In Depth Analysis, Commentary, and Publications
On April 2, the CSIS Defense and Security Department hosted a conversation on the diffusion of U.S. AI capabilities, U.S. and Chinese military adoption of AI, and the impact of open-source AI on the defense industrial base.
On April 1, the CSIS Defense and Security Department hosted a conversation on the evolving threat environment, implications for U.S. strategic forces, and potential impacts on U.S. defense initiatives in space, nuclear, and missile defense policy.
On March 26, CSIS and the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) hosted our sixth Strategic Landpower Dialogue event, featuring General James Rainey, Commanding General, United States Army Futures Command. The discussion explored Army transformation efforts, acquisition priorities, and GEN Rainey's vision for the U.S. Army of 2040.
On March 11, the CSIS Defense and Security Department hosted a conversation on the future of European rearmament, nuclear deterrence, and transatlantic relations, featuring Dr. Heather Williams, director of the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues, Dr. Tom Karako, director of the CSIS Missile Defense Project, and Kari A. Bingen, director of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project.
On January 27, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) entitled “The Iron Dome for America.” In an evolving and diverse threat environment, this order calls for a modernized missile defense infrastructure tailored to present-day and near-future challenges. Achieving the policy goals outlined in the EO will require significant innovation and investment, and issues of feasibility, cost, and implications for strategic stability will again be debated.
On February 11, the CSIS Defense and Security Department hosted a conversation on the implications of the "Iron Dome for America" executive order, the Pentagon’s implementation strategy, and how it fits into other deterrence and defense priorities.
Recent concerns about the use of a dozen Standard Missile-3 interceptors and its effect on inventories are somewhat overblown in light of broader trends in procurement and delivery rates over multiple years.
On August 28, CSIS hosted Dr. Aaron Bateman, Assistant Professor of History and International Affairs at George Washington University, to discuss his recent book, Weapons in Space: Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative (MIT Press, 2024).
Open-source model regulation is the hottest debate in AI policy. Despite appeals made to national security, proposed constraints on open-source AI distribution might put defense supply chains at risk. This brief assesses those implications for the Joint Force.
NATO’s current approach to air and missile defense prioritizes domestic politics and economic interests over allied cooperation and interoperability. The allies can do more to integrate their air defenses into a stronger, collective architecture.
