Beyond the Water's Edge

Last week during a press conference on Iran, Vice President Vance warned Israel about objecting to the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding. In particular, he noted that Israel and the United States do not always have the same interests, and that as Vice President, his responsibility is to the United States.

In the 47 years since Iran was taken over by radical Islamic fundamentalists, it has been a source of terror around the world. The regime slaughters its own people, launches unprovoked terrorist attacks against Israel, disseminates anti-American and antisemitic propaganda, and murders American citizens.

At the start of the Cold War, Americans largely understood that it was at its core a struggle between two opposing worldviews: freedom and tyranny. From Kennan’s Long Telegram to NSC-68, it was clear that the United States was not just fighting for territory or economic interests, but the Western principles of human dignity, individual liberty, faith, and democracy.

Birthdays are worth celebrating—especially America’s. This is why since January, The Vandenberg Coalition has published a series of videos commemorating the anniversaries of, and extracting lessons from, landmark documents and speeches in U.S. foreign policy history. The first three installments—Senator Arthur Vandenberg’s “Speech Heard ‘Round The World,”

When we talk about “peace through strength,” the strength side of the equation usually gets the most attention. But before we can determine how to best build and exercise strength, we first must be clear about what we mean by peace, particularly when it comes to China.

This week, The Vandenberg Coalition hosted a fascinating discussion between Danielle Pletka, Marshall Billingslea, and Bradley Bowman on the U.S.- NATO relationship. While all agreed NATO has been foundational to America’s past success, the question for the panel centered on what role NATO should play in America’s present and future.

Last week, The Vandenberg Coalition presented the Trump administration with a letter signed by over two dozen national security leaders requesting that in his upcoming summit with Xi, President Trump advocate for the end of the persecution of Christians in China, and in particular, the unjust imprisonmnet of Pastor Ezra Jin.

Four score and one year ago, Senator Arthur Vandenberg stood in Congress and delivered his “Speech Heard Round the World,” a bold vision for the future of American foreign policy that emphasized U.S. sovereignty, robust alliances, and a strong national defense to advance American interests and values around the world.

Last week, I had the pleasure of participating, alongside Advisory Board member Rebeccah Heinrichs, in an Alexander Hamilton Society debate on the Iran war. While there are many strong and divergent views on the operation—including within our Coalition—it is quite rare to witness a nuanced, respectful debate. As Rebeccah and I argued that the War in Iran has been a net benefit to U.S. security

For the first time since 1972, the United States left Earth’s orbit en route to the Moon as part of the Artemis II Mission. While the astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft did not step foot on the Moon during this mission, the astronauts set a record by venturing farther from Earth than any human in history.

Over the last few months, there has been much to celebrate about the display of American military capability. As I’ve written numerous times, the last year has transformed public perception of the American military.

“The Times They Are A’Changin” in Venezuela…or are they? Much has been promised for change in Venezuela following Operation Absolute Resolve—namely a plan of stabilization, recovery, and ultimately a transition to democracy.

The Vandenberg Coalition was honored to host Congressman Pat Fallon (R-TX) for an on-the-record discussion about his views on the Future of Conservative Foreign Policy.

Ten years ago, American diplomats stationed in Havana, Cuba, inexplicably began to report unusual symptoms: Pressure sensations, waves of pain, and vision and balance problems.

America is divided. It is not Democrat vs. Republican, man vs. woman, or Boomer vs. Gen Z, but instead those who live in the real world and those who live online.

The Ayatollah is dead. What that translates to – in lives saved, in human rights abuses avoided, in arbitrary detentions and torture prevented – is incalculable.

On February 22, 1946, George Kennan sent a 5,000-word diplomatic cable that shaped how the United States would understand and respond to the Soviet challenge for the rest of the Cold War.

One of the most important national security challenges of the day is how to properly calibrate our “Pivot to Asia.” China clearly remains the central pacing threat for the United States today in terms of military, economic, and critically, informational operations.

