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Grand Strategy

Grand strategy is the centerpiece of a nation’s foreign policy, setting national priorities to match available means with vital security goals. The United States’ post-Cold War grand strategy has proven to be a costly failure that has overstretched U.S. capabilities. A fundamental realignment of U.S. grand strategy emphasizing restraint is long overdue, and more urgent than ever. Analysis by Defense Priorities experts goes beyond the daily headlines to explain the broader implications of grand strategy for U.S. security.

GRAND STRATEGY EXPLAINED

GRAND STRATEGY EXPERTS

Benjamin
Friedman

Policy Director

Defense Priorities

Jennifer
Kavanagh

Senior Fellow & Director of Military Analysis

Defense Priorities

Christopher
McCallion

Fellow

Defense Priorities

Daniel
Davis

Senior Fellow & Military Expert

Defense Priorities

Daniel
DePetris

Fellow

Defense Priorities

Rajan
Menon

Former Non-Resident Senior Fellow

Defense Priorities

William
Ruger

Non-Resident Senior Fellow

Defense Priorities

William
Walldorf

Senior Fellow

Defense Priorities

Erik
Gartzke

Non-Resident Fellow

Defense Priorities

op-edGrand strategy, Houthis, Iran, Middle East, Syria

Under Donald Trump, Restraint Is Winning

By Alexander Langlois

June 4, 2025

“In the end, the so-called ‘nation-builders’ wrecked far more nations than they built — and the interventionists were intervening in […]

In the mediaGrand strategy

Trump’s cost-benefit doctrine defines foreign policy, 80 years post-WWII

Featuring Edward King

June 3, 2025

op-edGrand strategy, Americas

Don’t go down to Mexico

By John Kitch II

May 31, 2025

Symposia: Realistic recommendations for Trump II

Defense Priorities organized this symposium to stimulate thinking about policies that should be adopted by the incoming administration. Top experts shared their insights in an effort to inform and improve U.S. policy. Each contributor provided an answer to the same question: “What is the most important, realistic policy the incoming administration should adopt to advance U.S. national interests?”