Options to Improve the Security Situation in Nigeria
J. Caudle is a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve, currently serving as a Command Historian. He has 20+ years of experience in the Army, the National Guard, and the Army Reserve. He has served in Iraq, Germany, Egypt, and Kuwait. As a civilian, he…
Options to Counter Islamic Militancy in the Sahel Region
Kyle F. McCarter previously served in the U.S. Army Southern Europe Task Force Africa (SETAF) in Botswana, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. He presently serves in the U.S. Army Pacific’s (USARPAC) Joint…
An Assessment of Human-Technological Teaming Solutions for Intelligence Collection Purposes
Kyle McCarter has served in the United States Army for over 20 years. He presently works as a chief of staff in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. Divergent Options’ content does not contain…
An Assessment of the Impact of Geography in Modern Air Campaigns
Angelos Giakoumis is an officer in the Hellenic Air Force. He has commanded at the squadron level and held command staff assignments related to training (T-2C/E & T-6A) and transport aircraft (C-130B/H). In 2022, he graduated from…
Options for Venezuela to Counter United States Actions in the Caribbean
Shawn Moore is a Fulbright Scholar, a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, and attended The United States Army War College National Security Seminar in 2025. Divergent Options’ content does not contain…
Do you have thoughts on how the U.S. might overcome the challenges associated with technological development for national security? Submit your original, unpublished work by February 22, 2026 to submissions@divergentoptions.org.
divergentoptions.org/2026/01/04/c...
Call for Papers: Technological Leadership for National Security
Background: Divergent Options is a non-politically aligned non-revenue generating national security website that, in 1,000 words or less, provides unbiased, dispassionate, candid articles that assess a national security situation,…
An Assessment of Adversarial Exploitation of the Seams Between Geographic Combatant Commands
Kyle McCarter has served in the United States Army for over 20 years. He presently works as a chief of staff in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility. Divergent Options’ content does not contain…
Options for Continuing to Prepare for a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan in 2028 and Beyond
Michael D. Purzycki is an analyst, writer, and editor based in Arlington, Virginia. He has worked for the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Army. In addition to Divergent Options,…
Call for Papers: 2028 and Beyond
Background: Divergent Options is a non-politically aligned non-revenue generating national security website that, in 1,000 words or less, provides unbiased, dispassionate, candid articles that assess a national security situation, present multiple options to…
An Assessment Mechanised Forces in the Age of Drones
Samir Srivastava is serving in the Indian Army. All suggestions in the article are solely of the Author in his personal capacity. Divergent Options' content does not contain information of an official nature nor does the content represent the…
An Assessment of North Korea’s Attempts to Destabilize South Korea
CPT Heo Jeongin is a Republic of Korea Army officer currently attending the Captain's Career Course (CCC) at the U.S. Army Intelligence School (Fort Huachuca) and wrote the following assessment as part of the Forging Leadership…
Options to Mitigate Effects from Houthi Attacks on International Trade
Benjamin Martell is a Military Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army with previous experience as an active-duty Armor Officer. Divergent Options’ content does not contain information of an official nature, nor does the content…
An Assessment on State Sponsorship, Drones and the Expanded Capabilities of Non-State Armed Groups
Estelle Denton-Townshend has a PhD from the University of Waikato in New Zealand. She currently works at the University of Waikato where she is a teaching fellow. Divergent Options’ content does…
An Assessment of the Joint Warfighting Concept’s Limitations in Mexico’s Gray Zone
Travis L. Eddleman is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army and currently assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. He earned his Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Civil Security Leadership, Management, and…
Check out Ben Phocas' latest article on Russia's options following a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine:
There's still time to for you to submit your original, un-published work on the Joint Warfighting Concept and Future Operating Concepts:
New this week: "It is imperative for the United States to address the risk of Iranian nuclear breakout to both quell proliferation and uphold regional stability." divergentoptions.org/2025/03/26/o...
Happy Friday! Anyone interested in a longer read on Russia's hybrid warfare against the West should check out Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan's article in Foreign Affairs:
New this week: A cross-border legal framework would limit traffickers’ ability to exploit inconsistencies between national laws, weakening their networks. divergentoptions.org/2025/03/19/o...
New this week: Brazil’s anti-trafficking policies have historically been driven by external pressures rather than proactive domestic initiatives. divergentoptions.org/2025/03/19/o...
New this week: Brazilian officials either have a widespread misunderstanding of trafficking laws or, worse, are involved in official complicity. divergentoptions.org/2025/03/19/o...
The quiet part of foreign military sales out loud (from Defense News): Trump also left the door open to selling versions of NGAD to allies — though he said those might be “toned-down” versions. “Because someday, maybe they’re not our allies, right?” Trump said.
New this week: A major enforcement challenge lies in the blurred line between voluntary sex work and trafficking, exacerbated by inconsistencies in Brazil’s legal framework . divergentoptions.org/2025/03/19/o...
New this week: Transnational Criminal Organizations exploit Brazil’s sex work laws to traffic children into its legal prostitution industry. divergentoptions.org/2025/03/19/o...
New this week: Author Victoria Maldonado presents options for combatting South American human trafficking networks. divergentoptions.org/2025/03/19/o...
New this week: The U.S. Department of Defense has repeatedly highlighted the urgency of securing supply chains for critical minerals, including rare-earth minerals. buff.ly/lCNs8ei