A photographer captured a handwritten to-do list on Secretary Bessent’s desk stating, “Buy Japanese Yen (JPY) $5-10 bil”—fueling market speculation. This rare intervention may not be the last action against “disorderly yen movement,” signaling the importance of Japanese economic stability and orderly yen markets to U.S. national security objectives in Asia. Read more...
The war against Iran is raising the costs of alignment with the U.S. and sowing doubt about the protection it provides. A concerted effort to mend partnerships is necessary to shore up faith in American leadership.Read more...
Energy insecurity is a well-known vulnerability that Iran has exploited on a global scale. The scale of the Strait of Hormuz closure has thus far been assessed as roughly three times larger than that of the 1973 oil embargo. This impact reflects a broader shift already underway, and in response, the U.S. must adopt a structural energy resilience strategy.Read more...
The current U.S. strategy to reopen the strait is enforcing a blockade on traffic to and from Iranian ports while trading tit-for-tat strikes with Iran in an attempt to force them into negotiations. Since this strategy has thus far proven unfruitful, what other options does the U.S. have? Read more...
Considering the Trump administration’s recent actions, rhetoric towards Cuba, and the feasibility of an attack on the island, it is unlikely that Trump will pursue any military action prior to November’s midterm elections.Read more...
The grooming standard controversy resurfaced earlier this month, with new policies threatening to cut tens of thousands of soldiers out of the service.Read more...
On July 26, ASP President Lt Gen Norman R. Seip, USAF (Ret.) published an op-ed in National Review calling for a surge in America's defense production. Noting supply shortages exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war with Iran, Lt Gen Seip believes it is plainly obvious that the U.S. is not truly prepared to fight a high-intensity conflict with a peer adversary such as China.Read more...
Indonesia’s acquisition of the aircraft carrier and hypersonic missiles signal a shift toward limited area access denial (A2/AD) capabilities and enhanced maritime domain awareness, positioning Jakarta as a more active—though still non-aligned—security actor in the Indo-Pacific.Read more...
A new Pew survey shows China overtaking the U.S. in global favorability for the first time, driven largely by declining confidence that Washington respects its own citizens' freedoms, even as the country works to present a more "uplifting" version of its own history.Read more...
Traditionally an exporter of refined petroleum products, Russia is currently seeking to import fuel to meet its needs, opening an opportunity to introduce new sanctions on oil exporters who are now selling to Russia.Read more...
