Current Strategy Forum

About the Current Strategy Forum

This year marks the 74th Annual Current Strategy Forum (CSF) at the Naval War College in Newport, hosted by the Secretary of the Navy. The first CSF was held on 9 May 1949 under the title “Round Table Talks.” This event offers an opportunity for the Nation’s public servants, scholars, and senior military officers to join the College faculty and students to discuss the future strategy of the United States. Over the years, the CSF has expanded to include a cross section of America’s civilian and military leadership to encourage a wide-ranging discussion on national and international security. This year’s theme: "The Future of Sea Power, Maritime Strategy, and Naval Warfare."

As we approach the 4th decade of the 21st century, the dominant geopolitical competition centers around the contrasting goals of the United States and China. The looming question is whether China will be successful in challenging the post-World War II American-led international order and replace the United States as the world’s dominant superpower. Amazing technologies like AI, space access, hypersonic weapons, and unmanned systems are driving changes in the character of warfare, providing new “means” that impact the “ways” and “ends” in geopolitical rivalries. Aligned with China is Russia, North Korea, and Iran, an axis challenging the United States around the globe. All elements of national power are in play in a competition that involves the highest stakes for the security and wellbeing of the American people and our international partners. In the second half of the 21st century, Sea Power and Naval Strength will be the deciding factor in defining the coming international order.

This year’s CSF will seek to gain a better understanding of the international balance of power and what insights history can provide about the role sea power and the United States Navy will play in the great power competition unfolding before us in the years ahead.

This year also marks the first time the Current Strategy Forum is connected to the Perspectives on Modern War (PMW) course. As a key element of this course, the Forum provides a capstone event which enables students to synthesize the lessons of their year at the Naval War College and integrate lessons they have learned from their core academic courses. The conference will conclude with the final PMW seminar of the year, providing students a formal venue to conduct a broad analysis of what they have learned and how it applies to the current strategic challenges they are about to face.