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Zack Cooper

@zackcooper.bsky.social
2.4K followers 298 following 61 posts

Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Lecturer at Princeton University Partner at Armitage International Former Pentagon and White House staffer Wrangler of children

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Reposted by Zack Cooper
Asia Society New York @newyork.asiasociety.org · 27/09/2026
On Oct. 6, join @asiapolicy.asiasociety.org for an in-person discussion on the Quad’s evolution under the second Trump administration and what comes next. With Dr. Ken Jimbo, Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, @faamer.bsky.social, @zackcooper.bsky.social, and @emmachanlettavery.bsky.social. Get tickets:
asiasociety.org
The Quad Reassessed: Regional Dynamics in a Changing Indo-Pacific
Join the Asia Society Policy Institute for a panel discussion examining the Quad’s evolution under the second Trump administration and what comes next.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
"Washington's Asian Allies Need a Backup Plan" - from Mira Rapp-Hooper and me in @foreignpolicy.com: foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/11/t...
foreignpolicy.com
Washington’s Asian Allies Need a Backup Plan
A strategic rethink is needed in an era of U.S. unreliability.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE, SIGNIFYING NOTHING. That's my Trump-Xi take... Few deals. No breakthroughs. But thankfully no US concessions on Taiwan or tech. Hard to call this summit a success, since it didn't really address any US-China structural problems. Yet not a disaster either.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Big thank you to Sal @mercoglianos.bsky.social for hosting this discussion with John Konrad on the (now nuclear!) battleship. I think we'd be better off building subs and smaller ships given the battleship's cost and complexity. But we had a good time, so listen and decide for yourselves:
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Reposted by Zack Cooper
Secretary of Defense Rock @sodrock.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Critical support to @zackcooper.bsky.social
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
This is my (admittedly pessimistic) take on US policy in Asia. We are distracted, divided, and resource constrained. The question now is not whether the US will pivot to Asia, but how far we might pull back. I fear that simply trying to defend the first island chain is not a feasible strategy.
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Reposted by Zack Cooper
Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 17/02/2026
@zackcooper.bsky.social discusses Washington’s failed pivot to Asia—and considers what a more realistic regional strategy would look like.
foreignaffairs.com
Asia After America
How U.S. strategy failed—and ceded the advantage to China.
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Reposted by Zack Cooper
Washington Post Opinions @postopinions.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
"The administration is trying so hard to avoid angering Beijing that it is pulling its foreign policy punches as well," Derek Scissors and @zackcooper.bsky.social write. wapo.st/4s7saun
wapo.st
Opinion | America first? Not when Trump is dealing with China.
The president’s second-term China policy started out aggressive. That quickly changed.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Welcome to the Trump administration, ladies and gentlemen.
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Reposted by Zack Cooper
Foreign Affairs @foreignaffairs.com · 06/11/2025
“Without a plan for terminating a war in Taiwan, Washington would risk repeating the pattern of U.S. strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan that many Trump officials critiqued: winning the first battle but losing the war,” argues @zackcooper.bsky.social.
foreignaffairs.com
How War in Taiwan Ends
Even if deterrence fails, America could thwart China.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
The team at ChinaFile asked eight of us to assess the state of play in US-China relations and who has the upper hand in the ongoing negotiations. I think it's pretty clear. Beijing is showing its capabilities and biding its time. And it's working. www.chinafile.com/conversation...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
I'm just going to leave this here... 🤔 www.aei.org/foreign-and-...
