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Grand strategy, Afghanistan, Asia, Burden sharing, China, Counterterrorism, Defense budgeting, Europe and Eurasia, Foreign and defense policy, International relations, International security, Iran, Israel-Hamas, Middle East, Military analysis, NATO, North Korea, Ukraine, and Ukraine-Russia

Benjamin Friedman

Policy Director

Benjamin Friedman is policy director at Defense Priorities.

Friedman previously worked as a defense analyst at the Cato Institute and a researcher at the Center for Defense Information. Friedman is a graduate of Dartmouth College and studied for a PhD in political science at MIT. He has taught graduate courses at the University of Maryland and George Washington. He has edited three books on defense policy and strategy and has published academic essays in International Security, Political Science Quarterly, Orbis, Foreign Affairs, and World Affairs. He has written op-eds for many outlets, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Politico, The Atlantic, TIME, The Boston Globe, and the Boston Review.

In the mediaGrand strategy

Why Musk’s DOGE is triggering alarm bells in the intel world

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

February 12, 2025

“It’s generally pretty disturbing, the sort of casual way in which these people have gained access to all these systems […]

op-edGrand strategy, Iran, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Middle East, North Korea, Syria, Ukraine

Trump the ‘peacemaker’ faces many obstacles

By Benjamin Friedman

February 11, 2025

In the mediaMilitary analysis, Basing and force posture, Grand strategy

Pentagon has long been plagued by accusations of waste and fraud

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

February 11, 2025

More from Benjamin Friedman

In the mediaGrand strategy

Why Musk’s DOGE is triggering alarm bells in the intel world

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

February 12, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Iran, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Middle East, North Korea, Syria, Ukraine

Trump the ‘peacemaker’ faces many obstacles

By Benjamin Friedman

February 11, 2025

In the mediaMilitary analysis, Basing and force posture, Grand strategy

Pentagon has long been plagued by accusations of waste and fraud

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

February 11, 2025

op-edIsrael‑Hamas, Israel, Middle East

Joe Biden does not deserve credit for Gaza ceasefire deal

By Benjamin Friedman

January 15, 2025

op-edSyria, Middle East

Trump should ignore hawks and withdraw from Syria

By Benjamin Friedman

December 16, 2024

In the mediaUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Ukraine ceasefire terms come into focus as Trump returns

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

December 4, 2024

Benjamin Friedman Past Virtual Events

virtualGrand strategy, Basing and force posture, Burden sharing, Global posture, Military analysis

Past Virtual Event: National Defense Strategy: Underfunded or overstretched?

October 31, 2024
virtualNATO, Alliances, Deterrence, Europe and Eurasia, Nuclear weapons

Past Virtual Event: New York for Paris? NATO and extended deterrence in a new nuclear age

July 2, 2024
virtualUkraine‑Russia, Russia, Ukraine

Past Virtual Event: Can Ukraine still win? Evaluating U.S. interests and policy options

February 20, 2024
virtualGrand strategy, Iran, Middle East, Syria

Past Virtual Event: Keeping the U.S. out of war in the Middle East

January 16, 2024
virtualChina, Asia, Grand strategy

Past Virtual Event: Rocks, reefs, and resolve? Examining the purpose of U.S. policy in the South China Sea

December 12, 2023
virtualNATO, Alliances, Grand strategy, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine‑Russia

Past Virtual Event: NATO or neutrality: assessing security guarantees for Ukraine

July 6, 2023

Benjamin Friedman Featured Symposia

ukraine flag
symposiumUkraine, Russia

Lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

February 13, 2023

symposiumAfghanistan

Lessons from Afghanistan

September 10, 2021

symposium

DoD budget cuts

symposiumNATO, Alliances

Antique alliance: Rethinking NATO at 75

July 2, 2024

symposiumGrand strategy

Realistic recommendations for Trump II