Latest Articles

Trump Can't Afford to Go Soft on Turkey

May 16, 2019  •  Wall Street Journal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be playing dumb, but he's not stupid.

The strongman plunked down a deposit for Russia's advanced S-400 air-defense system in December 2017—months after Congress passed a law that triggers painful U.S. sanctions on governments that purchase Russian armaments. Now Mr. Erdogan wants an exemption, and he apparently believes President Trump is inclined to give him one. Mr. Trump likely cannot do so without congressional approval. But even if he could, he shouldn't.

Continue to the full article  |  More articles

The Gaza Conundrum

May 15, 2019  •  Commentary Magazine

On May 14, 2018, at the exact moment that Israel was celebrating the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, I sat across the desk from a senior Israeli official in Tel Aviv. He was in a foul mood. He looked as if he hadn't slept much. He rubbed his eyes, scratched his stubble, and blurted suddenly, "Gaza is a problem from hell."

Amid all the embassy fanfare, Israeli officials were beginning to realize the Gaza border protests that had erupted on March 30, celebrated on social media as the "Great March of Return," would not soon end. And the Israelis were finding them increasingly difficult to handle.

Continue to the full article  |  More articles

From Ben-Gurion to Netanyahu: The Evolution of Israel's National Security Strategy

May 13, 2019  •  FDD Research Memo

Every White House has an official National Security Strategy (NSS) thanks to the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986. The law mandates annual revisions to the NSS, but the accepted practice is for the White House to publish a new strategy every four years. The public nature of the strategy ensures that the document is full of platitudes. Nonetheless, the requirement to produce the NSS ensures that each president's national security team conducts a thorough review of U.S. foreign and defense policy. The resulting document represents, at least in principle, the authoritative view of the commander in chief.

Continue to the full article  |  More articles

Oman in the Middle: Muscat's Balancing Act Between Iran and America

May 10, 2019  •  FDD Monograph

Weapons smuggling to Houthis via Oman rank among recent concerns

Download the full report here

(Washington, DC, May 9, 2019) – A new report issued today by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies reviews Oman's policies, and warns that Muscat may be drawing too close to Tehran. Economic deals between the two countries and reports of Iranian weapons traversing Omani territory have caused concern in Washington and among its Gulf neighbors.

Continue to the full article  |  More articles

It's time to lift the arms embargo on Cyprus

May 8, 2019  •  The Hill

The United States has a prime opportunity to thwart the designs of Russia, China, and Turkey in the Middle East. At the same time, it can strengthen a bilateral relationship with a democratic, European ally and enhance our defense supply base, as well. This can all be accomplished by taking one relatively simple step: Lift the arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus.

That Cyprus is under embargo is a head-scratcher in the first place. The country is a member of the European Union (EU). It has enjoyed good relations with the United States and is eager to strengthen them further.

Continue to the full article  |  More articles

Books by Jonathan Schanzer