Security & Defense

Security & Defense

One of the most fundamental responsibilities of governments is to protect their citizens from all threats, internal or foreign. Policy makers must prepare for potential conventional warfare, terrorism and other asymmetrical attacks, and the repercussions of natural disasters and climate change to ensure the safety of their citizens. The motivation to protect against future threats must also be partnered with regular dialogue and partnership with allies and neighbors to prevent the triggering of violent conflict or destabilizing arms races.

Explore
Putin aims to break Ukraine by terrorizing the civilian population

Report Sep 8, 2026

Preparing for and countering limited nuclear attacks in East Asia: Guardian Tiger III

By Markus Garlauskas with John Park and Kyoko Imai. Contributors: Andrew Brown and Jonathan Corrado

The risk of North Korea launching a limited nuclear attack will likely increase over the coming decade. The United States and its allies are not preparing adequately to deter and prevail in the face of such nuclear strikes.
Indo-Pacific Korea
Putin aims to break Ukraine by terrorizing the civilian population

Dispatches Sep 1, 2026

Where and how Putin could expand his war in Europe beyond Ukraine

By Atlantic Council experts

The CIA director’s recent unannounced visit to Moscow has raised speculation about Russian plans to escalate attacks.
Conflict Eastern Europe
Putin aims to break Ukraine by terrorizing the civilian population

Report Aug 27, 2026

AI and autonomy in contested operations

By Owen J. Daniels

Any potential major conflict the United States engages in will be shaped by AI and autonomous systems. US forces should expect their systems to operate in denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) conditions imposed by jamming techniques, cyber-attacks, and anti-satellite capabilities designed to sever the connectivity and wreak havoc on military operations.
Artificial Intelligence Defense Policy

Programs

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.

Learn more

Content

UkraineAlert

Oct 1, 2026

Putin aims to break Ukraine by terrorizing the civilian population

By Peter Dickinson

With the Russian army unable to defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, Putin is turning to terror tactics and is using ballistic missiles and jet drones in a bid to bomb Ukraine's civilian population into submission, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

Dispatches

Oct 1, 2026

Ports, power, and presence: How to defend Batanes from China

By Alvin Camba, Kevin M. Wheeler

Manila and Washington should be proactive in preventing Chinese coercion or encroachment in the Philippines’ northern-most province.

China East Asia

UkraineAlert

Sep 30, 2026

Ukraine can play a key role enabling US energy exports to Europe

By Stephen Blank

As Russia expands the bombardment of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, changes are taking place in the country's energy sector with implications for the United States and the future shape of European gas markets, writes Stephen Blank.

Conflict European Union

Dispatches

Sep 30, 2026

US troops are leaving Iraq, but the US should stay

By Victoria J. Taylor , Alina L. Romanowski

The end of Operation Inherent Resolve should not be the end of Washington's engagement with this important country in a region vital to US interests.

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

UkraineAlert

Sep 29, 2026

Europe needs a new strategy for Russian gray zone aggression

By Maksym Beznosiuk, William Dixon

Europe needs a new counter-hybrid playbook, but an approach that focuses on coordinating responses after Russian attacks have already taken place is not an effective deterrent, write Maksym Beznosiuk and William Dixon.

Cybersecurity Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Sep 29, 2026

Ukraine’s innovative robot offensive just reversed a year of Russian gains

By David Kirichenko

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hopes of capturing eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region have been dealt a major blow in recent months by an innovative Ukrainian offensive that has reversed over a year of Russian territorial gains, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Sep 29, 2026

Vladimir Putin only has two options in Ukraine: Total victory or endless war

By Peter Dickinson

US-led efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine War by offering the Kremlin limited territorial concessions reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the imperial ambitions driving Putin's invasion, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Disinformation

Dispatches

Sep 29, 2026

Stopping Russia’s aggression requires holding its enablers accountable

By Celeste Kmiotek, Britt Gronemeyer

Russia’s war is sustained by a network of enablers who supply weapons, labor, and sanctions-evasion channels.

International Norms Russia

Issue Brief

Sep 29, 2026

Three principles to guide European-Gulf defense cooperation

By Jean-Loup Samaan

How can Europe and Gulf cooperate more effectively on defense?

Defense Industry Europe

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Sep 29, 2026

Braw in POLITICO on the cost of Russia’s hybrid war on European businesses

By Elisabeth Braw

On September 29, Elisabeth Braw was published in POLITICO on the financial costs of Russia’s gray-zone aggression.

Europe Security & Defense
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Nasredeen Abdulbari

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Project for Middle East Integration

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Arabic

Fellow

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley

Distinguished Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Middle East National Security

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

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

Arabic China

Fellow

Elliot Ackerman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Nic Adams

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Energy & Environment Middle East

Fellow

Paul Adamson

Senior Advisor

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Load More

Events

Public Event Wed, October 7, 2026 • 1:00 pm ET

Report launch: How can NATO protect its front line from Russia?
Disinformation Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia NATO
Public Event Thu, October 8, 2026 • 6:00 pm ET

Sea change: America’s new great game in the Arctic Circle
Defense Policy Defense Technologies Economy & Business Energy & Environment