January brought new hope to freedom fighters around the world as the United States extracted Nicolás Maduro to face justice for his crimes against humanity and Iranian protestors organized to directly challenge the tyrannical regime in Tehran after 46 years of repression.

According to The Great Heist: China’s Epic Campaign to Steal America’s Secrets—a new book by David Shedd and Andrew Badger—one critical but often overlooked explanation for China’s meteoric rise has been the scale, scope, and pace of its unprecedented state-sponsored espionage campaign.

2026 has started with a bang. Some good, some bad, but it has not been dull: The stunning success of Operation Absolute Resolve. Greenland. Phase 2 of the President’s Gaza Peace Plan. The Board of Peace floated as a potential alternative to the United Nations.

While all eyes were focused on the Western Hemisphere two weeks ago, many have begun to look back eastward to Iran. In what appear to be the largest protests in the history of the Islamic Republic, Iranians of all backgrounds and ages have flooded the streets.

For the debut episode of our new video series “The Beacon of Liberty: 250 Years of American Foreign Policy,” we highlight a speech that changed the course of U.S. foreign policy: Senator Arthur Vandenberg’s “Speech Heard Round the World.”

It has been quite the week for those of us who have spent most of the last few years focused on Venezuela. Operation Absolute Resolve was a resounding success for American military might and justice – and a clear warning to America’s adversaries that our will and capability remain the best in the world.

Shortly after President Trump was inaugurated, I gave a presentation at the Special Competitive Studies Project on China. The President’s decision on TikTok, I argued, would be a bellwether for his broader approach towards China.

The Vandenberg Coalition was pleased to host Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI) for an on-the-record discussion about his views on the Future of Conservative Foreign Policy. How pervasive is the Chinese Communist Party’s presence in the United States?

If you have been fortunate enough to spend time in the American West, it is very likely you’ve watched in wonder as the expansive wings of a red-tailed hawk glide across the never-ending blue sky. These majestic beasts are assertive, agile, and strong, fiercely defending their nests and territories.

Given last week’s holiday, let’s talk Turkey. Not the bird this time – the country. Last month, I had the opportunity to travel to Israel for the first time since 2018, and unsurprisingly, the key theme was the future security of the Israeli state. While there was much discussion on Gaza and Hamas, another potential threat loomed in the background: Turkey.

As many in Washington seek to clarify President Trump’s objectives toward Venezuela, there is one leader whose vision needs no interpretation: Maria Corina Machado. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the democracy movement in Venezuela, Maria Corina recently outlined her “Freedom Manifesto”

For the fifth month in a row, The Vandenberg Coalition and GOP polling firm TargetPoint surveyed a sample of Trump voters to gauge their perspectives on salient foreign policy challenges. President Trump’s foreign policy remains very popular with his voters, but they especially approve when he takes tough action against our adversaries.

This week, I’ve been thinking about democracy. The reason we are such fierce defenders of a strong American foreign policy is because it ultimately defends our own nation — our sovereignty, our democracy, our values. What was the secret sauce that made our democracy so successful, when so many others have collapsed?

Earlier this month, Grace Jin Drexel received the heart-wrenching news that her father, Pastor Ezra Jin, was rounded up and detained as a part of the largest coordinated nationwide crackdown against an urban house church in over 40 years in China.

Last week, our hearts were lightened with the return of 20 living Israeli hostages who spent the previous 738 days under Hamas captivity. 738 days. An unimaginable horror. While much remains to secure a lasting peace in the Middle East…

For the fourth month in a row, The Vandenberg Coalition and GOP polling firm TargetPoint surveyed a sample of Trump voters between September 22–29 to assess their attitudes on the pressing foreign policy challenges…

Another shutdown. While it is true that one of the hardest lessons to learn in DC is that politics and policy are irrevocably linked, it is nevertheless disappointing to see when partisanship so clearly places party over country.

