Defense Policy Challenges for the Next President

In this informative briefing, Kori Schake discusses the evolving threats to US interests that are waiting for the next presidential administration. Schake raises concerns about continued Iranian hostilities in the Straits of Hormuz, faltering soft US power in Iraq, and mounting civilian casualties from untargeted attacks in Syria. She discusses other developments giving rise to concern in Afghanistan, Russia, China, and North Korea but also points out recent areas of policy improvement. Schake then draws a conclusion with important implications for the next presidential administration: threats to the United States’ international interests are increasing, but the US response is lagging alarmingly behind.