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Home / People / Thomas Cavanna
@tcavannap
Grand strategy, China, Europe and Eurasia, Foreign and defense policy, Great power competition, International security, and NATO

Thomas P. Cavanna

Non-Resident Fellow

Defense Priorities

Thomas Cavanna is a non-resident fellow at Defense Priorities.

Cavanna is also an Academic Visitor at Lehigh University. He was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Lehigh University and Tufts University (Fletcher School), a Postdoctoral Fellow at Southern Methodist University, and a Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania. His interests include grand strategy, U.S. foreign policy, and the U.S.-China competition. His current book project is on the U.S.-China competition in Europe and Eurasia. His most recent articles and book chapters have been published by the Texas National Security Review (Unlocking the Gates of Eurasia: China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its Implications for U.S. Grand Strategy), Oxford University Press India (Quest for a Peaceful, Prosperous and Friendly Neighbourhood: India’s South Asia Policy, 2004–14), the Brookings Institution Press (Coercion Unbound? China’s Belt and Road Initiative), and the Oxford Research Encyclopedia (U.S. Grand Strategy since 1776). He also worked on U.S. policy in South Asia and America’s war in Afghanistan. Cavanna holds a French “Agrégation” in History, an MA and PhD in History from Sciences Po Paris, and an MA from Audencia Business School. He was also a Fox Fellow at Yale University.

Op-edChina‑Taiwan, Asia, China

Trump-Xi Taiwan talks could defuse the tinderbox

By Thomas P. Cavanna

March 6, 2026

On February 16, a fortnight before the outbreak of the Iran war, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged having a […]

Op-edAsia

U.S. missile deliveries to Philippines are pointless and escalatory

By Thomas P. Cavanna

February 27, 2026

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

A U.S. Attack on Iran Is Still the Worst Option

By Thomas P. Cavanna

February 26, 2026

More from Thomas P. Cavanna

Op-edChina‑Taiwan, Asia, China

Trump-Xi Taiwan talks could defuse the tinderbox

By Thomas P. Cavanna

March 6, 2026

Op-edAsia

U.S. missile deliveries to Philippines are pointless and escalatory

By Thomas P. Cavanna

February 27, 2026

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

A U.S. Attack on Iran Is Still the Worst Option

By Thomas P. Cavanna

February 26, 2026

Op-edGrand strategy

Trump’s Golden Dome is a destabilizing pipe dream

By Thomas P. Cavanna

February 26, 2026

Op-edAfrica

Washington’s buildup in Nigeria could ensnare the U.S. in a protracted conflict

By Thomas P. Cavanna

February 26, 2026

Op-edGrand strategy

How Trump’s Board of Peace is set up for a multibillion dollar fail

By Thomas P. Cavanna

February 19, 2026

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