Content

New Atlanticist

Dec 16, 2020

The top ten risks and opportunities for 2021

By Mathew Burrows, Robert A. Manning

COVID-19, the kind of “grey swan” event that is predicted but never pinpointed in time, finally came calling in 2020. Drawing on years of foresight experience at the US National Intelligence Council, we are assessing the top 10 risks and opportunities in the new year, for the US in particular, but with global implications.

Africa Coronavirus

Inflection Points

Dec 13, 2020

Biden’s best chance for Mideast gains: go slow on Iran and build fast off the Abraham Accords

By Frederick Kempe

Imagine President-elect Biden standing before two doors that represent the Middle Eastern quandary he faces. One door is marked “Return to Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal.” The other is labeled “Build Upon Trump’s Abraham Accords.” As it is with most of these tales, there are perils in both paths.

Economy & Business Elections

In the News

Dec 12, 2020

Burrows and Manning in The Hill: 6 policy don’ts for Joe Biden

By Atlantic Council

China Economy & Business

Blog Post

Dec 9, 2020

A pre-emptive strike on Iran would throw world into chaos

By Harlan Ullman

A strike to eliminate Iran’s nuclear facilities would be extraordinarily complex in every dimension, risky, and unlikely to guarantee that Iran will be unable to build a weapon for a lengthy period of time.

Nuclear Nonproliferation Security & Defense

Fast Thinking

Dec 2, 2020

FAST THINKING: Iran sends a message

By Atlantic Council

Now we know how Iran will respond to the assassination of its top nuclear scientist: with an ultimatum to the Biden administration. Tehran enacted a law today to immediately ramp up uranium enrichment—and to expel international nuclear inspectors if US sanctions aren’t lifted by early February, right after Joe Biden takes office. What does the move mean?

Elections Iran

In the News

Dec 1, 2020

Kroenig featured in Providence event on a nuclear-free world

By Atlantic Council

On December 1, Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig was featured in a panel for Providence titled “A World Free from Nuclear Weapons? A Happy Hour Discussion.”

Arms Control China

In the News

Nov 30, 2020

Warrick in Newsy on the implications of Iranian nuclear scientist assassination

By Atlantic Council

On November 30, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Tom Warrick was interviewed by Newsy about the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist and the significance of this event to the United States and its allies.

Conflict Iran

New Atlanticist

Nov 27, 2020

What the assassination of a nuclear scientist means for Iran’s nuclear showdown with the US and Israel

By Holly Dagres

The assassination of an Iranian scientist has struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear program and exposed the vulnerabilities of the Islamic Republic, which failed to protect one of its most valuable assets.

Conflict Iran

In the News

Nov 19, 2020

Garlauskas on what the US could expect out of China’s policy towards North Korea

By Atlantic Council

On November 19, Markus Garlauskas, the former US National Intelligence Officer for North Korea and nonresident senior fellow with the Asia Security Initiative, was quoted in an article on The Economist on what the US could expect out of China’s pressure towards North Korea. He expressed that pressing North Korea to stop testing its most […]

China Defense Policy

In the News

Nov 15, 2020

Garlauskas quoted in the Wall Street Journal on Biden’s approach to North Korea diplomacy

By Atlantic Council

On November 15, Markus Garlauskas, the former US National Intelligence Officer for North Korea and nonresident senior fellow with the Asia Security Initiative, was quoted in The Wall Street Journal for his comments on how Biden should approach diplomacy with North Korea. He highlights that while denuclearization is the appropriate long-term strategic goal, setting realistic […]

Defense Policy East Asia

Experts