Skip to main content

Defense & Security

Vox’s hub for news, analysis, and opinions on defense and national security.

Future Perfect
Hackers just broke into America’s tap waterHackers just broke into America’s tap water
Future Perfect

Iran almost certainly hacked into water systems in a dozen states. How scared should you be?

By Sara Herschander
Politics
The US might lose the AI race to China. Should Americans care?The US might lose the AI race to China. Should Americans care?
Politics

Everyone in Silicon Valley and the Beltway is freaked out about Chinese AI, but there’s less consensus on what to do about it.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
We’re running out of ways to get oil out of the Middle EastWe’re running out of ways to get oil out of the Middle East
Politics

Saudi Arabia had found a workaround for the Strait of Hormuz. Then the Houthis showed up.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Why Trump may be undermining his own Saudi nuclear dealWhy Trump may be undermining his own Saudi nuclear deal
Politics

A deal like this has been in the works for years. Experts fear it could spark a new arms race.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Iran may be stronger than we thoughtIran may be stronger than we thought
Politics

Three US troops were killed in the past week, and the risks are only growing.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
How success in Venezuela set Trump up for disaster in IranHow success in Venezuela set Trump up for disaster in Iran
Politics

Not every country can be run from afar.

By Joshua Keating
Today, Explained newsletter
Hegseth wants a more macho military. Testosterone shots won’t help.Hegseth wants a more macho military. Testosterone shots won’t help.
Today, Explained newsletter

The Pentagon’s low-T screening is the last thing most men need.

By Dylan Scott
Politics
Trump wants the US military to be rent-a-copsTrump wants the US military to be rent-a-cops
Politics

A mercenary vision of American power.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
The Iran war’s end is being greatly exaggeratedThe Iran war’s end is being greatly exaggerated
Politics

There are many questions unresolved in the latest ceasefire deal and many ways the conflict could begin again.

By Joshua Keating
Future Perfect
The next AI safety fight may actually be about DNAThe next AI safety fight may actually be about DNA
Future Perfect

AI could make bioweapons easier to build. A rare coalition wants to stop that now.

By Shayna Korol
Politics
The growing US-Israel split over IranThe growing US-Israel split over Iran
Politics

Trump and Netanyahu do not want the same things.

By Joshua Keating
How AI could make wars go nuclear
Technology

We had a plan to prevent World War III. AI could break it.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Trump still thinks he’s winning in IranTrump still thinks he’s winning in Iran
Politics

Despite everything, the president is holding out for more before he ends the war.

By Joshua Keating
Future Perfect
Why we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of warWhy we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of war
Future Perfect

Non-combatants bear the brunt of modern war’s toll, but we don’t know how to memorialize them.

By Bryan Walsh
Politics
5 ways the Iran standoff could end5 ways the Iran standoff could end
Politics

Is the US on the verge of a deal with Iran or a return to war?

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Ukraine’s fight against Russia is going better than you might thinkUkraine’s fight against Russia is going better than you might think
Politics

The war in Iran looked like a gift for Russia. It hasn’t worked out that way.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
The war in Iran isn’t ending — it’s becoming something newThe war in Iran isn’t ending — it’s becoming something new
Politics

Why this conflict is so hard to end.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
We have no idea if Iran can still build a bombWe have no idea if Iran can still build a bomb
Politics

The central goal of the war is nowhere near a resolution.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
“A whole civilization will die tonight”: How Trump is threatening war crimes“A whole civilization will die tonight”: How Trump is threatening war crimes
Politics

Bombing all of Iran’s bridges and power plants would be illegal.

By Joshua Keating
What happened when they installed ChatGPT on a nuclear supercomputer
Technology

How they’re using AI at the lab that created the atom bomb.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Is this the beginning of the end of the war in Iran?Is this the beginning of the end of the war in Iran?
Politics

Trump signaled that he’s ready to wrap up the conflict, but that may not be up to him.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Trump says the Iran war is over. So why won’t he end it?Trump says the Iran war is over. So why won’t he end it?
Politics

It may not be possible to TACO out of this one.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Here’s how Iran could become a “forever war”Here’s how Iran could become a “forever war”
Politics

“Mowing the grass,” explained.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
How Trump’s war with Iran is helping PutinHow Trump’s war with Iran is helping Putin
Politics

The spiraling conflict is a lifeline for Russia’s leader.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
The world doesn’t have enough ammo for the Iran warThe world doesn’t have enough ammo for the Iran war
Politics

How long can Iran keep shooting missiles? How long can everyone else keep shooting them down?

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Trump might want “boots on the ground” in Iran. Just not American ones.Trump might want “boots on the ground” in Iran. Just not American ones.
Politics

An Iranian Kurdish leader says his people are ready to rise up, but need more US support.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
The dangerous lesson countries may take from the Iran warThe dangerous lesson countries may take from the Iran war
Politics

Having a nuclear weapon has never looked more appealing.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
World leaders are almost never killed in war. Why did it happen to Iran’s supreme leader?World leaders are almost never killed in war. Why did it happen to Iran’s supreme leader?
Politics

The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could usher in a new age of assassination.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Trump attacked regime change wars for years. Now he’s launched his own.Trump attacked regime change wars for years. Now he’s launched his own.
Politics

What does “America First” even mean anymore?

By Joshua Keating
Politics
The nuclear nightmare at the heart of the Trump-Anthropic fightThe nuclear nightmare at the heart of the Trump-Anthropic fight
Politics

Should we trust Claude to stop a missile attack?

By Joshua Keating
Future Perfect
The Pentagon’s battle with Anthropic is really a war over who controls AIThe Pentagon’s battle with Anthropic is really a war over who controls AI
Future Perfect

The most important AI story of the year (so far), explained.

By Bryan Walsh
Politics
Does the US have enough aircraft carriers for all Trump’s wars?Does the US have enough aircraft carriers for all Trump’s wars?
Politics

Want to threaten Iran? You’re going to need a bigger boat.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
It really looks like we’re about to bomb Iran againIt really looks like we’re about to bomb Iran again
Politics

Don’t expect a war to end as quickly this time.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Trump’s biggest war is one he almost never talks aboutTrump’s biggest war is one he almost never talks about
Politics

Why did the US bomb Somalia more than 100 times last year?

By Joshua Keating
Politics
What we know about the mysterious closure and reopening of the El Paso airportWhat we know about the mysterious closure and reopening of the El Paso airport
Politics

The US shut down a major city’s airport, and nobody is quite sure why.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Is a new US-Russia arms race about to begin?Is a new US-Russia arms race about to begin?
Politics

We’re about to lose our last nuclear arms control treaty with Russia. What does that mean?

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Gen Z really doesn’t want to go warGen Z really doesn’t want to go war
Politics

One big reason why Trump has been losing the youngest voters.

By Rachel Janfaza
Politics
Trump looks ready to bomb Iran again. Why?Trump looks ready to bomb Iran again. Why?
Politics

This Iran war may not end as quickly as the last one.

By Joshua Keating
Future Perfect
The world just passed a surprisingly positive milestone on nuclear weaponsThe world just passed a surprisingly positive milestone on nuclear weapons
Future Perfect

It’s been more than eight years since the last nuclear explosion. How long will the pause last?

By Joshua Keating
Politics
The week Europe fought backThe week Europe fought back
Politics

The Greenland crisis appears to be ending, but the trans-Atlantic relationship may never be the same.

By Joshua Keating