"Benin’s failed coup shows that coastal states long viewed as more resilient are now entering the same danger zone."

U.S. counterterrorism strategy across West Africa is quietly increasing coup risk—here’s how Washington can both better fight terrorism and prevent coups.

"For much of the past decade, Benin stood out as one of the few remaining democratic anchors in West Africa...That all changed on 7 December 2025, when elements of Benin’s special forces launched a violent but ultimately failed coup attempt in Cotonou, the capital city."

U.S. counterterrorism strategy across West Africa is quietly increasing coup risk—here’s how Washington can both better fight terrorism and prevent coups.

Impressive! | Exiled Tibetans choose leaders for lost homeland www.yahoo.com/news/article...

My latest, in @jodemocracy.bsky.social, w/ the great Calin Trenkov-Wermuth. We argue that U.S. counterterrorism strategy in West Africa is increasing coup risk and highlight a governance-first approach instead | African Coups and the Elite-Forces Trap www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...

Nigeria playing this manufactured crisis quite well… | US sends military officers to Nigeria apnews.com/article/nige...

#Kenya: Power Play-ODM Demands Equal Share In 2027 Coalition Deal streamlinefeed.co.ke/news/power-p...

US Delivers 'Critical Military Supplies' To Nigeria After Xmas Strikes www.barrons.com/news/us-deli...

My latest, in @foreignaffairs.com, on the need for a more resilient homeland defense. I take lessons from my military assistance and security cooperation work abroad and apply them at home. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Mission accomplished? | Nigeria to take over anti-jihadist operations after US Christmas strikes www.africanews.com/2026/01/07/n...

Sabotage Suspected in Cutting of Undersea Cable, Finnish Police Say www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/w...

The New Arteries of Power Subsea Cables Are This Century’s Hidden Battleground By lynnkuok.bsky.social "Despite the growing importance of subsea cables, the laws and institutions governing them have not kept pace.." www.foreignaffairs.com/new-arteries...

Interesting on how protestors inspire others globally, a factor that doesn’t get enough attention | What drove gen Z protests that brought down governments? Five activists explain www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Here’s the problem with coups… Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea junta chief who pledged not to run for office, elected president www.lemonde.fr/en/internati...

Calling all cybersecurity experts! The application is open for @aspenpolicyacademy.bsky.social's paid summer 2026 Science & Tech Policy Fellowship! Join to gain the tools to transform your expertise into policy impact. Learn more and apply by 2/5: bit.ly/4h7I7Kx

Russia Sends Arms Shipment to Madagascar’s Military Government www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

ODM seeks fresh power-sharing talks with President Ruto ahead of 2027 polls nation.africa/kenya/news/p...

Hear hear! “deterrence today must be rooted in mass, speed, and societal resilience rather than technology alone” defence24.com/defence-poli...

Congress’s annual defense bill aims to reverse a troubling course and recenter resilience in U.S. defense policy.

Congress Is Recommitting to Resilience

My latest on resilience as defense strategy in @foreignpolicy.com, w/ ⁦‪Jesse Humpal‬⁩. We argue that Congress is recommitting to resilience in its defense bill, but that much work remains to harden critical infrastructure against hybrid threats foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/15/c...

Brave | Protesters march in Guinea-Bissau to denounce coup www.msn.com/en-us/news/w...

ECOWAS told AFP meanwhile that regional leaders, including the presidents of Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Sierra Leone decided "to stand firm and not repeat their error in Niger". www.rfi.fr/en/internati...

Impressive regional action. Much stronger response than in recent past (think Niger) | Benin coup attempt: About 200 soldiers from Nigeria and Ivory Coast deployed for 'clean-up' www.bbc.com/news/article...

Alleged leader of foiled Benin coup has sought refuge in Togo, Benin says www.reuters.com/world/africa...

West African bloc says region is in a state of emergency after coups apnews.com/article/ecow...

Benin Coup: ECOWAS orders immediate deployment of Standby Force www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-new...

Zimbabwe: Activists accuse state security agents of targeting Mnangagwa critics www.theafricareport.com/399024/zimba...

Trump's recent threat of U.S. military action would be a costly mistake time.com/7333926/nige...

Russia maintains network for hybrid warfare in Europe www.dw.com/en/russian-n...

Excited to share first piece in Time‬⁩, w/ Rick Bennet, on Nigeria findings from our book: www.brookings.edu/books/war-at... The diplomatic crisis should be used to push Nigeria to finally reform its military @brookings.edu time.com/7333926/nige...

Yes, I’m a broken record on resilience. But it’s critical to mitigating America’s vulnerabilities to hybrid threats. My latest, w/ Kevin Stringer, in Small Wars Journal on what the US can learn from Lithuania @brookings.edu smallwarsjournal.com/2025/11/06/l...

Wildly impressive | Ukraine to set up arms export offices in Berlin, Copenhagen, Zelenskiy says www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Thanks for reading and sharing! Agree it’s a tall order. Hopefully we can harness bipartisan American patriotism to build momentum for this project.

My latest for @brookings.edu‬⁩, w/ the prolific Jesse Humpal‬⁩, making the case for a defense strategy based on resilience. America’s adversaries are already waging war across the spectrum of conflict. We need total defense for an age of total war www.brookings.edu/articles/why...

A giant, no matter what you thought of him | Raila Odinga, Champion of Kenyan Democracy and Former Prime Minister, Dies at 80 www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/w...

"Tibet is fast approaching a decisive moment, one that demands U.S. attention and action," @alexhnoyes.bsky.social and Nolan Peterson writes. https://wapo.st/48tiLWA

A pleasure to write with Nolan Peterson in @washingtonpost.com about a potential U.S.-China flashpoint that hasn’t been getting enough attention: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Baltic states plan for mass evacuations in case of a Russian attack www.reuters.com/business/aer...

Michelle Gavin in "The Age of Change" illuminates some of the frustrated, defiant, and often humorous pan-African political conversations underway among young, politically engaged populations. Get your copy today ⬇️

Excited to share my latest @newsweek.com piece, this time with the great ⁦‪Jesse Humpal‬⁩. We outline the threat to America’s telecoms and suggest ways to harden our infrastructure | The War for America’s Networks ⁦ www.newsweek.com/the-war-for-...

Moldova's pro-EU party wins pivotal election in setback for Russia www.reuters.com/world/europe...

Russia training Chinese air unit for possible Taiwan attack, analysts warn www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Moldova warns Russia unleashing huge interference campaign to sway crucial election www.cnn.com/2025/09/26/e...

Doesn’t get enough attention but terrorism threat persists in #Mozambique: Insurgents Attack Balama Twice in Less Than a Week moztimes.com/en/insurgent...

The package would consist almost solely of “asymmetric” equipment, such as drones, missiles and sensors to monitor the island’s coastline, the people said. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

US to cut some security funds for European countries bordering Russia www.ft.com/content/0157...