Category: Issue Brief

Content

Issue Brief

Apr 6, 2026

From alignment to action: Building a durable US-Argentina critical minerals partnership

By Reed Blakemore, Alexis Harmon, Ignacio Albe

For decades, Argentina's mining potential has been widely recognized without translating into reliable supply. That pattern might be breaking, and deeper US–Argentina cooperation could accelerate development while advancing shared economic and strategic priorities.

Argentina Critical Minerals

Issue Brief

Apr 1, 2026

Global payment systems are fragmenting. Here’s what the G20 can do.

By Greg Brownstein

Fragmentation is reshaping global payment systems, driven by technological change, regulatory divergence, market dynamics, and rising geopolitical tensions. While innovation have long-term benefits, the near-term risks to efficiency, inclusion, and financial stability are mounting, demanding a more implementation-focused G20 agenda.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Mar 31, 2026

Securing cloud infrastructure for AI

By Sara Ann Brackett

With AI raising the stakes of cloud security and key cybersecurity institutions weakened or dissolved, this brief outlines needed policy steps to promote transparency and accountability across the cloud ecosystem.

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Issue Brief

Mar 27, 2026

Deterrence in a two-peer world requires prudence

By Kingston Reif

Washington faces the challenge of preserving credible deterrence and reassuring allies against two potential nuclear peers—possibly acting together—without fueling dangerous instability or draining resources from other defense priorities. This will require a balanced approach that avoids counterproductive arsenal growth.

China Nuclear Deterrence

Issue Brief

Mar 27, 2026

Why US strategic nuclear forces must expand after New START

By Paul Amato

With the New START treaty's caps on the US nuclear force expired, the United States has an opportunity to increase and adapt its nuclear force to deter both Russia and China. Policymakers should seize it.

China Defense Policy

Issue Brief

Mar 26, 2026

After Maduro: Latin America’s policy community reassesses the US-China balance

By Santiago Villa, Thayz Guimarães, Parsifal D’Sola

The US capture of Maduro has significant implications for China’s position in the region. Although Venezuela has been a frustrating partner for China, Beijing has repeatedly stressed its commitment to the bilateral relationship.

China Latin America

Issue Brief

Mar 25, 2026

Negotiating an EU-US biometric information-sharing agreement

By Kenneth Propp

Amid tensions between the US and Europe over trade, tech, and now the war in Iran, Washington and Brussels are negotiating over the US Department of Homeland Security’s request for access to European biometric data. What does each side want—and what is achievable?

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Issue Brief

Mar 20, 2026

The economic and political traps awaiting aging societies

By Markus Jaeger

Rapidly aging populations and falling birthrates create fiscal and economic headwinds that even advanced economies struggle to manage. Some middle-income countries are approaching the same “demographic cliff” at an even faster clip, while many lower-income countries face the opposite problem. Policymakers in all cases must be prepared to make politically tough decisions—and soon.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

Issue Brief

Mar 20, 2026

Aquatic Tiger: How long-range submarine drones could play a role in a Taiwan conflict

By Markus Garlauskas with contributions from Drew Holliday, Adam Kozloski, Nicholas Takeuchi, and Paul Vebber

Could submarine drones help the United States deter or counter a Chinese attack on Taiwan? The Aquatic Tiger wargame was designed to find out. The Atlantic Council's Indo-Pacific Security Initiative reports on the wargame's findings, with implications for the US government, the defense industry, and more. 

Conflict Defense Technologies

Issue Brief

Mar 19, 2026

Federal agencies under pressure need smarter systems, not tougher people

By Caitlin Thompson

Resilience is an important trait for national security practitioners, but it is not a solution for problems with agency and department design. Better systems and strategies can ensure that individuals are fully prepared and ready to respond to crises, rather than consistently under strain.

National Security Resilience
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