National Security

Robert O'Brien's remarks, made last week at a security forum, stand in contrast to President Trump's refusal to acknowledge he lost the Nov. 3 election. O'Brien promised a professional transition.

Former national security officials tell All Things Considered that they worry about the blowback if Trump were to launch an unprovoked attack on Iran or quickly pull troops from Afghanistan.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Nicholas Burns of Harvard University and Kori Schake of American Enterprise Institute about what President Trump might do to national security before his term ends.

The reprieve in the latest sigh of relief for the massively popular video app, but uncertainty hangs over its future.

Even as many Senate Republicans refuse to recognize President-elect Joe Biden's win, they signaled support for Biden to receive intelligence briefings.

The president-elect sought to reassure the leaders of Japan, South Korea and Australia that he will work to renew and strengthen ties.

London and the European Union denounced Beijing's move to disqualify some of the territory's pro-democracy lawmakers — an action that sparked the mass resignation of the opposition.

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with David Ignatius of The Washington Post about the recent shake-up of high-ranking civilian positions at the Pentagon.

Four of the Pentagon's top civilian officials, including the defense secretary, resigned or were fired this week. The timing of these moves is raising questions and concerns about national security.

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with retired Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson of the Marine Corps and his two sons, Kevin and Andrew, who served under him in Afghanistan and Iraq.

President Trump has not accepted the election results, and his administration has not yet authorized Biden and his team to start receiving government resources — including intelligence briefings.

President Trump's "America First" foreign policy meant a reduced U.S. role in the world. Joe Biden wants the U.S. to show more global leadership, and his focus will be rebuilding alliances.