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
Syria shouldn’t join the Mecca Alliance. It should cooperate with it. 

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
Syria shouldn’t join the Mecca Alliance. It should cooperate with it. 

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
Syria shouldn’t join the Mecca Alliance. It should cooperate with it. 

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.

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Content

MENASource

Nov 13, 2026

Syria shouldn’t join the Mecca Alliance. It should cooperate with it. 

By Ibrahim Al-Assil

Joining the alliance would expose Syria to a new set of threats and increase the chances of regional escalation.

Conflict Pakistan
SAHARA

MENASource

Nov 13, 2026

Washington is reshaping security in North Africa. Congress needs to ask how.

By Frank Talbot

The next US Congress should demand clearer plans from the White House on its Western Sahara and Libya policies.

Libya North Africa

UkraineAlert

Nov 12, 2026

Putin’s chief negotiator vows to seize ‘every inch of Russian land’ in Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

The Kremlin’s uncompromising approach to negotiations with Ukraine was summed up by Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky's comment that “every inch of Russian land will be returned to Russia, one way or another,” writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Nov 12, 2026

Moldova cuts energy dependency on Russia with landmark new power line

By Aura Sabadus

Five years after Russia tried to bring Moldova to its knees through energy pressure, a landmark new power line has removed one of Moscow’s last remaining levers over the country, writes Aura Sabadus.

Conflict Critical Infrastructure Policy

Report

Nov 12, 2026

Seeking the source: Biological attribution from anthrax to AI

By the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at Atlantic Council

Attribution can be imprecise, since it oftentimes relies on a combination of science, intelligence, and investigatory evidence.

National Security

Fast Thinking

Nov 11, 2026

Where the Russia-Ukraine peace talks stand after Abu Dhabi 

By Atlantic Council

Our experts unpack what this week’s US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine mean for European security and the prospects for peace.

Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Russia

UkraineAlert

Nov 10, 2026

Ukraine’s new drone blitz cuts Russian oil refining capacity by 30 percent

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine has renewed attacks on Putin's energy industry in recent days, conducting a series of powerful strikes that have reportedly cut Russian oil refining capacity by around 30 percent and sparked fuel shortages across the country, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Nov 10, 2026

Europe sees surge in suspected Russian hybrid warfare incidents

By Maksym Beznosiuk

Europe has witnessed a surge in suspected Russian hybrid warfare incidents in recent weeks. This is fueling concerns that Vladimir Putin is escalating his intimidation campaign against Ukraine’s partners, writes Maksym Beznosiuk.

Conflict Cybersecurity

Dispatches

Nov 9, 2026

Dispatch from Berlin: What Germans most want to know about the post-midterms United States

By Daniel Fried, Jörn Fleck

Germany faces even more pressure to lead European security amid uncertainty over the Trump administration's post-midterm Russia policy.

European Union Germany

Inflection Points

Nov 9, 2026

Dispatch from Dubai: After the midterms, allies see both US resilience and unreliability

By Frederick Kempe

In the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, allies are impressed by US democratic resilience but worried about policy predictability.

China NATO
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Experts

Fellow

Rudolph Atallah

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Terrorism

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
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Events

Public Event Wed, November 18, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The risk of ignoring the Horn of Africa’s humanitarian crises
Africa Civil Society Crisis Management Human Rights
Public Event Wed, November 18, 2026 • 11:30 am ET

Pakistan’s place in the emerging world order
Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
Public Event Fri, November 20, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

NATO in America: How the Alliance impacts Pennsylvania
Europe & Eurasia NATO United States and Canada
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