Andrew Latham

An F-35B Lightning II taxis on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli (LHA 7) during flight operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 4, 2026. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Taiwan Is Winning The War China Will Not Fight — And May Be Losing The One China Will

Key Points and Summary: Taiwan is harder to invade today than at any point in its modern history. Over the past two years it...

Andrew LathamMay 23, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Navy Retired The Only Ships That Can Actually Clear Sea Mines 6 Months before Iran Mined The Strait of Hormuz

The U.S. Navy decommissioned all four Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships from Bahrain in September 2025 — USS Devastator, USS Dextrous, USS Gladiator, and USS...

Andrew LathamMay 22, 2026

An F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter Squadron 103 is parked on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as the ship operates in the Arabian Sea on Dec. 5, 2006. The Eisenhower is in the Arabian Sea in support of maritime security operations.

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Iran Never Tried to Close The Strait of Hormuz: It Has a Much More Powerful Playbook Ready

Iran never aimed to close the Strait of Hormuz, Dr. Andrew Latham argues. Tehran built something far more useful — permanent uncertainty. Mines, shore-based...

Andrew LathamMay 20, 2026

Dollars and Sense

The Oil Market Is Coming for Donald Trump: U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve Has Now Fallen Below 300 Million Barrels

The International Energy Agency’s May report shows global oil inventories fell by 250 million barrels across March and April, with the Q2 drawdown running...

Andrew LathamMay 19, 2026

Shown is a graphical artist rendering of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Platform. The rendering highlights the Air Force’s sixth generation fighter, the F-47. The NGAD Platform will bring lethal, next-generation technologies to ensure air superiority for the Joint Force in any conflict. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Air Force’s New F-47 NGAD Stealth Fighter Has a Math Problem

The U.S. Air Force is buying 267 F-15EX Eagle II fighters — up from 129. The Mitchell Institute’s research director, Heather Penney, and retired...

Andrew LathamMay 15, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor approaches the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker during a refueling mission over the Florida Panhandle, Dec. 14, 2022. Aerial refueling allows pilots to stay airborne for longer periods of time, increasing the mission capabilities individual aircraft can support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Betty R. Chevalier)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

China Just Made It Clear: A Taiwan Crisis Is Brewing That Could Spark a War

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that mishandling Taiwan could lead to “collision or conflict” between China and the United States during the Trump-Xi summit...

Andrew LathamMay 15, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Cheap Chinese EVs Would Gut America’s Ability to Fight a Long War Over Taiwan

For months, conservatives have fretted that Donald Trump may agree to open the U.S. auto market to cheap Chinese electric vehicles as part of...

Andrew LathamMay 14, 2026

A B-52 Stratofortress from the 2nd Bomb Wing returns home to Barksdale Air Force Base following a Bomber Task Force mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Aug. 20, 2023. BTF missions demonstrate the credibility of the United States forces to address a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Seth Watson)

The Treaty

The IEA Director Just Called the Iran War ‘The Largest Supply Disruption in the History of the Global Oil Market’ — Trump Heads to Beijing for the Xi Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump heads to Beijing this week for a May 14-15 summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The IEA director recently called...

Andrew LathamMay 13, 2026

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler prepares to refuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 29, 2025. The Growlers are assigned to the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations in the CENTCOM AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gerald R. Willis)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Naval Blockade Cannot End the Strait of Hormuz Crisis — China Buys 90% of Iran’s Oil and Has Not Pulled Back

Since the February 28 strikes on Iran, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to roughly 5% of pre-war levels. That removes approximately...

Andrew LathamMay 12, 2026

National Security Journal

Andrew Latham

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Taiwan Is Winning The War China Will Not Fight — And May Be Losing The One China Will

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Navy Retired The Only Ships That Can Actually Clear Sea Mines 6 Months before Iran Mined The Strait of Hormuz

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Iran Never Tried to Close The Strait of Hormuz: It Has a Much More Powerful Playbook Ready

Dollars and Sense

The Oil Market Is Coming for Donald Trump: U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve Has Now Fallen Below 300 Million Barrels

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Air Force’s New F-47 NGAD Stealth Fighter Has a Math Problem

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

China Just Made It Clear: A Taiwan Crisis Is Brewing That Could Spark a War

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Cheap Chinese EVs Would Gut America’s Ability to Fight a Long War Over Taiwan

The Treaty

The IEA Director Just Called the Iran War ‘The Largest Supply Disruption in the History of the Global Oil Market’ — Trump Heads to Beijing for the Xi Summit

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Naval Blockade Cannot End the Strait of Hormuz Crisis — China Buys 90% of Iran’s Oil and Has Not Pulled Back

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