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Defense & Security

Vox’s hub for news, analysis, and opinions on defense and national security.

The 10(ish) most read Future Perfect stories of 2024The 10(ish) most read Future Perfect stories of 2024
Future Perfect

Why young people are getting cancer, problems with OpenAI, and the little intelligence agency that could.

By Bryan Walsh
How the Syrian rebels’ surprise offensive shocked the worldHow the Syrian rebels’ surprise offensive shocked the world
World Politics

The world had moved on from Syria — but Syrians had other ideas.

By Joshua Keating
Israel and Hezbollah seem headed for a ceasefire. Here’s what we know.Israel and Hezbollah seem headed for a ceasefire. Here’s what we know.
World Politics

What’s in the ceasefire deal, and what could come next.

By Ellen Ioanes
The three foreign policy factions fighting for Trump’s earThe three foreign policy factions fighting for Trump’s ear
Trump 2.0, explained

Generals out. Loyalists in. A look at Trump’s new foreign policy team.

By Joshua Keating
Trump wants to use the military for mass deportations. Can he actually do that?Trump wants to use the military for mass deportations. Can he actually do that?
Trump 2.0, explained

Presidential powers to use the military domestically are broad, but not absolute.

By Nicole Narea
Biden is letting Ukraine use a powerful new weapon. What happens next?Biden is letting Ukraine use a powerful new weapon. What happens next?
Russia

Putin’s response is renewing concerns about nuclear escalation.

By Ellen Ioanes
Why the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon MuskWhy the Pentagon just can’t quit Elon Musk
Defense & SecurityMember Exclusive

How Musk’s SpaceX became too big to fail for US national security.

By Joshua Keating
2024 election violence is already happening2024 election violence is already happening
Politics

How much worse could it get if Trump loses?

By Nicole Narea
Gaza is on the brink of mass starvation. Will a new Israeli law make it worse?Gaza is on the brink of mass starvation. Will a new Israeli law make it worse?
Palestine

The US has warned Israel against restricting aid but has also failed to stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

By Ellen Ioanes and Nicole Narea
Is Israel committing genocide? Reexamining the question, a year later.Is Israel committing genocide? Reexamining the question, a year later.
Everything you need to know about Israel-Palestine

We spoke to a number of experts a year ago. Several have changed their minds.

By Nicole Narea
The conflicted history of Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah, explained The conflicted history of Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah, explained 
Israel

Lebanon’s conflict with Israel is deeper than Hezbollah.

By Ellen Ioanes
There’s no ceasefire in sight for Israel’s Gaza war. Why not?There’s no ceasefire in sight for Israel’s Gaza war. Why not?
Israel

After Yahya Sinwar’s death, is a ceasefire in Gaza more likely?

By Ellen Ioanes
Israel has invaded Lebanon. Here’s what could come next.Israel has invaded Lebanon. Here’s what could come next.
Israel

With Israel’s Lebanon invasion, the Middle East is on the verge of chaos.

By Ellen Ioanes and Nicole Narea
The Israeli attacks in Lebanon could lead to the wider war we’ve been fearingThe Israeli attacks in Lebanon could lead to the wider war we’ve been fearing
Israel

Israel has hit several Hezbollah targets this past week — and caused Lebanon’s bloodiest day in nearly two decades.

By Ellen Ioanes
What we know about the pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon and SyriaWhat we know about the pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon and Syria
World Politics

It’s a dangerous escalation in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel as the war in Gaza rages on.

By Nicole Narea
Ukraine’s dramatic drone strikes on Russia are about making the case for more aidUkraine’s dramatic drone strikes on Russia are about making the case for more aid
Russia-Ukraine war

What to know about Ukraine’s drone strike in Russian territory.

By Ellen Ioanes
Israel has launched a major operation in the West Bank. Here’s what to know.Israel has launched a major operation in the West Bank. Here’s what to know.
Palestine

The raids come amid escalating violence in the Palestinian territory.

By Ellen Ioanes
Zelenskyy’s new plan to end the war, explainedZelenskyy’s new plan to end the war, explained
World Politics

The plan is short on detail but aims to push Russia to negotiate.

By Ellen Ioanes
The US says an Israel-Hamas ceasefire is close. What’s really happening?The US says an Israel-Hamas ceasefire is close. What’s really happening?
World Politics

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas seems as far off as ever.

