View Missile Technology Control Regime Reform: Key Changes and Next Steps By Sean Wilson, Clayton SwopePublishedMarch 14, 2025 On January 7, 2025, the outgoing administration announced new U.S. policy guidance for implementing the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which is a voluntary multilateral arrangement established in 1987 with the purpose of limiting “the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (i.e. nuclear, chemical and biological weapons), by controlling transfers that could make a contribution to delivery […]
Why Should the United States Prioritize Mars? By Clayton Swope, Clayton SwopePublishedMarch 14, 2025 During his inaugural address on January 20, 2024, President Donald Trump indicated he will prioritize U.S. space endeavors focused on Mars. While NASA has a long history of Martian exploration, including operating ongoing missions to the Red Planet, the president’s remarks suggest Mars may play a more central role in NASA’s agenda during the coming years. Unless accompanied by […]
Next Steps for the U.S.-Japan Space Alliance By Sean Wilson, Clayton SwopePublishedApril 10, 2025 Japan’s heavy investment in space capabilities, coupled with the importance of space in supporting U.S. power projection in the region, has contributed to space becoming a strategic pillar of the U.S.-Japan alliance in recent years. The importance of the bilateral space partnership was highlighted recently in a joint statement from the February 2025 meeting of President Trump […]
View Protecting the Homeland: The Iron Dome for America By Ioannis Nikas, Grayson Phillips, Clayton SwopePublishedMarch 5, 2025 On January 27, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) entitled “The Iron Dome for America.” Citing the potentially “catastrophic threat” from across the missile spectrum, its stated purpose is to “provide for the common defense of [American] citizens and the Nation.” In an evolving and diverse threat environment, this order calls for a […]
