{{Short description|American foreign policy think tank}} {{Infobox organization | name = Defense Priorities | image = | caption = | abbreviation = | formation = {{start date and age|2016}} | type = Foreign policy think tank | tax_id = 81-0714113<ref name="prop"/> | status = 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization<ref name="prop"/> | headquarters = | location = Washington, D.C., United States | coordinates = | leader_title = President | leader_name = Edward King<ref>{{cite web|title=About Defense Priorities|url=https://www.defensepriorities.org/about|website=defensepriorities.org|publisher=Defense Priorities|access-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref> | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | endowment = | revenue = $3.37 million<ref name="prop">{{cite web|title=Defense Priorities Foundation |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/810714113|website=Nonprofit Explorer|publisher=Pro Publica|access-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref> | revenue_year = 2024 | expenses = | expenses_year = | num_employees = | num_employees_year = | num_volunteers = | num_volunteers_year = | website = {{Official URL}} | affiliations = }} The '''Defense Priorities Foundation''', also known as '''Defense Priorities''', is an American foreign policy think tank based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for more restrained US foreign policy.
==History== Defense Priorities was established in early 2016 by supporters of United States Senator Rand Paul and funded by conservative donors Charles Koch and his brother David Koch. Early leadership included William P. Ruger of the Charles Koch Institute and Edward King of a pro-Paul political action committee. The organization was founded to advance Paul's foreign policy views, which argued for a "more prudent, restrained" United States foreign policy.<ref name="Politico">{{cite news|last=Bender|first=Bryan|title=Allies of Rand Paul, Koch take aim at hawks|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/rand-paul-charles-koch-think-tank-224099 |access-date=June 6, 2023|work=Politico|date=June 9, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Racke|first=Will|title=New Washington think tank urges detente with Russia (Part One)|url=https://nationalsecurityzone.medill.northwestern.edu/blog/2016/international-relations/new-washington-think-tank-urges-detente-with-russia-part-one/|publisher=Northwestern University|date=November 8, 2016|access-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref>
==Positions== Defense Priorities publications have advocated for ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine through negotiations, against the arming of rebels during the Syrian Civil War, against harsher sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program, and against deeper military engagement in the Middle East.<ref name="Politico" /> Defense Priorities has also argued for a weakening of U.S.-Taiwan relations in the political and military realm.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Turton |first=Michael |date=2025-11-03 |title=Notes from Central Taiwan: The emerging argument to sell out Taiwan |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2025/11/03/2003846538 |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Taipei Times}}</ref>
The think tank's leanings have been characterized as "isolationist", "non-interventionist",<ref>{{cite news|last=Roza|first=David|title=Will leaving Afghanistan cause another 9/11? Former soldiers and diplomats say no, not necessarily |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/what-happens-if-we-leave-afghanistan/|access-date=June 6, 2023|work=Task & Purpose|date=February 12, 2020}}</ref> "libertarian",<ref>{{cite news|last=Kwong|first=Matt|title=Why vote to end U.S. support for war in Yemen is a black eye for Trump|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-senate-yemen-war-resolution-1.4944579|access-date=June 6, 2023 |work=CBC |date=December 13, 2018}}</ref> "pro-restraint",<ref>{{cite news|title=Afghanistan Lessons Learned|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2021/09/10/things-have-gotten-worse-regrets-from-americas-war-on-terror-494284|access-date=June 7, 2023|work=Politico|date=September 10, 2021}}</ref> and "realist".<ref>{{cite news|last=Gould|first=Joe|title=Kurds may be wiped out before Turkey sanctions happen, senators worry |url=https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2019/10/10/kurds-may-be-wiped-out-before-turkey-sanctions-happen-senators-worry/|access-date=June 6, 2023|work=Defense News|date=October 10, 2019}}</ref>
==Notable scholars and affiliates== * Daniel L. Davis<ref name="Politico" /> * Rajan Menon<ref>{{cite web|title=Rajan Menon |url=https://carnegieendowment.org/experts/2098|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921025036/https://carnegieendowment.org/experts/2098|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 21, 2021|website=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|access-date=June 6, 2023}}</ref>
==See also== * Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
==References== {{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
* {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|810714113}}
Category:Think tanks based in the United States Category:2016 establishments in the United States Category:Realist think tanks Category:Libertarian think tanks Category:Think tanks based in Washington, D.C.