Clementine G. Starling is the director of Forward Defense and resident fellow of the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council. In her role, she oversees the Initiative’s programming and research, and leads on the defense policy and European security practice areas. Her own research focuses on great power competition with China and Russia, deterrence and US force posture, and transatlantic security.

During her time at the Council, Starling has produced and contributed to reports on Russia’s nuclear strategy, military mobility, political warfare, Europe-China relations, and the US-UK relationship. Starling’s analysis has been featured in a range of publications and she has provided commentary for National Public Radio, the BBC, and ABC News, among others. Within the Transatlantic Security team, she played a leading role in managing NATO’s official public diplomacy efforts (“NATO Engages”) around the Alliance’s 2019 London Leaders’ Meeting and other summits. Starling is also the Security and Defense fellow at Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP).

Prior to joining the Atlantic Council, Starling worked in the UK Parliament with the House of Commons Defence Select Committee providing analysis on UK defense, Middle East security, and technology. Originally from the United Kingdom, she also worked for the Britain Stronger in Europe (BREMAIN) campaign. She graduated with honors from the London School of Economics with a Bachelor of Science in International Relations and History.