# Defense Priorities

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The **Defense Priorities Foundation**, also known as **Defense Priorities**, is an American [foreign policy](/source/Foreign_policy) [think tank](/source/Think_tank) based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for more restrained [US foreign policy](/source/Foreign_policy_of_the_United_States).

## History

Defense Priorities was established in early 2016 by supporters of [United States Senator](/source/United_States_Senator) [Rand Paul](/source/Rand_Paul) and funded by conservative donors [Charles Koch](/source/Charles_Koch) and his brother [David Koch](/source/David_Koch). Early leadership included [William P. Ruger](/source/William_P._Ruger) of the [Charles Koch Institute](/source/Charles_Koch_Institute) and Edward King of a pro-Paul [political action committee](/source/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](/source/United_States_foreign_policy).[3][4]

## Positions

Defense Priorities publications have advocated for ending [Russia's invasion of Ukraine](/source/Russo-Ukrainian_war_(2022%E2%80%93present)) through negotiations, against the [arming of rebels during the Syrian Civil War](/source/Timber_Sycamore), against harsher sanctions on [North Korea](/source/North_Korea) over its nuclear program, and against deeper military engagement in the Middle East.[3] Defense Priorities has also argued for a weakening of [U.S.-Taiwan relations](/source/Taiwan%E2%80%93United_States_relations) in the political and military realm.[5]

The think tank's leanings have been characterized as "isolationist", "non-interventionist",[6] "libertarian",[7] "pro-restraint",[8] and "[realist](/source/Realism_(international_relations))".[9]

## Notable scholars and affiliates

- [Daniel L. Davis](/source/Daniel_L._Davis)[3]
- [Rajan Menon](/source/Rajan_Menon)[10]

## See also

- [Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft](/source/Quincy_Institute_for_Responsible_Statecraft)

## References

1. ["Defense Priorities Foundation"](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/810714113). *Nonprofit Explorer*. [Pro Publica](/source/Pro_Publica). Retrieved June 6, 2023.

1. ["About Defense Priorities"](https://www.defensepriorities.org/about). *defensepriorities.org*. Defense Priorities. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

1. Bender, Bryan (June 9, 2016). ["Allies of Rand Paul, Koch take aim at hawks"](https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/rand-paul-charles-koch-think-tank-224099). *[Politico](/source/Politico)*. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

1. Racke, Will (November 8, 2016). ["New Washington think tank urges detente with Russia (Part One)"](https://nationalsecurityzone.medill.northwestern.edu/blog/2016/international-relations/new-washington-think-tank-urges-detente-with-russia-part-one/). [Northwestern University](/source/Northwestern_University). Retrieved June 6, 2023.

1. Turton, Michael (2025-11-03). ["Notes from Central Taiwan: The emerging argument to sell out Taiwan"](https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2025/11/03/2003846538). *[Taipei Times](/source/Taipei_Times)*. Retrieved 2025-11-03.

1. Roza, David (February 12, 2020). ["Will leaving Afghanistan cause another 9/11? Former soldiers and diplomats say no, not necessarily"](https://taskandpurpose.com/news/what-happens-if-we-leave-afghanistan/). *[Task & Purpose](/source/Task_%26_Purpose)*. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

1. Kwong, Matt (December 13, 2018). ["Why vote to end U.S. support for war in Yemen is a black eye for Trump"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-senate-yemen-war-resolution-1.4944579). *[CBC](/source/Canadian_Broadcasting_Corporation)*. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

1. ["Afghanistan Lessons Learned"](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2021/09/10/things-have-gotten-worse-regrets-from-americas-war-on-terror-494284). *[Politico](/source/Politico)*. September 10, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2023.

1. Gould, Joe (October 10, 2019). ["Kurds may be wiped out before Turkey sanctions happen, senators worry"](https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2019/10/10/kurds-may-be-wiped-out-before-turkey-sanctions-happen-senators-worry/). *[Defense News](/source/Defense_News)*. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

1. ["Rajan Menon"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210921025036/https://carnegieendowment.org/experts/2098). *[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace](/source/Carnegie_Endowment_for_International_Peace)*. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Archived from [the original](https://carnegieendowment.org/experts/2098) on September 21, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

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