian regime’s ability to project power.

Uzbekistan Tourism: The Quality Imperative

March 20, 2026 Mamuka Tsereteli CACI Feature Article

This article examines how Uzbekistan can strengthen its economic security by leveraging its extraordinary cultural heritage and strategic positioning to transition from a volume-driven tourism model towards more of a value-driven approach.

An American Return To The Western Hemisphere

March 19, 2026 Ilan I. Berman NIPP Occasional Paper

In the early morning hours of January 3, 2026, the Trump Administration launched "Absolute Resolve," a military operation to apprehend Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and remove him from office. The effort marked the most consequential U.S. intervention in Latin America in decades, involving large-scale coordinated intelligence, air and special operations assets.

How Ukraine Can Help the Iran War Effort

March 13, 2026 Anna Harvey RealClear Defense

Iran is pounding U.S. military positions across the Middle East with missiles and cheap but highly effective drones, killing U.S. troops and wreaking havoc across the Persian Gulf. The cost to the U.S. of its defensive systems far exceeds the cost of Iran’s drones, and America and its regional partners are burning through their air defenses.