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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The Risks of the Latest India-Pakistan Crisis

1 week 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 week 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 week 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

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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.
In Brief: Foreign Policy Surprises in Trump’s First 100 Days

2 weeks ago | warontherocks.com | Kori Schake |Patricia M. Kim |Max Bergmann |Alex Vatanka

Today marks the 100th day of Donald Trump’s second presidential administration. We asked five foreign policy and national security experts: What has surprised you most about Trump’s first 100 days? Read more below. Kori Schake Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies American Enterprise Institute The biggest surprise of Trump’s second term is the administration’s over-estimation of American power.
Spectrum Supremacy: Reclaiming America’s Edge in a Contested Domain

3 weeks ago | warontherocks.com | Roslyn Layton

For over a decade, a contentious policy struggle has simmered in the United States over the allocation of radio spectrum — a resource as critical to modern warfare as it is to economic prosperity. Authors in these pages have observed how the electromagnetic spectrum underpins military operations, from communication and navigation to targeting and intelligence, while its strategic importance has only grown with innovations like Starlink’s resilience in Ukraine.
Rewind and Reconnoiter: An Unsustainable Peace in Yemen

4 weeks 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

4 weeks 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.
In Brief: Balancing Speed and Security in Defense Communications

1 month ago | warontherocks.com | Mackenzie Eaglen |Emerson Brooking |Erik Schuh

A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it. *** There is a lot of current discussion about the need for the Department of Defense to move faster and more efficiently, including by using more commercially available software.