National Security

How can the U.S. sustainably advance its national security interests given fiscal constraints and shifts in the global distribution of power?

The current U.S. security apparatus was designed for the Cold War, yet the world has changed dramatically since that time, with the contemporary landscape marked by prolonged interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, the emergence of powerful new political and economic actors, global financial crises, and rising public debt. In a historic moment when the finiteness of American resources and the growth of new foreign powers are increasingly salient to decision makers, it is essential to consider holistically the effects of America’s international policies – military, diplomatic, and economic – on the long-term security of the country. 

Specific questions within the broader initiative:  

U.S. Security Commitments: Do all of America’s current global security commitments advance its national interests, and can these commitments be reconfigured to lower associated costs without sacrificing benefits?

The Afghanistan Crisis: Can a collective political solution achieve a durable peace through the neutralization of Afghanistan, supported by the principle powers and interests in the region? Can the U.S. strike a “grand bargain” among major regional players – Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban, and India – to find a “high politics” solution to the Afghanistan conflict?

Grand Strategy: What is the most sustainable path forward for American national security strategy, taking into account the limits of American resources and the challenges posed by the growth of new political and economic actors?