Are we ready for autonomous drones to make life-and-death decisions on the battlefield? Christian Brose, the chief strategy officer of Anduril Industries, explains on “Interesting Times” that the Pentagon’s official policy leaves the door for autonomous weapons wide open.

America has fired “something like eight years’ worth of Tomahawk missile production” in Iran, Christian Brose, the chief strategy officer of Anduril Industries, says on “Interesting Times,” where he and the Opinion columnist Ross Douthat discuss the limitations of America’s arsenal of “luxury” weapons.

Ukraine and Iran have shown us that war as we’ve known it is over.

© The New York Times

Ukraine and Iran have shown us that war as we’ve known it is over.

Ukraine and Iran have shown us that war as we’ve known it is over.

President Trump said that he would talk to Taiwan’s president about a possible weapons sale to the self-governing democracy. Direct dialogue would anger China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and opposes contact between Taiwanese and foreign leaders.

The president said a potential arms deal for Taiwan was a “very good negotiating chip” in talks with Beijing. His words raise questions about the reliability of U.S. support.

The engagement between the president and the Chinese leader may have tested a decades-old U.S. assurance to Taiwan not to consult Beijing on the topic.

The effort involves plans to send weapons through other countries in an effort to hide the origins of the shipments.

“You name it, we’re investing in it” does not inspire confidence.

Beijing has called Taiwan the “core of China’s core interests.” Xi Jinping is likely to focus on getting President Trump to slow approval of more weapons for the self-governing island.

The war in Iran, trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan are expected to be on the agenda. But expectations are modest.

With time running out, Taiwanese lawmakers approved funds for buying U.S. weapons, fearing they could lose support if they didn’t act now.