Kroenig

Matthew Kroenig

Associate Professor of Government, Georgetown University
Areas of Expertise:
  • Security & Intelligence
  • U.S. Foreign Policy
  • Military & War
  • Energy

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About Matthew

Kroenig is an expert on U.S. national security policy and strategy, nuclear deterrence, arms control, nuclear nonproliferation, Iran, and counterterrorism. From May 2010 to May 2011, he served as a Special Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense on a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship, where he worked on defense policy and strategy for Iran. In 2005, he worked as a strategist in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he authored the first-ever U.S. government strategy for deterring terrorist networks. For his work, Kroenig was awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. He also regularly consults with the defense, energy, and intelligence communities.

Briefs | Podcast | Publications | In the News

Briefs

History Shows that President Obama is Wise to Retain a Military Option to Cripple Iran's Nuclear Facilities

SSN Key Findings,

Podcast

Publications

"The Limits of Damage Limitation" (with Brendan Rittenhouse, Green Long, Austin Long, Matthew Kroenig, Charles L. Glaser, and Steve Fetter). International Security 42, no. 1 (2017): 193-207.

Argues that the United States should not pursue a nuclear damage-limitation capability against China, and that various countermeasures can thwart U.S. surveillance systems relevant to hunting mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles.

"North Korea and Asia's Evolving Nuclear Landscape: Challenges to Regional Stability," (with Aaron L. Friedberg, Robert Jervis, J. James Kim, Jina Kim, Sugio Takahashi, Michito Tsuruoka, and Christopher Twomey), The National Bureau of Asian Research, August 2017.

Provides access to current research on special topics conducted byt he world's leading experts in Asian affairs.

"Reaching Beyond the Ivory Tower: A How To Manual" (with Daniel Byman). Security Studies 25, no. 2 (2016): 289-319.
"War Makes the State, but Not as It Pleases: Homeland Security and American Anti-Statism" (with Jay Stowsky). Security Studies 15, no. 2 (2006): 225-270.
Shows that U.S. domestic political institutions curtailed the expansion of executive branch power in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks.
"Importing the Bomb: Sensitive Nuclear Assistance and Nuclear Proliferation" Journal of Conflict Resolution 53, no. 2 (2009): 161-180.
Presents systematic evidence to show that the transfer of sensitive nuclear material and technology between states increases the risk of nuclear proliferation.
"How to Deter Terrorism" (with Barry Pavel). The Washington Quarterly 35, no. 2 (2012): 21-36.
Provides a comprehensive strategy for deterring terrorist networks.
"Nuclear Superiority and the Balance of Resolve: Explaining Nuclear Crisis Outcomes" International Organization 67, no. 1 (2013): 141-171.
Presents a theoretical explanation and evidence to show that states with a nuclear advantage over an opponent are more likely to achieve their political goals in international crises.
A Time to Attack: The Looming Iranian Nuclear Threat (Palgrave MacMillan, 2014).
Argues that a limited U.S. military strike on Iran’s key nuclear facilities would be preferable to acquiescing to a nuclear-armed Iran in the event that diplomacy fails to head off the Iranian nuclear challenge.

In the News

Matthew Kroenig quoted on US nuclear power in Jan Hartman, "The U.S. Considered the Consequences of a Nuclear Strike on Russia" The Silver Telegram, May 8, 2018.
"How Will Hawk John Bolton Affect Foreign Policy?," Matthew Kroenig, Interview with Judy Woodruff, PBS, March 23, 2018.
Interview on relations between U.S. and North KoreaMatthew Kroenig, CBS News, February 27, 2018.
Matthew Kroenig's research on "Possible Thawing of Tensions between North and South Korea," CBS News, January 6, 2018.
"North Korea Tested an ICBM. Iran is Next," Matthew Kroenig, Tablet Magazine, July 26, 2017.
"The Case for Trump’s Foreign Policy," Matthew Kroenig, Foreign Affairs, April 17, 2017.
"Washington Must Respond to Russia’s New Nuclear Missile," Matthew Kroenig, Atlantic Council, February 14, 2017.
Guest to discuss Trump's approach to foreign policy on PBS News Hour, Matthew Kroenig, December 23, 2016.
Matthew Kroenig quoted on his reasons against the Iran deal in Luke Tress, "Pulling the Punchlines, NY Comedy Club Plays Host to Iran Deal Debate" Times of Israel, September 6, 2015.
"Why Democracies Dominate: America’s Edge over China," Matthew Kroenig, The National Interest, June 15, 2015.
Guest to discuss the U.S.'s nuclear agreement with Iran on Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy Podcast, Matthew Kroenig, May 19, 2015.
Matthew Kroenig quoted on a U.S. attack on Iran in Glenn Kessler, "Tom Cotton’s Four-Day War against Iran" The Washington Post, April 9, 2015.
"Apply More Pressure on Iran: Opposing View," Matthew Kroenig, USA Today, November 25, 2014.
"Kenya's Real Problem (It's Not Ethnic)," Matthew Kroenig (with M. Steven Fish), Washington Post, January 9, 2008.
"Look at the Bright Side," Matthew Kroenig, USA Today, May 28, 2009.
"Nuclear Zero? Why Not Nuclear Infinity?," Matthew Kroenig, Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2011.
"Our Options for Dealing with Iran," Matthew Kroenig, New York Times, January 24, 2012.
Guest to discuss security talks with Iran on C-SPAN, Matthew Kroenig, February 21, 2012.
Guest to discuss a containment policy for Iran on NPR’s Talk of the Nation, Matthew Kroenig, March 6, 2012.
Matthew Kroenig quoted on military action in Iran in Edward Stourton, "Does America and Iran’s Mutual Mistrust Mean War is Inevitable?" BBC News, March 19, 2012.
Guest to discuss U.S. foreign policy and Iran on C-SPAN, Matthew Kroenig, April 5, 2012.
"Obama Needs to Tell Iran where He Draws the Line," Matthew Kroenig, Washington Post, May 19, 2012.
Guest to discuss talks with Iran on NPR’s Talk of the Nation, Matthew Kroenig, May 22, 2012.
"Iran Diplomatic Window Rapidly Closing," Matthew Kroenig, USA Today, June 17, 2013.
Guest to discuss Iran’s nuclear deal on This Week in Defense News, Matthew Kroenig, November 27, 2013.