Ely Ratner

This report discusses the challenges associated with potential confrontations between the United States and hostile states with small nuclear arsenals. It examines prospects for neutralizing their nuclear capabilities via combinations of offensive and defensive options at varying levels of opponent nuclear development and managing escalation risks in conventional wars with them across a range of scenarios.

This study analyzes what is driving China s Central Asia and Afghanistan-Pakistan policies, identifies China s overarching strategy, examines the extent of Chinese activities in the region, and assesses their implications for the United States. The authors contend that China projects an image of considerable strength in Central and South Asia to mask serious frailty."

In response to the lack of a comprehensive tool to assess a country's defense sector and its ability to counter a range of security threats, a RAND team developed the Defense Sector Assessment Rating Tool (DSART). The tool consists of six assessments to quantitatively and qualitatively determine a country's defense sector capabilities and potential areas for reform, and it is designed so that it can be adapted to a changing security environment.