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Explainers

ExplainerUS‑Israel‑Iran, Diplomacy, Iran, Middle East

Why Iran talks should deal only with nuclear issues

By Rosemary Kelanic

February 23, 2026

ExplainerWestern Hemisphere, Grand strategy

Move on from Washington’s outdated Cuba policy

By Daniel DePetris

January 23, 2026

ExplainerChina‑Taiwan, Asia, China, Taiwan

Target Taiwan: Military risk from Chinese conquest

By Lyle Goldstein

December 23, 2025

ExplainerEurope and Eurasia, Russia

The bear in the Baltics: Reassessing the Russian threat in Estonia

By Jennifer Kavanagh and Jeremy Shapiro

December 18, 2025

ExplainerChina‑Taiwan, Asia, China, Taiwan

Target Taiwan: Prospects for a Chinese invasion

By Lyle Goldstein

October 16, 2025

ExplainerChina‑Taiwan, Asia, China, Taiwan

Target Taiwan: Challenges for a U.S. intervention

By Lyle Goldstein

October 16, 2025

ExplainerChina‑Taiwan, Asia, China, Taiwan

Target Taiwan: Limits of allied support

By Lyle Goldstein

October 16, 2025

ExplainerChina‑Taiwan, Asia, China, Taiwan

Target Taiwan: One China and cross-strait stability

By Lyle Goldstein

October 16, 2025

ExplainerDeterrence, Grand strategy

Grand strategy: Deterrence

By Christopher McCallion

October 3, 2025

ExplainerTaiwan, Asia, China, China‑Taiwan

Will the U.S. go to war over Taiwan?

By Jennifer Kavanagh

September 15, 2025

ExplainerNATO, Asia, China, Russia

Keep NATO focused on Europe, not China

By Thomas P. Cavanna

July 24, 2025

ExplainerMilitary analysis, Air power, Basing and force posture, Land power, Naval power

Aligning global military posture with U.S. interests

By Jennifer Kavanagh and Dan Caldwell

July 9, 2025

ExplainerWestern Hemisphere, Air power, Counterterrorism

No GWOT-Narco

By Daniel DePetris and Christopher McCallion

July 2, 2025

ExplainerMiddle East, China, Europe and Eurasia

China can’t dominate the Middle East

By Rosemary Kelanic

May 5, 2025

ExplainerChina, Asia, Military analysis

Military policy toward China: The case against overreaction

By John Mueller

April 10, 2025