Defense Policy

One of the primary responsibilities of governments is to provide for the defense of their citizens and territories against threats from other state and non-state actors. Defense policy makers must make decisions on how best to deploy the military and civilian resources at their disposal to ensure the protection of their nations and their allies.

What Poland wants when it comes to US troops

New Atlanticist Nov 1, 2024

NATO needs a defense industrial strategy that prioritizes being strong, smart, and together

By Kristen Taylor, Luka Ignac

A recent two-day summit underscored the ways in which the credibility of allied deterrence hinges on robust defense industrial cooperation.
Defense Policy Defense Technologies
What Poland wants when it comes to US troops

New Atlanticist Oct 30, 2024

In defense of Draghi’s defense idea: Three models for a centralized defense procurer for the EU

By Thomas Goldstein

Only a European defense procurer can provide the institutional reform to overcome intra- and intergovernmental paralysis and invest at scale.
Defense Industry Defense Policy
What Poland wants when it comes to US troops

New Atlanticist Oct 28, 2024

The US needs a stronger defense industrial base. Option contracts can help.

By Michael Hogan

The US government would pay a premium on current orders, but it would then have the option to purchase a larger amount within a fixed timeframe.
Defense Industry Defense Policy

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Jul 2, 2020

What Poland wants when it comes to US troops

By Teri Schultz

It's not a place the Polish government wants to be: caught between its crucial transatlantic ally the United States and its neighbor, Europe's most powerful country, Germany.

Defense Policy Germany

New Atlanticist

Jun 26, 2020

Germany may not like the American messenger. But it should heed his message.

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

The US president and the German government have given up on one another and withdrawn to their own camps, ignoring the growing structural issues in their bilateral ties that promise to linger no matter who wins the US presidential elections this fall.

Defense Policy Germany

New Atlanticist

Jun 25, 2020

What’s at stake in Trump’s plans to withdraw troops from Germany

By Katherine Golden

On June 15, US President Donald J. Trump confirmed press reports that he is planning to pull 9,500 US troops out of Germany, leaving 25,000 in the country. Here’s how the Atlantic Council’s experts are assessing the decision and its significance.

Defense Policy Germany

Event Recap

Jun 18, 2020

War stories from the future: Launch of new Forward Defense practice

By Andrew Farnsworth

On Tuesday, June 2, at the inaugural event for the Atlantic Council’s newly-established Forward Defense practice, the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security hosted a panel of distinguished speakers to discuss the importance of thinking creatively about national security and defense.

Coronavirus Defense Industry

Report

Jun 18, 2020

An affordable defense of Asia

By T.X. Hammes

US military advantages over China are steadily eroding. Therefore, in this inaugural report for Forward Defense, T.X. Hammes crafts a new strategy and corresponding operational concepts which leverage geography and emerging technology to improve the US and allied warfighting posture in Asia.

China Conflict

In the News

Jun 11, 2020

Kroenig’s new book reviewed in the National Interest

By Atlantic Council

Army officer Sam Wilkins reviews Matthew Kroenig's new book, "The Return of Great Power Rivalry," and notes that it "represents a much-needed lesson in the hard power advantage of democracies."

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Jun 9, 2020

Packard and Jensen in War on the Rocks: Washington needs to rethink its China strategy

By Atlantic Council

Reviewing the Trump administration's current China strategy, Marine Corps University Assistant Professor Nathan Packard and Forward Defense Senior Fellow Benjamin Jensen advance points of convergence and divergence, while examining critical flaws.

China Conflict

New Atlanticist

Jun 5, 2020

Increase NATO’s operational reach: Expanding the NATO SOF network

By Thang Q. Tran

NATO cannot safeguard the coalition’s interests unilaterally. Strategic investments in NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) to expand the NATO SOF Network will provide political and military leaders the full range of options in response to emerging threats—both hybrid and conventional—through strong partnerships within the Alliance and with partners.

Defense Policy NATO

In the News

Jun 5, 2020

Nawaz in The Friday Times: Review of Maria Rashid’s book “Dying to Serve: Militarism, Affect, and the Politics of Sacrifice in the Pakistan Army”

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Defense Policy

Future of DHS

Jun 2, 2020

Max Brooks on non-military threats to the homeland

China, Russia, and Iran learned a very different lesson from the one the United States learned after the hundred hour-campaign in 1990-1991 to liberate Kuwait from Saddam Hussein. Writer Max Brooks, author of World War Z, put it this way:

Defense Policy National Security
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Experts

Fellow

Elliot Ackerman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Bisher Al-Khasawneh

Distinguished Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Defense Policy

Fellow

Alexander Alden

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy English

Fellow

David Auerswald

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Scott D. Berrier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Robert Bassett Cross MC

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy
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