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Trump’s Power Doctrine: A $1.5 Trillion Military, Greenland Ambitions, and a World Ruled by Force

Walter Pincus

Trump’s Power Doctrine: A $1.5 Trillion Military, Greenland Ambitions, and a World Ruled by Force

OPINION — “After long and difficult negotiations with Senators, Congressmen, Secretaries, and other Political Representatives, I have determined [...] More

AmericasNorth AmericaUnited StatesWalter PincusFine Printmilitary

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2025: 10 Events That Changed the World

2025: 10 Events That Changed the World

SPECIAL REPORT — In a turbulent year, one of the biggest national security stories came in the form of a document.The administration’s National [...] More

national securitymilitaryIntelligence

How the U.S. Military’s Top Officer is Looking at the World’s Hotspots

Walter Pincus

How the U.S. Military’s Top Officer is Looking at the World’s Hotspots

OPINION — “Our [the Joint Chiefs of Staff] job is to present and my job with the Joint Chiefs and others is to present the range of [military] [...] More

Walter PincusFine Printmilitary
(Original Caption) 9/5/1963-Washington, DC- Flying over the Virginia side of the Potomac River, the impressive site of the world's largest office building crops into view. The Pentagon, which covers 34 acres of land including a 5-acre pentagonal center court, houses personnel of the U.S. Department of Defense, which includes the Departments of Army, Navy and Air Force. This bird's eye view also shows part of the 67-acre parking space area.

Assessing the Pentagon’s Mission to Rebuild the ‘Arsenal of Freedom'

DEEP DIVE — The Pentagon is waging war against its own acquisition bureaucracy. In a sweeping speech on Friday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth [...] More

Brad ChristianDoDTech/Cybernational securitymilitary

Despite the Shutdown, Pentagon Has Billions from the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'

Walter Pincus

Despite the Shutdown, Pentagon Has Billions from the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'

OPINION — “The [Defense] Department [DoD] will continue to defend the nation and conduct ongoing military operations. It will continue activities [...] More

Walter PincusFine Printmilitary
Europe Prepares for War

Europe Prepares for War

DEEP DIVE – From large-scale military drills to increased defense spending to the continent’s easternmost nations fortifying their borders with [...] More

Europemilitary

Inside Ukraine's Innovation Under Fire

Joey Gagnard

Inside Ukraine's Innovation Under Fire

Cipher Brief exclusive: Retired CW5 Joey Gagnard details how Ukrainian commanders are rewriting the rulebook on tech, tactics, and survival.EXPERT [...] More

Joey GagnardRussiaUkraineTech/CyberEuropemilitary
Rearming a Fractured Ally: Should the U.S. Let Turkey Back Into the F-35 Program?

Rearming a Fractured Ally: Should the U.S. Let Turkey Back Into the F-35 Program?

CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is signaling fresh optimism that his country could once again acquire U.S.-made F-35 [...] More

Europemilitary
The U.S. Needs More Patriot Missiles

The U.S. Needs More Patriot Missiles

CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING – On June 23, the U.S. Army used roughly 30 Patriot missiles to defend against an Iranian attack on Al-Udeid, the largest U.S. [...] More

DoDnational securitymilitary

Where Senate Appropriators are Steering Defense Dollars

Walter Pincus

Where Senate Appropriators are Steering Defense Dollars

OPINION — “The {Senate Appropriations] Committee recommends increases for [fiscal 2026 Defense Department (DoD)] programs and initiatives that are [...] More

Walter PincusFine Printmilitary
Can the U.S. Fix a Broken System of Acquiring Weapons?

Can the U.S. Fix a Broken System of Acquiring Weapons?

DEEP DIVE – It’s a rare area of bipartisan agreement in Washington: a belief that the U.S. must reform the way it develops and obtains its weapons. [...] More

military
The U.S. Has 40,000 Troops in the Middle East

The U.S. Has 40,000 Troops in the Middle East

CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING -- Recent U.S. strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities propelled the 40,000 American forces in the region into the spotlight [...] More

Middle EastDoDnational securitymilitary

The Math Behind Trump's $1 Trillion Defense Budget

Walter Pincus

The Math Behind Trump's $1 Trillion Defense Budget

OPINION — “The President's FY ‘26 [Fiscal Year 2026] National Defense Budget requests $1.01 trillion, which is a 13 percent increase from FY '25 [...] More

Walter PincusFine Printmilitary