War on the Rocks

War on the Rocks is a platform dedicated to providing analysis, commentary, discussions, and multimedia content on foreign policy and national security from a realist perspective. The site features a wide range of articles and podcasts created by experienced writers, including top scholars who specialize in warfare, individuals who have served in conflict zones, and many who possess extensive hands-on experience. What differentiates us from other online publications in the field is our wealth of experience. We truly believe that no other digital outlet focused on war and foreign policy can match the expertise of our regular contributors. Our team includes over 70 dedicated contributors with experience from nearly every continent (excluding Antarctica, for now). They have held leadership positions in military operations, engaged with various factions, led missions, forged alliances, called in air support (with ten being combat veterans), and facilitated treaty negotiations. Our contributors also include former diplomats, military officers, non-commissioned officers, intelligence experts, and some of the most respected academics in the study of war, conflict, and international relations. They have witnessed significant battlefields firsthand and have studied warfare at some of the most prestigious universities in the world.

National

English

Online/Digital

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#104902

United States

#50305

Law and Government/National Security

#109

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

Introducing Cogs of War

4 days ago | warontherocks.com | Ryan Evans

It was 1940. War raged across Asia and Europe. America had not yet joined the war, but the country was beginning to prepare for the worst. Franklin D. Roosevelt sat in the White House, speaking to his fellow citizens in one of his famous fireside chats.
Lessons Learned from Pakistan’s Use of Chinese-Provided Weapons

1 week ago | warontherocks.com | Michael Kugelman |Daniel Markey |Oriana Skylar Mastro |Sameer Lalwani

In the latest conflict between Pakistan and India, Pakistan used weapons systems imported from China, with varying degrees of success. Pakistan is a crucial customer for Chinese weapons exports, with 63 percent of China’s arms exports going to Pakistan between 2020 and 2024. The conflict offered an opportunity to observe how Chinese-provided weapons performed against Western-provided and Indian weapons.
Results from Trump’s Visit to the Middle East

2 weeks ago | warontherocks.com | Kerry Anderson |Anna Jacobs |Giorgio Cafiero

Last week, President Donald Trump visited Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — his first major trip abroad during his second term in the White House. The region has experienced significant changes since Trump’s 2017 visit, during his first term as president — including the current war in Gaza and its regional consequences, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and improved relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
How America's Special Operators are Preparing for a High-Tech Future

2 weeks ago | warontherocks.com | Ryan Evans

Down in Tampa on the sidelines of SOF Week, Ryan spoke with Lt. Gen. Frank Donovan, vice commander of Special Operations Command, in front of a live audience about how America’s special operators are leading the way on the the future of warfare, from great power competition to data and AI — or, how our guest puts it, from the seabed to low earth orbit. Image: U.S. Marine Corps
The Montreux Paradox: How a Ukraine Ceasefire Could Set the Stage for Escalation in the Black Sea

3 weeks ago | warontherocks.com | Aron Lund

Since spring 2022, Russia has been prevented from reinforcing its navy in the Black Sea by a near-antique international convention and some very contemporary Turkish politics. A ceasefire could change that. After more than three years of war in Ukraine, the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States has changed the game.
The Risks of the Latest India-Pakistan Crisis

1 month ago | warontherocks.com | Ankit Panda |Sameer Lalwani

We are sharing a free episode of Thinking the Unthinkable with you all due to fast-moving events between India and Pakistan. This episode features host Ankit Panda and guest Sameer Lalwani discussing the risks involved in a military conflict between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan. This episode was recorded after the April 22 attack in Kashmir that prompted the current round of tensions and before India launched strikes on Pakistan, and digs into the risks in the event of an attack.
The Army's Upcoming Transformation, with Secretary Driscoll and Gen. George

1 month ago | warontherocks.com | Daniel Driscoll |Randy George |Ryan Evans

Ryan popped across the Potomac to the Pentagon to speak with Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George about the ambitious Army Transformation Initiative. Following a directive from the secretary of defense, the initiative aims to streamline the Army’s force structure, cut wasteful spending, and rapidly modernize its capabilities. Image: U.S. Army Photo by 1st Lt. Ellington Ward
Will Russia's War on Ukraine Keep Resisting Trump's Diplomacy?

1 month ago | warontherocks.com | Michael Kofman |Dara Massicot |Ryan Evans

Michael Kofman and Dara Massicot join Ryan to unpack how the Trump administration’s ambitious peace efforts have collided with reality. They dive into how strategic calculations, politics, military conditions, and societal developments have shaped diplomacy, assessing how various pressures and intentions could redefine — or derail — pathways toward ending the war. Image: Russian state media
The Ides of November: Navigating the Shifting Sands of Iraq’s 2025 Electoral Landscape

1 month ago | warontherocks.com | Inna Rudolf |Douglas A. Ollivant

What could be the make-up of the next Iraqi government, as geopolitical drama continues to play out across the Middle East? As Iraq gears up for its pivotal parliamentary elections on Nov. 11, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. With regional volatility, the fracturing Iran-led resistance axis, and unprecedented divisions within the Shi’a majority, the elections carry immense significance for the country’s trajectory, 20 years after the landmark “purple finger” elections of 2005.
Gen. Berger on Leadership in a Turbulent Era

1 month ago | warontherocks.com | Ryan Evans

In today’s world, turbulence isn’t temporary—it‘s the new normal. In this episode, Gen. (ret.) David Berger, former commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, shares why adaptability, resilience, and grit are not just desirable but essential traits for leaders in an uncertain and unpredictable age. Successful leaders must embrace disruption rather than waiting for stability to return, he tells Ryan.