Maritime Security

Seaborne commerce and freedom of navigation are inextricably intertwined, with both contributing to the success and prosperity of the liberal world order. But maritime security is under threat both from great-power competitors and from non-state actors. Policy makers must come up with new solutions to resolve threats to maritime security and to secure a free and open maritime system in cooperation with allies and partners.

State of the Order: Assessing March 2021

TURKEYSource Nov 13, 2024

Quiet before the storm: Is a new maritime security order taking shape in the Black Sea region?

By Serhat Güvenç

While Turkey and Europe have their own maritime strategies for the Black Sea, finding ways of cooperation is critical to counter Russia’s maritime power.
Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia
State of the Order: Assessing March 2021

New Atlanticist Oct 24, 2024

Dispatch from Taiwan: China’s military drills look more frightening outside of Taiwan than from inside

By Brian Kerg

The US and its allies took note when China launched large military exercises around Taiwan just after October 10. But it’s also important to pay attention to how Taiwanese reacted to Beijing’s saber-rattling.
China East Asia
State of the Order: Assessing March 2021

New Atlanticist Oct 15, 2024

How the US and the Philippines should counter Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea

By Elizabeth Freund Larus and James Rice

Washington, Manila, and their Indo-Pacific allies must work together to counter China’s maritime aggression in Philippine waters.
China Indo-Pacific

Content

Blog Post

Apr 22, 2021

State of the Order: Assessing March 2021

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

China Coronavirus

Blog Post

Mar 16, 2021

State of the Order: Assessing February 2021

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

China Coronavirus

NATO 20/2020

Mar 9, 2021

Set NATO’s sights on the High North: NATO 20/2020 podcast

By James Danoy and Marisol Maddox

Security in the Arctic is waiting on no one. NATO needs a strategy for defense and deterrence in the High North before it is outflanked.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 17, 2021

Ashford quoted in Defense News: Can the Biden administration break the cycle of marathon naval deployments to the Mideast?

By Atlantic Council

On February 17, Emma Ashford was quoted in a Defense News article by David Larter, focusing on the strategic implications of stationing a U.S. carrier group in the Persian Gulf. “After showing signs of improvement following two deadly collisions in 2017, the Navy is again under pressure to provide aircraft carrier presence to the Middle […]

Maritime Security Middle East

In the News

Jan 27, 2021

Manning in Foreign Policy: Beijing’s welcome gift to Biden: more threats and tensions

By Atlantic Council

On January 27, Robert Manning co-authorded an article Patrick Cronin entitled “Beijing’s Welcome Gift to Biden: More Threats and Tensions” in Foreign Policy. The article makes the point that recent actions by China pose a challenge to any attempt to reset relations and argues that the new coast guard law necessitates a clear response from […]

Americas China

NATO 20/2020

Jan 26, 2021

Christen a carrier strike group: NATO 20/2020 podcast

By Michael John Williams

Using the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales as its backbone, a NATO carrier strike group is an opportunity for high-end interoperability under European leadership.

Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security

NATO 20/2020

Jan 12, 2021

Build an Atlantic-Pacific partnership: NATO 20/2020 podcast

By Transatlantic Security Initative

NATO is the only institution capable of organizing transatlantic and transpacific stakeholders to address China’s political, military, and information threats.

Australia China

Report

Nov 3, 2020

Embracing underseas robots: a US strategy to maintain underseas superiority in an age of unmanned systems

By Erich Frandrup

The future of warfare is progressing towards uncrewed systems and automation. This report takes a look at this trend in the undersea domain, proposing a strategy for the United States to leverage the emerging capacity of unmanned undersea vehicles.

China Defense Industry

In the News

Oct 29, 2020

Preble on the Net Assessment podcast: Battle Force 2045

By Atlantic Council

On the October 29 Net Assessment podcast, Christopher Preble joined co-hosts Melanie Marlowe of CSIS and AEI’s Zack Cooper to discuss the U.S. Navy’s Battle Force 2045 proposal. Bryan, Melanie, Chris, and Zack agree that the proposed 500 ship force is a fantasy that will not be fully funded. But they express optimism that these […]

Americas Defense Industry

Blog Post

Oct 23, 2020

Trafalgar offers history lesson for China threat

By Harlan Ullman

Over-militarizing policy, as we did from Vietnam to the second Iraq war, almost always induces some form of failure

China Conflict
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Experts

Fellow

John B. Barranco

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Americas Iraq

Fellow

Gavin Clough

2023-24 Senior US Navy Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Eastern Europe

Fellow

Thayz Guimarães

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

Americas Brazil

Fellow

Brian Kerg

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Conflict East Asia

Fellow

Sarah Kirchberger

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Industry

Fellow

Narushige Michishita

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Crisis Management Defense Policy
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Events

Public Event Mon, April 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

Admiral Daryl Caudle on the strategic vision for the US Navy
Defense Policy Maritime Security National Security