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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

Rosemary
Kelanic

Director, Middle East Program

Defense Priorities

Christopher
McCallion

Fellow

Defense Priorities

Daniel
Davis

Senior Fellow & Military Expert

Defense Priorities

Daniel
DePetris

Fellow

Defense Priorities

ExplainerNATO, Burden sharing, Europe and Eurasia

Let Europe rearm: Capitalize on NATO’s five percent pledge

By Thomas P. Cavanna

June 23, 2026

Key points The pledge made by NATO members to spend 5 percent of their GDP on defense by 2035 is […]

In the mediaGrand strategy

Trump’s intelligence pick renews debate: Is the office needed?

Featuring Benjamin Friedman

June 18, 2026

Op-edGrand strategy

Trump’s defense budget request contradicts ‘America First’ principles

By Adam Gallagher

June 9, 2026

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?”