Lessons in Military Deterrence from the Iran War: US Strategy in Contested Waters
What are the Iran War’s implications for a Taiwan contingency?

While the ultimate outcome of the US-Israeli war with Iran remains uncertain, its implications for US military strategy already warrant close scrutiny. The United States’ lack of operational success against Iran raises critical questions about US deterrence strategy – particularly vis a vis China in the case of a Taiwan contingency – and the broader limitations of American military might in an era of contested naval supremacy and power projection.

Is the United States capable of prolonged military engagement in the Middle East while maintaining a deterrent force posture in East Asia? How should the United States respond strategically in the Indo-Pacific to Iran’s tactical successes with drones and missiles? What does the Iran War demonstrate about the value of forward U.S. operating bases in the case of a Taiwan contingency?
June 2026

17
12:00 PM ET
Sign up today!
REGISTER
Join us for a timely and important discussion with:

Kelly Grieco

Kelly A. Grieco is a senior fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center, where her work focuses on US foreign policy and defense policy, addressing questions about military strategy, force structure, military alliances, air operations, and the future of war. She has expertise in U.S. military alliances and the security architectures of the Indo-Pacific and Europe.

Jennifer Kavanagh

Jennifer Kavanagh is a senior fellow & director of military analysis at Defense Priorities. Kavanagh’s research focuses on U.S. military strategy, force structure and defense budgeting, and U.S. military deployments and interventions. Previously, she was a senior fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 

Brandon Carr

Brandon Carr is a studies associate at the Quincy Institute specializing in military affairs and defense studies.  He earned a bachelors in political science from The George Washington University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and a masters in international relations from the University of Oxford, earning honors in his first year.

Kelley Beaucar Vlahos (Moderator)

Kelley Beaucar Vlahos is editor-in-chief at Responsible Statecraft and a senior advisor at the Quincy Institute. Previously she was executive editor of The American Conservative magazine. Before joining TAC in 2017, Vlahos served as a contributing editor to the magazine, reporting and publishing regular articles on U.S. foreign policy since 2007.
DONATE

© Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, #7000, Washington D.C., 20006

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.