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Grand strategy, Asia, Burden sharing, China, Counterterrorism, Defense budgeting, Deterrence, Foreign and defense policy, Israel-Hamas, Israel-Iran, Middle East, Military analysis, NATO, North Korea, 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.

op-edMiddle East

The real problem with cozying up to the Saudis

By Benjamin Friedman and Rosemary Kelanic

December 5, 2025

The U.S.-Saudi romance is back. That’s at least the story in most reports about the visit of Saudi Crown Prince […]

In the mediaVenezuela, Americas

U.S. flexes its military power, but regime change in Venezuela wouldn’t be easy

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

October 30, 2025

In the mediaAmericas

Proposed ‘gang suppression force’ for Haiti to be larger, more lethal, U.S. says

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

September 26, 2025

More from Benjamin Friedman

op-edMiddle East

The real problem with cozying up to the Saudis

By Benjamin Friedman and Rosemary Kelanic

December 5, 2025

In the mediaVenezuela, Americas

U.S. flexes its military power, but regime change in Venezuela wouldn’t be easy

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

October 30, 2025

In the mediaAmericas

Proposed ‘gang suppression force’ for Haiti to be larger, more lethal, U.S. says

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

September 26, 2025

Press ReleaseUkraine‑Russia, Diplomacy, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Security guarantees for Ukraine are a dangerous fantasy

By Benjamin Friedman and Jennifer Kavanagh

August 18, 2025

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

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting updates: U.S. to arrange Russia-Ukraine summit

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

August 18, 2025

In the mediaAfrica

The future of Africa Command

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh and Benjamin Friedman

June 3, 2025

Benjamin Friedman Past Events

virtualCyber

Hacking, espionage, and deterrence: Understanding cyber conflict

October 20, 2025
virtualMiddle East, Basing and force posture, Diplomacy, Houthis, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Israel‑Hamas, Military analysis, Syria

Trump in the Middle East: Impacts, implications, and alternatives

May 16, 2025
virtualChina, Alliances, Balance of power, Diplomacy, Grand strategy, Russia

China-Russia: Cooperation or a no-limits alliance?

April 3, 2025
virtualGrand strategy, Basing and force posture, Burden sharing, Global posture, Military analysis

National Defense Strategy: Underfunded or overstretched?

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

New York for Paris? NATO and extended deterrence in a new nuclear age

July 2, 2024
virtualUkraine‑Russia, Russia, Ukraine

Can Ukraine still win? Evaluating U.S. interests and policy options

February 20, 2024

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

symposiumNATO, Alliances

Antique alliance: Rethinking NATO at 75

July 2, 2024

symposiumGrand strategy

Realistic recommendations for Trump II

January 13, 2025