Publications

Coalition Defense of Taiwan

March 13, 2023 - Press ISW

This page collects links to products and other resources related to the Coalition Defense of Taiwan, a new collaboration between the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). The Coalition Defense of Taiwan project will examine alternative strategies for the United States and its allies to deter The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) aggression and, if necessary, defeat the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The initiative will assess Chinese campaigns against Taiwan and produce ongoing analysis over the next two years through essays, op-eds, analytical graphics, and strategic assessment reports, which will make recommendations for policymakers to address this major challenge.

Russia's Military Posture: Ground Forces Order of Battle

March 7, 2018 - Catherine Harris

Russia is a poor country—its economy is roughly the size of Italy’s on a bigger population and a vast territory—and conventional warfare is exceedingly expensive. That is why Russia’s Vladimir Putin has opted for hybrid warfare whenever possible—it is the manner of fighting best suited to the brilliant poor.

Syria Strike Opens Doors for U.S. Strategy

April 8, 2017 - Genevieve Casagrande

The U.S strike against an Assad regime base in northern Syria on April 6, 2017 opened the door to a reorientation of American strategy in the Middle East. President Trump’s action could reset the terms of America’s confrontation of other hostile states, such as North Korea. President Trump may be shifting away from a narrow focus on the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) as the strategic priority in Syria and toward a new approach.

Resources on Syria and the Russia-Iran Coalition

April 7, 2017 - Press ISW

American forces conducted a missile strike in Syria against the Bashar al-Assad regime on April 6, 2017. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analysts have explained the implications of the attack for U.S. strategy going forward.

Russia Moves to Supplant U.S. Role

March 22, 2017 - Genevieve Casagrande

Russian President Vladimir Putin is leveraging Russia’s position in Syria to further diminish U.S. influence in the broader Middle East and North Africa. Russia will increasingly constrain U.S. freedom of maneuver in the broader region by expanding its military footprint and its anti-access and area denial zone. Putin advanced his regional strategy from February 27 to March 20, 2017 in three ways. First, he promoted economic relationships with key U.S. allies, including Egypt and Iraqi Kurds.

Putin's Real Syria Agenda

March 20, 2017 - Genevieve Casagrande

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s primary objective in Syria is to constrain U.S. freedom of action – not fight ISIS and al Qaeda. Russia’s military deployments at current levels will not enable the Iranian-penetrated Assad regime to secure Syria. Moscow’s deepening footprint in Syria threatens America’s ability to defend its interests across the Middle East and in the Mediterranean Sea. The next U.S. step in Syria must help regain leverage over Russia rather than further encourage Putin’s expansionism.

America's Way Ahead in Syria: One Pager

March 15, 2017 - Press ISW

America’s Way Ahead in Syria: One Pager

U.S. Grand Strategy: Destroying ISIS and al Qaeda

March 15, 2017 - Press ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and the Critical Threats Project (CTP) at the American Enterprise Institute conducted an intensive multi-week planning exercise to frame, design, and evaluate potential courses of action that the United States could pursue to destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) and al Qaeda in Iraq and Syria.

America's Way Ahead in Syria

March 14, 2017 - Press ISW

This report is part of the series "U.S. Grand Strategy: Destroying ISIS and al Qaeda."

A New Strategy Against ISIS and al Qaeda

March 14, 2017 - Kimberly Kagan

The U.S. has been relying too heavily on Shiites and Kurds. It needs to cultivate Sunni Arab partners.

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