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.

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What Rubio’s Latin America tour means for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru

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
What Rubio’s Latin America tour means for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru

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
What Rubio’s Latin America tour means for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru

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

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet at the Batallon Paraiso military complex in Barranquilla

Dispatches

Sep 11, 2026

What Rubio’s Latin America tour means for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru

By Atlantic Council experts

Experts look at what Rubio's tour signals about the US push for closer cooperation with Latin America's new crop of conservatives.

Americas Latin America

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

UkraineAlert

Sep 10, 2026

Russia’s escalating bombing campaign is terrorizing Ukrainian schoolchildren

By Shelby Magid

Russia's escalating bombardment of Ukrainian cities is terrorizing a generation of Ukrainian schoolchildren who are being prevented from attending classes or forced to spend days in bomb shelters, writes Shelby Magid.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Sep 10, 2026

As Russia’s invasion falters, Putin boasts of imaginary victories

By Peter Dickinson

Putin was caught lying about imaginary Russian victories again in September. His habit of exaggerating battlefield gains reflects mounting unease over the credibility gap between the Kremlin’s superpower pretensions and his army’s underwhelming performance in Ukraine, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Disinformation

Dispatches

Sep 10, 2026

The state of terrorism, 25 years after 9/11

By Atlantic Council experts

A quarter century after the deadly attacks against the United States, Atlantic Council experts answer twenty-five pressing questions about terrorism today.

Afghanistan Middle East

MENASource

Sep 9, 2026

Ten questions (and expert answers) on the final withdrawal of US troops from Iraq

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts unpack what the US withdrawal from Iraq means for the Middle East and beyond.

Iraq Security & Defense

Dispatches

Sep 9, 2026

The most valuable legacy that the 9/11 generation can leave behind

By Tom Ridge

The former Pennsylvania governor and Department of Homeland Security secretary reflects on the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001.

Civil Society Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Sep 9, 2026

Woolf in Orbis on the role of nuclear norms in an era of renewed competition

By Atlantic Council

On July 20, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Amy Woolf published an article in Orbis titled “Nuclear Norms in an Era of Renewed Nuclear Competition.” She highlights that the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) in February 2026 has left nuclear weapons states without formal systems that reduce the risk of […]

Arms Control Nuclear Deterrence

Issue Brief

Sep 8, 2026

Turning early alignment into a durable US-Colombia partnership

By Carolina Barco and Kevin Whitaker

One month into President Abelardo de la Espriella’s administration, early alignment with the Trump administration creates an opening to strengthen US-Colombia cooperation on security, trade and investment, regional stability, and Venezuela’s recovery.

Americas Colombia

UkraineAlert

Sep 8, 2026

Ukrainian drone strikes are disarming Russia’s energy weapon

By Ana Lejava

For years, Russia wielded its energy capacity as a weapon against its neighbors to manipulate, coerce, and control. Ukraine’s strategic bombing campaign is now turning this energy weapon against Moscow itself, writes Ana Lejava.

Central Asia Conflict
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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
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Events

Public Event Tue, September 15, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

Pathways to partnership, prosperity, and security in the Sahel
Africa Democratic Transitions Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society
Public Event Wed, September 16, 2026 • 12:15 pm ET

Looking north: Arctic security strategy for a new era
Security & Defense
Online Event Tue, September 22, 2026 • 4:15 pm ET

Spain’s foreign minister on European security and the transatlantic alliance
Europe NATO Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
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