Recent Posts
Social•Feb 21, 2026
Carrier Group Deployment Expands US Options, Limits Trump's Strike Plan
The Ford Carrier Strike Group is now in the Med. What does that signal about US strike options on Iran and why might Trump's preference for limited strikes not go according to plan? I discussed the escalation risks with @JMathieuReports on @BloombergTV. https://t.co/gqR7WrMlyf
By Becca Wasser
Social•Feb 20, 2026
Trump's Surge Gives Iran Strike Capacity, but Costly
Trump's military surge now has the real strike capacity and key enablers needed for weeks of strikes on Iran. I told @FT the scale of this buildup signals credible strike preparation. But sustaining it without action would be incredibly costly...
By Becca Wasser
Social•Feb 20, 2026
Iran's Three Pressure Points: US Troops, Allies, Hormuz
What could Iran target if tensions escalate? I joined @SheryAhnNews and @avrilhongTV on @BloombergTV to break down Trump’s Middle East buildup. I outlined 3 pressure points Tehran could hold at risk: US forces, regional partners, and the Strait of Hormuz....
By Becca Wasser
Social•Feb 19, 2026
Trump’s Middle East Buildup Raises Iran Strike Odds
Chatted with @kaileyleinz and @JMathieuReports on @BloombergTV about Trump’s military buildup in the Middle East. My take: Strikes on Iran are increasingly likely based on the scale of airpower and types of equipment we’ve seen flow into the region. https://t.co/mueW9lox9q
By Becca Wasser
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Europe’s Defense Reset: Funding Gaps and Combat Reality
Join us on Feb 19 for @Bloomberg webinar on the future of Europe. I’ll dig into what Europe’s defense spending reset really means, where investments are most needed, and whether new commitments will translate into credible combat power. Register here: https://t.co/3WMAfVVGVC...
By Becca Wasser
Social•Feb 17, 2026
US Caribbean Naval Buildup Costs $2.9B, $20M Daily
We did the math on the US naval buildup in the Caribbean. The total: $2.9B. At its height, costs topped $20M a day. Much was already funded, but combat operations cost extra -- and opportunity costs are difficult to quantify....
By Becca Wasser
Social•Feb 13, 2026
US Force Surge Risks Overstretch, Sacrifices Future Readiness
Shifting a carrier strike group and F-35s from the Caribbean to the Middle East shows the US can surge forces, but raises the real risk of overstretch. Repeated retaskings are trading tomorrow’s readiness for today’s pressure campaigns. For @TheTerminal: https://t.co/JBJinJmRNS...
By Becca Wasser
Social•Feb 13, 2026
Ford CSG Shift Highlights Readiness Tradeoffs in Carrier Strategy
Before news broke that the Ford CSG was moving from the Caribbean to the Middle East, we were already talking carrier chess on @BloombergTV. I laid out for @JMathieuReports & @kaileyleinz what this deployment really means for readiness and the...
By Becca Wasser
Social•Feb 12, 2026
Iran Relies on Massive Missile Arsenal for Deterrence
Iran’s missiles are its only credible deterrent, with bases, shipping lanes, and energy infrastructure in range. Tehran won’t cap missile stockpiles because it needs large numbers to overwhelm defenses and hit targets. With @DEsfandiary on @TheTerminal: https://t.co/zj7y46yUmH https://t.co/PrdB2GZY5w
By Becca Wasser