FDD's Foreign Podicy The Axis of Aggressors and Unraveling World Order
May 8, 2026
Eric S. Edelman, former U.S. ambassador and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, brings decades of grand strategy and deterrence experience. He outlines coordination among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. He discusses strain on alliances, nuclear risk from multipolar deterrence, defense spending and procurement challenges, and why forward forces and industrial resilience matter.
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Axis Of Aggressors Raises Strategic Complexity
- The world faces an unprecedented security environment with multiple nuclear peers and cooperating adversaries.
- Eric Edelman warns China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea form an "axis of aggressors" increasing danger and complexity for U.S. deterrence.
Recent Strategy Documents Signal Accommodation Risks
- The 2026 National Defense and National Security Strategies tilt toward accommodation of China and prioritize the Western Hemisphere.
- Edelman criticizes partisan rhetoric and contends these documents downgrade U.S. alliance leverage and extended deterrence.
Press China To Stop Supporting Iran's Military Supply Chain
- Confront China on tangible support to Iran during diplomatic engagement.
- Bradley Bowman and Eric Edelman recommend pressing Beijing to stop supplying chemicals, dual-use items, satellites, and targeting data that assisted Iran's attacks on U.S. forces.