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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.

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

How to block a blockade: Next Hormuz standoff imminent | DW News

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

April 13, 2026

President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will block Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions […]

Op-edNATO, Europe and Eurasia, Iran, US‑Israel‑Iran

Threatening NATO Over Iran Is Stupid, but Potentially Useful

By Benjamin Friedman

April 12, 2026

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

Iran is fighting a smarter war as it runs out of missiles

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

April 2, 2026

More from Benjamin Friedman

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

How to block a blockade: Next Hormuz standoff imminent | DW News

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

April 13, 2026

Op-edNATO, Europe and Eurasia, Iran, US‑Israel‑Iran

Threatening NATO Over Iran Is Stupid, but Potentially Useful

By Benjamin Friedman

April 12, 2026

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

Iran is fighting a smarter war as it runs out of missiles

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

April 2, 2026

In the mediaUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

‘Gate of Tears’ could be a strait too far for Trump’s military

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

March 30, 2026

In the mediaIsrael‑Iran, Iran, Middle East, US‑Israel‑Iran

Are the U.S. and Israel actively seeking an off-ramp for the Iran war?

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

March 24, 2026

Op-edUS‑Israel‑Iran, Iran, Middle East

Let Iran be someone else’s problem

By Benjamin Friedman

March 21, 2026

Benjamin Friedman Past Events

virtualEurope and Eurasia

What’s Next for U.S. Foreign Policy in 2026? Europe Edition

January 14, 2026
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

Benjamin Friedman Featured Symposia

symposiumWestern Hemisphere

Americas first: A shift to hemispheric defense

February 10, 2026

symposiumGrand strategy

Realistic recommendations for Trump II

January 13, 2025

symposiumNATO, Alliances

Antique alliance: Rethinking NATO at 75

July 2, 2024

ukraine flag
symposiumUkraine, NATO, Russia, Ukraine‑Russia

Lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

February 13, 2023

symposiumAfghanistan, Counterterrorism

Lessons from Afghanistan

September 10, 2021