By Ellen Ioanes
Ukraine’s shock Russia incursion, explainedUkraine’s shock Russia incursion, explained
Russia-Ukraine war

Ukraine’s sneak attack has Russia scrambling. What does this mean for the war?

By Ellen Ioanes
Why the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big dealWhy the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big deal
Politics

It’s the end of a drawn-out legal process, haunted by the failure of the war on terror.

By Ellen Ioanes
What the assassination attempt on President Reagan reveals about the Trump shootingWhat the assassination attempt on President Reagan reveals about the Trump shooting
Explainers

In 1981, Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. and, like Trump, survived.

By Nicole Narea
Julian Assange’s release is still a lose-lose for press freedomJulian Assange’s release is still a lose-lose for press freedom
Media

The Wikileaks founder will plead guilty to violating the Espionage Act for publishing leaks about the Iraq War.

By Ellen Ioanes
Israel isn’t ending the war in Gaza — just turning its attention to HezbollahIsrael isn’t ending the war in Gaza — just turning its attention to Hezbollah
World Politics

The next phase of Israel’s war in Gaza, explained.

By Nicole Narea
Is a ceasefire in Gaza actually close?Is a ceasefire in Gaza actually close?
World Politics

Biden has put renewed pressure on Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

By Nicole Narea
Why we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of warWhy we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of war
Future Perfect

Non-combatants bear the brunt of modern war’s toll, but we don’t know how to memorialize them.

By Bryan Walsh
How worried should we be about Russia putting a nuke in space?How worried should we be about Russia putting a nuke in space?
Future Perfect

It’s not there yet — but we should be concerned.

By Joshua Keating
Biden is threatening to withhold some weapons from Israel. Is it a real shift in policy?Biden is threatening to withhold some weapons from Israel. Is it a real shift in policy?
World Politics

The US has offered unconditional military aid to Israel throughout the war in Gaza. As of this week, that might be changing.

By Nicole Narea
How today’s antiwar protests stack up against major student movements in historyHow today’s antiwar protests stack up against major student movements in history
Politics

Campus protests for Gaza may be the biggest of the 21st century.

By Nicole Narea
Israel just raised the risk of a regional warIsrael just raised the risk of a regional war
World Politics

And US troops may suffer the consequences.

By Joshua Keating
Will Israel let aid workers in Gaza do their jobs?Will Israel let aid workers in Gaza do their jobs?
World Politics

The killing of World Central Kitchen workers shows no place in Gaza is safe, even for aid groups.

By Nicole Narea
I’m an expert in the end of the world. The Oscar-winning Oppenheimer made me cry in terror.I’m an expert in the end of the world. The Oscar-winning Oppenheimer made me cry in terror.
Future Perfect

What Best Picture winner Oppenheimer gets right — and wrong — about the threat of nuclear weapons.

By Haydn Belfield
A war has never been fought in orbit. That may be about to change.
Future Perfect

How the US is preparing to fight — and win — a war in space

By Tim Fernholz
Israel’s dangerous escalation in Rafah, explainedIsrael’s dangerous escalation in Rafah, explained
World Politics

Everything is riding on what Israel does next in Rafah, Gaza.

By Nicole Narea
Welcome to the “neomedieval era”
World Politics

Nations like the US have more firepower than ever before — but they also appear weaker than ever. The upshot is a world that feels out of control.

By Joshua Keating
America is exporting more arms than ever. Here’s why.America is exporting more arms than ever. Here’s why.
World Politics

Record arms exports are a sign of America’s commitment to Europe — and its foreign policy failures during the war in Ukraine.

By Nicole Narea
The Supreme Court weighs whether to end affirmative action at West PointThe Supreme Court weighs whether to end affirmative action at West Point
Supreme Court

The guy behind the Harvard lawsuit attacking affirmative action turns his ire on the service academies.

By Ian Millhiser
America no longer has a monopoly on deadly dronesAmerica no longer has a monopoly on deadly drones
Defense & Security

The deaths of three US service members in Jordan show how a symbol of American omnipotence has become a major vulnerability.

By Joshua Keating
The war in Gaza isn’t going well for Israel, but it’s far from over for NetanyahuThe war in Gaza isn’t going well for Israel, but it’s far from over for Netanyahu
World Politics

Israelis don’t trust Netanyahu. They’re still not ready to retreat from Gaza.

By Nicole Narea