National Security and Defense

Two F-35B combat aircraft from the United States Marine Corp depart after re-fueling from an RAF Voyager aircraft over the North Sea on October 08, 2020 in flight, above Scotland.
A US Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber performs a fly-over during the Speed of Sound Airshow at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph, Missouri, on September 14, 2024. (U.S. Air National Guard)
Caption
A US Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber performs a fly-over during the Speed of Sound Airshow at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base in St. Joseph, Missouri, on September 14, 2024. (U.S. Air National Guard)
Commentary
heinrichs
heinrichs
Senior Fellow and Director, Keystone Defense Initiative
4 Min Read
US President Donald Trump addresses the nation, alongside US Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, from the White House in Washington, DC on June 21, 2025. (Carlos Barria via Getty Images)
Caption
President Donald Trump addresses the nation, alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, from the White House in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2025. (Carlos Barria via Getty Images)
Iranian lawmakers talk to each other, while standing under a framed portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a public session of the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran on April 22, 2025.(Morteza Nikoubazl via Getty Images)
Caption
Iranian lawmakers talk to each other, while standing under a framed portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a public session of the Iranian Parliament in Tehran, Iran on April 22, 2025.(Morteza Nikoubazl via Getty Images)
Commentary
mike_watson
mike_watson
Associate Director, Center for the Future of Liberal Society
4 Min Read
President Donald Trump talks to reporters on board Air Force One after leaving early from the G7 leaders’ summit on June 16, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta, to respond to the conflict between Israel and Iran. (Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images)
Caption
President Donald Trump talks to reporters on board Air Force One after leaving early from the G7 leaders’ summit on June 16, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta, to respond to the conflict between Israel and Iran. (Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images)
Commentary
heinrichs
heinrichs
Senior Fellow and Director, Keystone Defense Initiative
4 Min Read