Last week, President Trump laid out his vision of American foreign policy – and his criticisms of the United Nations. While what most people will remember about the President’s speech is the escalator incident, the teleprompter, or the President’s colorful line that “all your countries are going to hell,”

The Vandenberg Coalition wishes a Shana Tova Umetukah to all of those observing Rosh Hashanah. May this year bring blessings of peace and security and serve as a celebration of the beauty and sweetness of life. Honest Candor will be back next week.

Today is Constitution Day. 238 years ago, our founders signed the document that enshrined within it both our contemporary system of governance and the rights we continue to hold dear.

As international leaders gather once again in New York to cosplay diplomacy at the UN General Assembly, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the history – and the future of the international system. President Trump has been accused of breaking the “rules-based liberal international order,” but in truth his actions have simply highlighted that order broke long ago.

While President Trump rightly promised toughness against our leading adversary – with some even worrying the focus on China would be so all-consuming it would exclude confronting other challenges abroad – so far it feels more like a rapprochement. Just within the past few weeks, we have seen the White House create an official TikTok account

This special edition highlights recent national security books by Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board members, covering U.S. foreign policy, military strategy, China, nuclear deterrence, Israel, and global challenges shaping today’s strategic debates.

After the Reagan administration, the issue of human rights has come to be captured and dominated by the left, with it now being seen as largely synonymous with progressive policy preferences rather than the fundamental rights that align with our founding principles. Some on the right are now highly skeptical of whether human rights as an issue can be salvaged.

Trump voters overwhelmingly back “Peace Through Strength,” with strong support for U.S. global dominance, sanctions on Russia, and military aid to Israel. Additional features highlight TikTok’s risks and foreign policy commentary.

With the future of the global order hinging on the outcome of today’s great power competition, a group of multi-aligned states has emerged with a growing ability to influence the outcome of this competition. Effectively engaging these ‘global swing states’ will be essential if the United States is to succeed in preserving an international order that favors American interests and principles.

This edition of Beyond the Water’s Edge highlights strategies for confronting authoritarian threats—urging stronger sanctions on Russia, exposing Iranian regime brutality, and warning against revisionist movements on the American right.

This edition of Beyond the Water’s Edge spotlights North Korea’s alliance with anti-American powers, evolving UN reform debates, and escalating threats from China and Iran — with expert insight and commentary throughout.

This edition of Beyond the Water’s Edge explores polling on Trump’s foreign policy base, Iran’s covert threats in the Americas, U.S. strategic mineral policy, and the shifting dynamics of global alliances.

In this week’s Beyond the Water’s Edge, experts unpack China and Russia’s deepening “no-limits” partnership, assess U.S. strikes on Iran, and explore strategic shifts across the Middle East and Africa.

This edition of Beyond the Water’s Edge analyzes U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, evaluates the risks of premature celebration, and explores vulnerabilities exposed by allied operations against Russian and Iranian assets.

This edition of Beyond the Water’s Edge examines Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, its strategic impact on Iran’s nuclear program, evolving Iran-China ties, and what Washington must learn from this moment.

This edition of Beyond the Water’s Edge explores Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb, China-Qatar ties, Taiwan’s defense, and why U.S. policymakers must stay vigilant in deterring global threats and authoritarian expansion.

For the debut episode of “The Other Superpower,” we analyze the fast-evolving relationship between Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Though historically foes, these two nations have moved steadily closer over the last 20 years.

President Trump’s eventful trip to the Middle East marked the first major international visit of his second term, featuring stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Framing the visit as a break from the legacy of the so-called “nation-builders” he has long derided, President Trump returned to Washington

The support of the United States for liberty and human rights isn’t a problem that needs to be solved or a weakness in our relations with other nations. It’s an asset, and so understood by our enemies as well as our friends.

Reflecting on V-E Day’s legacy, this edition explores the enduring threat of authoritarian regimes, instability in Haiti, and U.S. strategic challenges with China, Russia, and Iran under Trump’s leadership.