aei.org
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
In the last year we have gone from: BEIJING begging WASHINGTON to allow it to buy advanced semiconductors to... WASHINGTON begging BEIJING to allow it to sell advanced semiconductors I give up. 🤦‍♂️
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Reposted by Zack Cooper
The National Bureau of Asian Research @nbr.org · 12/09/2025
ASIA INSIGHT PODCAST: Zack Cooper (@zackcooper.bsky.social), Bee Yun Jo, and Lavina Lee discuss the sustainability of U.S. extended #deterrence and #nuclear restraint in #Australia, #Japan, and #SouthKorea in light of three trends. www.nbr.org/publication/...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
After 14 years, I think the time has come to acknowledge that the "Rebalance to Asia" has failed. I've spent the last decade writing and thinking about how to make the rebalance successful, so this is a painful realization. A thread on my new piece for RSIS...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
Is the "Indo-Pacific" dead? 🪦 Today the Pentagon issued a statement labeling the "Asia-Pacific" the priority theater. Coming ahead of the National Defense Strategy release and amidst heightened tensions with India, this will definitely raise some eyebrows!
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Appreciate the thoughtful book review of Tides of Fortune this weekend in @financialtimes.com. Thanks @jamescrabtree.bsky.social! www.ft.com/content/47d6...
ft.com
China, Russia and the remaking of the Eurasian supercontinent
Three books offer a guide to shifting power in the region and what it means for the US and Europe
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Today was a tough day. Most mornings the last decade my day started with a phone call from Rich Armitage. But not this morning. Rich was a friend, a mentor, and a business partner. He was my biggest supporter (and sometimes my toughest critic). He was a giant. What a life.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
🍿
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
Looking forward to joining this RAND event tomorrow on the US-Japan alliance - great lineup! If you’re in Los Angeles (or want to stream), join us here: www.japanhousela.com/events/rand-...
japanhousela.com
The U.S.-Japan Alliance Under New Management
This event brings experts together from the U.S. and Japan to explore the perspectives of both sides to contribute to public understanding of the key issues.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Delighted to join so many fantastic scholars as part of the Wilson China Fellowship for the coming year. Thanks to the Wilson Center and Carnegie Corporation for bringing together this great group! www.wilsoncenter.org/article/wils...
wilsoncenter.org
Wilson Center Announces 2025-26 Wilson China Fellowship Class
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Reposted by Zack Cooper
Jenny Town @jennytown.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Really useful discussion of the core tensions to Trump's foreign policy strategy.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Prioritization or Retrenchment? I think this is the central question for the US strategic community today. Here’s my new piece trying to add some historical perspective to this the strategic debate. Read it here: theamericanenterprise.com/the-trump-ad...
theamericanenterprise.com
Trump’s Strategic Choice: Prioritization or Retrenchment
The decision to prioritize China or retreat to the Americas is the central tension for Trump's foreign policy team.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Today's the day: Tides of Fortune is officially released! I'm so excited to get to share this book with the world after over a decade of work on this project. We've got a video explainer coming soon, and a bunch of launch events, but for now, a few words of thanks...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Today in @ForeignAffairs I preview part of my book, which argues that China's turn toward power projection was both inevitable and badly timed (for Beijing). Here's the short version... [1/5] www.foreignaffairs.com/china/chinas...
foreignaffairs.com
China’s Self-Defeating Strategy
Power projection once made empires—now it can undo them.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
One more week until Tides of Fortune is released! Feels good to finally hold a copy in my hand. So now it is real, but whether it is spectacular will be up to others to judge :) yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
What does a second Trump administration mean for Taiwan? My take here for @thedispatchmedia.bsky.social: thedispatch.com/article/trum...
thedispatch.com
Trump’s Predictable Unpredictability on Taiwan
Under Trump 2.0, Taiwan’s fate is uncertain.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
I frequently get asked how Donald Trump's personal interactions might shape US relationships in Asia over the next four years. Here's my take for RSIS: - Trump prizes "strong" (and conservative) leaders - Alignment with the US is not a precondition www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publica...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
Will the Trump team seek unipolarity or embrace multipolarity? Primacists emphasize peace through strength, but prioritizers say US power has declined and we can’t be everywhere. Who will prevail in Trump 2.0? I examine this in a short piece for RSIS: www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publica...
rsis.edu.sg
IP25001 | Can America Embrace Multipolarity?
