Publication

Prior to Ashton Carter's potential appointment to the position of US Secretary of Defense, this report examines the key issues facing the Pentagon. In particular, the articles included in the report examine 1) what strategic policy Carter should adopt as Secretary of Defense; 2) what reforms Carter should attempt to make at the Department of Defense; 3) the main challenges posed to the US by the Islamic State (IS) and Iran; 4) US policy toward Asia and Washington's strategic shift toward the region; 5) US defense relations with Europe and the challenges posed by Russia; and 6) the importance of the US nuclear deterrent and the need to ensure its continued effectiveness.