Content

Issue Brief

Sep 17, 2025

Preparing US industry for a more competitive world

By David L. Goldwyn, Andrea Clabough

US companies must stay the course on decarbonization to ensure long-term global competitiveness—or risk being left behind as the world’s other major economies continue to prioritize sustainability.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Issue Brief

Sep 15, 2025

The Abraham Accords at five

By Allison Minor, Daniel B. Shapiro, Amir Hayek, Loay Alshareef, Ahmed Khuzaie, Sarah Zaaimi

On the fifth anniversary of the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel normalizing relations, American, Bahraini, Emirati, Israeli, and Moroccan authors reflect on the transformational change and “warm peace” envisioned by the Abraham Accords—a long-term, generational project.

Israel Middle East

Issue Brief

Sep 12, 2025

Trustworthy digital identities can set the standards for secure benefits provision in the US

By Ananya Kumar

The proliferation of online services necessitates verifiable digital IDs globally. While they can improve convenience and reduce fraud in benefits provision, they raise privacy concerns and surveillance risks. This paper examines US digital identity challenges, analyzes EU and Japan implementations, and provides policy recommendations for responsible digital ID development in the US.

Cybersecurity Digital Currencies

Issue Brief

Sep 11, 2025

Private industry should step up to protect the global maritime order

By Elisabeth Braw

Who should protect the global maritime order? While a growing number of countries have begun to violate maritime rules, the maritime sector has the opportunity, and an obligation, to help prevent further deterioration of the rules that underpin safe commerce and safe passage on the seas.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Issue Brief

Sep 11, 2025

DFC 2.0: A blueprint for a bigger, faster and more strategic agency

By Aubrey Hruby

With the DFC’s reauthorization this year, Congress and the Trump administration have an opportunity to refine the tools, deepen partnerships, and expand expertise in order to make the investments at the scale and with the flexibility needed to strengthen US national security and enhance global competitiveness.

Africa Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Sep 10, 2025

Mythical Beasts: Diving into the depths of the global spyware market

By Sarah Graham, Jen Roberts, and Nitansha Bansal

The second edition of the Mythical Beasts project assess how the global spyware market has developed and changed over the past year.

Cybersecurity

Issue Brief

Sep 5, 2025

Securing data in the AI supply chain  

By Justin Sherman

To avoid lopsided AI policy, policymakers must see the data used and generated by AI as a chain, not a snapshot.

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity

Issue Brief

Sep 2, 2025

Leveraging Beijing’s playbook to fortify DFC for global competition

By Caroline Costello

A close look at Chinese development lending practices reveals lessons for the United States on why Chinese deals succeed—and fail—and how the United States should reform its own institutions.

Africa China

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