SYNOPSIS Today’s world order can be described as “fragmented multipolarity” — which resembles unipolarity, bipolarity and multipolarity simultaneously — and the United States under incoming president ...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
My thoughts on Joe Biden and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad U.S. Steel decision… www.aei.org/foreign-and-...
aei.org
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Want to know what the Congress has planned for Asia in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act? Noah Burke and I read all the Asia provisions so you don't have to. Here are 5 things to watch (plus a full list of all Asia-related sections). www.aei.org/foreign-and-...
aei.org
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Reposted by Zack Cooper
Darren Lim @limdarrenj.bsky.social · 26/11/2024
On AUSTRALIA IN THE WORLD, @zackcooper.bsky.social & I talk through Trump 2.0. What do we know about Trumpworld’s foreign policy at this point? What are the implications for Australia’s management of the alliance? Apple: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4To2...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 30/10/2024
👀 2/25/25 www.amazon.com/dp/030026867X/
amazon.com
Amazon.com: Tides of Fortune: The Rise and Decline of Great Militaries: 9780300268676: Cooper, Zack: Books
Amazon.com: Tides of Fortune: The Rise and Decline of Great Militaries: 9780300268676: Cooper, Zack: Books
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 19/01/2024
Net Assessment just crossed the 1 million listens threshold. I can only claim partial credit, but great job by my co-hosts Chris Preble and Melanie Marlowe. Here's our latest: warontherocks.com/2024/01/glob...
warontherocks.com
Global Disorder and Houthi Strikes - War on the Rocks
Melanie, Chris, and Zack debate whether the international order is fraying and if so, what to do about it. They focus in particular on the recent Houthi
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 15/12/2023
Some light weekend reading from me on U.S. strategy toward China... foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/15/d...
foreignpolicy.com
Does America Have an Endgame on China?
Washington wants change—but it can come in stages.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 11/12/2023
Net Assessment is back! Listen here: www.warontherocks.com/2023/12/dysf...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 06/12/2023
I give up.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 05/12/2023
As we head into tomorrow's fourth (and last?) debate of the 2024 race, Connor Fiddler and I lay out 5 items to watch related to China/Asia for Marketwatch: www.marketwatch.com/story/5-ques...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 11/11/2023
Looking forward to being back in the Bay Area next week! I'll be at UC Berkeley (don't disown me Stanford friends) on Tuesday to discuss Japan's expanding role in the Indo-Pacific. Maybe a few US-China reflections too... Sign up here if you're available: callink.berkeley.edu/event/9527783
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 24/10/2023
A big thank you to friends in Japan for hosting our group from AEI last week. A great series of visits and conversations. www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 22/10/2023
I fear that a serious crisis is unfolding at Second Thomas Shoal. China appears determined to prevent resupply efforts by the Philippines, as they did most dangerously in 2014. Read a short summary of that case here: amti.csis.org/counter-co-2... Risky days ahead. Buckle up.
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 16/10/2023
Wonderful to be back in Taiwan this week meeting with President Tsai and other leaders here in Taipei along with @AEI colleagues and friends! And a big thank you to @TECRO_USA for helping us set up such a valuable agenda. english.president.gov.tw/News/6626
english.president.gov.tw
President Tsai meets delegation from American Enterprise Institute
On the morning of October 16, President Tsai Ing-wen met with a delegation from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a think tank based in Washington, DC. President Tsai thanked the AEI for...
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 16/10/2023
I had a great time joining my old friend Darren Lim on his Australia in the World podcast! We talked about Australian defense policy, AUKUS, and shared a few memories of the great Allan Gyngell. Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a...
podcasts.apple.com
‎Australia in the World: Ep. 118: A US perspective on Australia’s defence policy on Apple Podcas...
‎Show Australia in the World, Ep Ep. 118: A US perspective on Australia’s defence policy - 15 Oct 2023
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Zack Cooper @zackcooper.bsky.social · 12/10/2023
Hi friends! So good to see many of you here and looking forward to resuming our very nerdy foreign policy debates here. Thanks for the welcome Kori!
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