After the Iran War: Can the U.S. Really Take on China?

The military strategy implications of the US-Israeli war with Iran 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? The Quincy Institute held a conversation featuring Brandon Carr, studies associate at the Quincy Institute, Jennifer Kavanagh, senior fellow & director of Military Analysis at Defense Priorities, and Kelly Grieco, senior fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center. Kelley Beaucar Vlahos, editor-in-chief of Responsible Statecraft, moderated.