Intelligence

Intelligence

National security and defense often require the collection of a vast amount of data and knowledge that can be used by policy makers to make political and military decisions to defend the national interest. Whether through open source or covert means, the acquisition of intelligence is a vital tool for effective national defense.

Content

UkraineAlert

Sep 11, 2026

Ukrainian police are preventing Russia from turning civilians into saboteurs

By Andrii Niebytov, Clara Kaluderovic

Since spring 2024, Russia has been waging a campaign far behind the front lines featuring arson, sabotage, and terrorist attacks using Ukrainians who are recruited online, deceived, and discarded, write Andrii Niebytov and Clara Kaluderovic.

Conflict Infrastructure Protection

Dispatches

Sep 4, 2026

Without allies and partners, the US risks being alienated from the global intelligence networks it built

By Tressa Guenov, Charlotte Bertrand

US allies and partners are reassessing their intelligence needs and vulnerabilities—and the trend is toward greater autonomy.

Intelligence North America

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on Restricted Handling on Chinese political influence campaigns

By Atlantic Council

On July 5, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed on the Restricted Handling podcast to discuss Chinese political influence campaigns and penetration of American critical infrastructure. He highlights the need for an American response strategy based on Beijing’s long-term intelligence strategy.

China Critical Infrastructure Policy

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades testified at the National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

By Atlantic Council

On June 25, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades testified in front of the National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as part of a roundtable on gray zone threats. He emphasized the scale of China’s penetration of American critical infrastructure and urged policymakers to develop a response strategy.

China Critical Infrastructure Policy

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on Deterrence Down Under on countering Chinese covert influence operations

By Atlantic Council

On February 26, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed on Deterrence Down Under for a conversation about the organizational structure of the Chinese intelligence apparatus. He underscored the importance of a credible deterrence framework to respond to Chinese covert influence operations, particularly given increasing threats of economic and political interference.

China Indo-Pacific

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on Restricted Handling on intelligence strategy in China

By Atlantic Council

On December 31, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed on the Restricted Handling podcast to discuss the history of China’s intelligence capabilities and how they have been met by American strategy. The conversation covers economic espionage, American vulnerabilities to foreign influence, and ways intelligence strategies can counter Chinese influence.

China Intelligence

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on China Insider Podcast on Chinese intelligence operations

By Atlantic Council

On July 10, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed on the China Insider Podcast to discuss trends in Chinese Communist Party espionage. He highlighted an uptick in economic espionage and concerns around forms of intelligence collection efforts, and provided history around how China’s intelligence apparatus is constructed.

China Intelligence

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on NTD Newsroom on Chinese shipment masking

By Atlantic Council

On August 15, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades appeared on NTD Newsroom to discuss industrial-scale Chinese shipment masking. He highlighted a variety of methods used to mask shipments and argued that transshipment networks have grown after tariff increases. He also discussed China’s espionage tactics.

China Intelligence

Dispatches

Aug 4, 2026

Despite what Putin says, Russia and Iran are linking the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East

By Katherine Spencer

Capabilities and expertise developed on the Ukrainian battlefield are now flowing back to the Middle East.

Conflict Intelligence

UkraineAlert

Apr 9, 2026

Ukraine is winning the drone war with strike campaign behind Russian lines

By Mykola Bielieskov

Ukraine has regained the initiative from Russia in the world's first full-scale drone war by launching a campaign of mid-range drone strikes aimed at undermining the logistics supporting Putin's invasion, writes Mykola Bielieskov.

Conflict Defense Industry
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Experts

Fellow

Michael Hogan

Senior US Navy Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Intelligence

Fellow

Hannah Hunt

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Fellow

Beniamino Irdi

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Disinformation English

Fellow

John James

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Americas Defense Technologies

Fellow

Heather Kearney

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Indo-Pacific Intelligence

Fellow

Rose Keravuori

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Defense Policy
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