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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.

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, Americas

Trump’s unconstitutional forever war against the cartels

By Daniel DePetris

October 4, 2025

President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise: no new wars. But like most politicians, he hasn’t had a problem throwing those campaign […]

ExplainerDeterrence, Grand strategy

Grand strategy: Deterrence

By Christopher McCallion

October 3, 2025

In the mediaGrand strategy, Military analysis

Supporters hail Trump’s Pentagon rebrand as ‘honest,’ critics call it reckless

Featuring Jennifer Kavanagh

September 7, 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?”