Discussion about U.S. foreign policy strategy, defense priorities, and military spending required to connect means and ends.

Following the heinous October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, Israel responded with a devastating assault on Gaza. As that conflict rages, the risks of spillover into a broader regional war remain dangerously high—as does the risk to U.S. troops in the region, who remain targets.

On key foreign policy questions—around the Ukraine-Russia war, a China-Taiwan contingency, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and more—there’s often a disconnect between Washington’s policies and the preferences of the American people.

As debate grows over U.S. policy towards Africa, the U.S. should consider eliminating Africa Command (AFRICOM) in favor of a three-star subcommand. This downgrading would signal a shift away from counterterrorism while clearing the way for a possible alteration of the U.S. basing presence in Africa.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become a grinding war of attrition resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties. As the war continues and losses mount, Russia’s material advantages make a Ukrainian military victory less likely, while the risk of escalation into a direct conflict between NATO and Russia remains.

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