Report

Aug 27, 2025

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: Connectivity in an era of geopolitical uncertainty

By Afaq Hussain and Nicholas Shafer

Weeks before the war in Gaza broke out, India, Europe, the US, and Gulf nations announced plans for an economic corridor linking the EU and India through the Gulf via rail, fiber optic cable, and pipelines. We ran the cost-benefit numbers and they’re clear: Washington should put the IMEC back on the global agenda this year.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Issue Brief

Aug 27, 2025

Navigating the new normal: Strategic simultaneity, US Forces Korea flexibility, and alliance imperatives

By Bee Yun Jo

The future of deterrence on the Korean Peninsula—and indeed, the wider Indo-Pacific region—will hinge on Seoul’s ability to reframe US force realignments not as unilateral disengagements but as catalysts for action.

Defense Policy Korea

Issue Brief

Aug 21, 2025

Addressing China’s military expansion in West Africa and beyond

By Tressa Guenov

As China expands its military reach in West Africa, the United States risks losing strategic ground on the continent. The next National Defense Strategy must confront China’s ambitions beyond the Indo-Pacific, balancing defense diplomacy, bilateral military relationships, and counterterrorism.

Africa China

Issue Brief

Aug 21, 2025

Winning through people: The human capital advantage in great-power competition

By Beth Foster and Alex Wagner

To maintain military readiness, deter conflict, and preserve its technological edge, the United States must prioritize human capital by investing in resilient service members and a skilled civilian workforce.

Defense Policy Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Issue Brief

Aug 20, 2025

Why the rule of law is the key to prosperity: Lessons from thirty years of data 

By Annie (Yu-Lin) Lee, Joseph Lemoine

Thirty years of global data point to one conclusion: the rule of law is the most important driver of prosperity. Strong legal systems foster trust, investment, and stability. Where laws are predictable and applied equally, societies thrive; where they weaken, reforms falter and prosperity stalls.

Africa Freedom and Prosperity

Issue Brief

Aug 19, 2025

A vision for US hypersonic weapons

By Edward Brady and Michael E. White

Hypersonic weapons, if fielded in sufficient numbers to defeat critical targets necessary to degrade adversary capabilities, will enable effective use of traditional weapon systems and allow for future battlefield dominance. A layered defeat construct must be deployed to defend against ballistic and hypersonic missiles targeting US assets.

China Defense Industry

Issue Brief

Aug 15, 2025

The future of US and Japanese engagement with Central Asia

By Kyoko Imai

Situated between China and Russia, and with an abundance of vital natural resources, Central Asia is an area of strategic interest for Tokyo and Washington. Beijing and Moscow currently enjoy overwhelming political, economic, and cultural influence, which limits other countries’ ability to constructively shape the region. Some friction has emerged between the two authoritarian powers as post-Soviet dominance over Central Asia erodes and Chinese economic influence takes its place.

Central Asia China

Issue Brief

Aug 11, 2025

Strategic energy realignment: Rethinking MDB policy for growth and global stability

By Samuel Buchan, Landon Derentz

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) have drifted from their original mission of maximizing economic growth. Instead, they prioritize climate-first lending that restricts hydrocarbon investments.

China Energy & Environment

Issue Brief

Aug 7, 2025

Regenerative farming in Iraq: Challenges, opportunities, and policy recommendations

By Sarkawt Shamsulddin

Despite the challenges and limitations in the current agricultural policies in Iraq, there are significant opportunities for policy intervention to promote regenerative agriculture.

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Aug 6, 2025

How the US and Colombia can tackle crime, migration, and fallout from Venezuela’s crisis

By Lucie Kneip, Geoff Ramsey

Despite differences in priorities and political approaches, opportunities exist for the US and Colombia to coordinate policy that promotes stability in Venezuela and the broader region.

Colombia Corruption

Issue Brief

Aug 6, 2025

Surfing the Hallyu: What Taiwan can learn from South Korea’s cultural diplomacy

By Nik Foster

With sustained investment and strategic branding, Taiwan can increase global awareness, deepen international partnerships, and fortify its national identity through cultural diplomacy.

China Civil Society

Report

Aug 1, 2025

Defining Canada’s threat landscape: Resetting for a new reality

By Peter Engelke, Ginger Matchett, Samantha Wong

In a changing strategic landscape, Canada must reinforce its national security and confront the threats of geopolitics, climate change, and emerging technology.

Climate Change & Climate Action Defense Policy

Report

Jul 30, 2025

To secure reprogrammable chips, the US must address supply chain risks

By Andrew Kidd, Celine Lee, and Bruce Schneier

This policy brief analyzes the FPGA supply chain for US firms and the trade-offs these companies make among risks to cost, availability, and security; assesses how those trade-offs will change given a shifting global environment; and recommends policy interventions for the US government.

China Cybersecurity

Report

Jul 30, 2025

The journey of reprogrammable semiconductors through their supply chain

By Andrew Kidd, Celine Lee, and Bruce Schneier

This interactive offers a concise overview of the nuances that make the FPGA supply chain uniquely challenging.

China Cybersecurity

Issue Brief

Jul 25, 2025

Transporting hydrogen: A global outlook on cross-border trade

By Joseph Webster

Hydrogen is crucial for many decarbonizing sectors, yet its transport over long distances causes a demanding problem. Focusing on regional transport should be the areas policymakers focus on.

China Energy & Environment

Issue Brief

Jul 24, 2025

Rethinking combined arms for modern warfare

By Edward Brady

To conduct all-domain operations, modern warfare requires a new approach to combined arms. The US military should reassess the future composition of its forces, integrating high-end manned platforms with low-end, attritable vehicles.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 24, 2025

Five pillars for deterring strategic attacks

By Mark J. Massa, Alyxandra Marine

As its highest priority, the Department of Defense must deter strategic attacks on the United States. A five-pillar strategy could guide efforts to prevent nuclear and nonnuclear threats while ensuring resilience and readiness against large-scale nuclear attacks on the US homeland.

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

Issue Brief

Jul 23, 2025

Invest in space or lose the high ground

By Edward Brady, Clementine G. Starling-Daniels

Space superiority underpins military dominance across all domains. To deter and win future conflicts, the United States must significantly invest in the capabilities of its Space Force—including space command and control, as well as domain awareness.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Jul 21, 2025

Atlantic piracy, current threats, and maritime governance in the Gulf of Guinea

By Maisie Pigeon

A drop in attacks in the Gulf of Guinea does not necessarily mean piracy has been resolved. Pirates have adapted their tactics, and the potential for resurgence remains high; this issue remains a critical security and development concern. It is not just a regional priority—it is an international imperative.

Africa Economy & Business
21st Infantry Division guard post on the Korean Demilitarized Zone

Issue Brief

Jul 17, 2025

Collective security in the Indo-Pacific: Rethinking the United Nations Command

By Richard D. Butler, Shawn P. Creamer

Europe has NATO. The Indo-Pacific needs a similar mechanism. Enter the United Nations Command, a legacy of the Korean War ready to be refitted for the current threat landscape in the Pacific.

Indo-Pacific NATO
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