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.

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Rewind and Reconnoiter: An Unsustainable Peace in Yemen

1 week ago | warontherocks.com | Thomas Juneau

In his 2023 article, “Negotiating Saudi Arabia’s Defeat and the Houthi Victory in Yemen,” Thomas Juneau of the University of Ottawa assessed that the Saudi-Yemen ceasefire would “not lead to a sustainable peace.” Two years on, as tensions in the Middle East are higher than ever, we asked him to revisit his argument. Image: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl.
The Future of Sweden's Military with Chief of Defense Michael Claesson

1 week ago | warontherocks.com | Michael Claesson |Ryan Evans

Gen. Michael Claesson, Chief of Defense of the Swedish Armed Forces, joined Ryan during a visit to Washington to share how NATO has changed Sweden’s armed forces as well as the details of their modernization, consolidation, and expansion efforts — on land, at sea, and in the air. They also discuss the challenges of mobilization in future wars defined by higher technology systems, training, working with industry, and how Sweden has learned from Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Not the Last Net Assessment

1 week ago | warontherocks.com | Christopher Preble |Zack Cooper |Melanie Marlowe |Ryan Evans

In this joint episode with the Net Assessment crew, recorded last week on “Liberation Day,” Ryan joins Chris, Zack, and Melanie to talk about what’s happening in the world as well as the future of Net Assessment, which is moving on to its forever home with the Stimson Center. If you would like to support Net Assessment, please consider donating to this special fund.
Rewind and Reconnoiter: Post-Brexit British Power on the Global Stage

2 weeks ago | warontherocks.com | James Rogers |Philip Shetler-Jones

In their 2016 article, “After Brexit, a Bold Britain: A Game Plan for Remaking British Power,” Philip Shetler-Jones and James Rogers laid out a blueprint for how the United Kingdom could use the then-hypothetical Brexit as an opportunity to remake British Power on the global stage. Nine years on, as Brexit and several other watershed moments on the global stage have come to pass, we asked them to reassess their recommendations.
One Last Trip Around the World?

3 weeks ago | warontherocks.com | Christopher Preble |Zack Cooper |Melanie Marlowe |Ryan Evans

Chris, Melanie, and Zack are joined by a special guest for a big announcement. They also lament the demise of the Office of Net Assessment, debate the merits of DOGE, and discuss Secretary Hegsethâ€™s visit to Asia and the strength of those alliances. If you would like to support Net Assessment, please consider donating to this special fund. Image: Midjourney
How the Biden Administration Won Tactically but Failed Strategically in the Red Sea

3 weeks ago | warontherocks.com | Joshua Tallis

For 15 months, the U.S. Navy fought its fiercest battles since at least the Tanker War. The Navy racked up nearly flawless tactical victories in self-defense, defense of merchants, and defense of allied territory against the Houthis, a Yemeni militant group that sought to deny the Red Sea to global commerce.
A Stroll Through the Indo-Pacific, the Most Important Region in the World

4 weeks ago | warontherocks.com | Lisa Curtis |Zack Cooper |Dmitri Alperovitch |Ryan Evans

In this episode, we get into what’s driving the Indo-Pacific’s security dynamics, from China’s threats to Taiwan to AUKUS and the Quad to stability (or lack thereof) on the Korean Peninsula to bases in the Philippines. We also touch on how prepared the United States may be to deliver military power in the Indo-Pacific based on forthcoming resourcing decisions by the Trump administration and Congress.
Will Israel Strike Iran?

1 month ago | warontherocks.com | Christopher Preble |Zack Cooper |Melanie Marlowe

Chris, Melanie, and Zack debate whether Israel will strike Iranian nuclear facilities and whether the United States would discourage, encourage, or participate in such an operation. They come to very different conclusions not just about the likelihood of strikes, but also the strategic logic.
In Brief: How Öcalan’s Call to Disarm the PKK Will Affect the Middle East

1 month ago | warontherocks.com | Gonul Tol |Aron Lund |Denise Natali |Alex Vatanka

In February, Abdullah Öcalan — the long-imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — called on the group to lay down its arms and “dissolve itself” after more than 40 years of fighting Turkish forces. In an initial step, the PKK called for a ceasefire on March 1. In addition to significant implications for politics and security in Turkey, the development affects Kurds in Syria, Iraq, and Iran.
Exposing China’s Legal Preparations for a Taiwan Invasion

1 month ago | warontherocks.com | Tim Boyle

China is systematically building a legal framework for a potential invasion of Taiwan. How can Taiwan’s friends, partners, and allies push back? We come together as a unique writing team: military lawyers from the U.S. and Taiwanese armed forces. We seek here to explore China’s ongoing legal preparations for the use of force against Taiwan and uncover likely legal maneuvers Beijing will employ in the lead-up to an invasion.