The White House (via OMB) strongly protests Congressional efforts within the FY 2027 NDAA to prohibit the purchase of warships from foreign shipyards. The Administration argues that these restrictions undermine national security by limiting flexibility and hindering its strategy of leveraging allied yards, such as in the 'Finland model,' to drive investment into U.S. shipbuilding capacity. This signals a significant policy shift toward integrating international partners into advanced naval construction, suggesting the Pentagon is prepared to bypass traditional domestic build requirements for future combat vessels.
Avoid any temporary deal on Iran’s nukes
English Summary
The Brookings article argues that any temporary nuclear deal with Iran is fundamentally flawed and dangerous. The core reasoning is that such agreements imply that the Iranian regime's moderation is predictable, which is an unreliable hope, and they undermine the permanent, global nature of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Furthermore, temporary limits send dangerous signals to both Iranian hardliners and regional rivals, suggesting that a nuclear option is permissible. Policy should therefore reject time-bound limitations, focusing instead on establishing permanent compliance mechanisms and robust international monitoring to manage the nuclear program.
中文摘要
布魯金斯智庫的文章主張，任何與伊朗的臨時核協議本質上有缺陷且極具危險性。其核心論點是，這類協議暗示了伊朗政權的溫和路線是可預測的，而這是一種不可靠的希望；此外，它們也削弱了《不擴散核武器條約》（NPT）永久且全球性的性質。更進一步地，臨時限制向伊朗的強硬派和區域競爭對手發出了危險的訊號，暗示了核選項是可接受的。因此，政策應拒絕時間限制的約束，轉而著重建立永久性的合規機制和強健的國際監控體系，以管理其核計畫。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The Western Pacific remains a highly active theater defined by sustained U.S.-led military exercises and escalating great power competition. Key evidence includes continuous joint operations, such as RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii and the deployment of CSGs into the South China Sea, juxtaposed with increased naval activity from both China (PLAN task groups) and Russia near Japan's critical straits. These movements underscore a strategic push by non-allied powers to assert presence and challenge regional norms. Policy implications dictate that allied nations must maintain robust multilateral cooperation and interoperability to safeguard freedom of navigation and manage escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
-
3.
The article argues that the post-Cold War era of U.S. unipolarity, established by the perceived invincibility demonstrated during the Gulf War, has ended. This decline is driven by globalization and technological diffusion, which have democratized advanced military capabilities, allowing regional actors to challenge major powers. Consequently, policymakers must prepare for a more volatile international order marked by frequent crises, heightened costs for securing global trade chokepoints, and reduced predictability from American power. The new rules dictate that great powers can no longer effortlessly impose their will through force.
-
4.
The article argues that current market borrowing costs are rising independently of the Federal Reserve's policy stance, challenging the assumption that the Fed controls all rates. Evidence shows significant increases in key rates—such as 2-year Treasuries and mortgages—even while the effective federal funds rate remains steady. This divergence occurs because market rates reflect complex factors like inflation expectations, credit risk, and geopolitical volatility, which are outside the central bank's direct control. Policymakers should therefore recognize that sustainable rate moderation requires credible disinflation and disciplined government budgets, rather than relying solely on Fed intervention.
-
5.
Despite recent trade setbacks, the U.S. retains fundamental structural economic leverage over China, particularly in high-tech sectors and intermediate goods. While Beijing can temporarily weaponize specific resources like rare earths, these chokepoints are vulnerable to diversification efforts by the West. The article argues that the most effective strategy is not unilateral action but coordinated multilateral pressure from U.S. allies across Asia and Europe. Washington must therefore coordinate its economic statecraft with partners to maximize damage to China’s export-dependent model.