August 27, 2017

How to Improve Return on Investment for Security Assistance

Security assistance is an expensive tool of statecraft, even if it is just one component of a total foreign aid allotment that represents only about one percent of the total U.S. budget. In FY 2015, the tab totaled an estimated $16.8 billion. Security assistance includes all grant assistance programs through which the United States provides defense articles, military training, and other defense-related services. The United States uses this assistance not only to build the capacity of allies and partners, but also to try to shape their behavior. Though this latter effort often fails, recipients rarely suffer the consequences.

Read the full op-ed in Lawfare.

  • Podcast
    • March 28, 2025
    Siliconsciousness: The AI Competition: Public Policy Strategies: Part 1

    This episode comprises the first part of our special event, “The AI Competition: Public Policy Strategies”. The event, co-hosted by MIT Technology Review, brings together some...

    By Dr. ED McGrady

    • Video
    • March 25, 2025
    How Drones in Ukraine Are Reshaping War

    Samuel Bendett, a senior adjunct fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins The Cipher Brief to discuss the current situation of drones being used in Ukraine.Watc...

    By Samuel Bendett

  • Commentary
    • The Interpreter
    • March 25, 2025
    Awful but Lawful: China’s Australia Flotilla

    As such, this was not a demonstration of Chinese freedom of navigation. It was a show of force....

    By Tom Shugart

  • Reports
    • March 13, 2025
    Safe and Effective

    The promise of artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy to change the character of war inches closer to reality...

    By Josh Wallin

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia