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.
Russian Blood and Treasure: The Ballooning Costs of Putin’s War
English Summary
CSIS concludes that Russia has lost the military initiative in Ukraine, facing mounting costs that are proving strategically unsustainable for Moscow. Evidence points to massive Russian casualties (1.4 million total) and a stalled ground offensive, coupled with significant net territorial losses throughout 2026. Critically, Ukraine has successfully escalated its campaign using AI-enabled long-range strikes against deep Russian infrastructure, including energy and industrial targets near major cities. These mounting military failures and domestic strains suggest that continued international support for Ukrainian defense is crucial to degrading Russia's war capacity.
中文摘要
戰略與國際問題研究所（CSIS）總結指出，俄羅斯在烏克蘭已失去軍事主動權，面臨的成本日益累積，對莫斯科而言已證明具有戰略不可持續性。證據顯示，俄方遭受了大規模傷亡（總計140萬人），地面攻勢停滯不前，加上2026年內顯著的領土損失。至關重要的是，烏克蘭成功地利用AI輔助的遠程打擊戰，升級了其作戰行動，針對俄羅斯深層基礎設施（包括靠近主要城市的能源和工業目標）發動攻擊。這些不斷累積的軍事失敗和國內壓力表明，持續獲得國際對烏克蘭防禦的支持，對於削弱俄羅斯的戰爭能力至關重要。
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.