Iran poses challenges to a National Security Strategy ready to move on

MENASource Aug 25, 2024

After a failed attack, Hezbollah’s propaganda seeks to prevent a wider war with Israel

By David Daoud

Committed as Hezbollah is to saving its Gaza-based allies, the group does not currently want a full war with Israel.
Conflict Israel
Iran poses challenges to a National Security Strategy ready to move on

New Atlanticist Aug 21, 2024

How quickly can Taiwan integrate US weapon systems? Speed is essential to help deter China.

By Adam Kozloski

To better prepare Taiwan to defend itself, the United States needs more transparency into Taipei’s weapons integration challenges.
Conflict Defense Policy
Iran poses challenges to a National Security Strategy ready to move on

UkraineAlert Aug 21, 2024

Invasion? What invasion? Putin is downplaying Ukraine’s Kursk offensive

By Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin’s efforts to downplay Ukraine’s invasion of Russia have severely dented his strongman image and make a mockery of the West’s escalation fears, writes Peter Dickinson.
Conflict 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

Dispatches

Dec 12, 2025

Iran poses challenges to a National Security Strategy ready to move on

By Nathanael Swanson

If, as its new strategy suggests, the White House wants to spend less time on Iran, then it has three options—and one is better than the others.

Iran
Middle East

Issue Brief

Dec 12, 2025

In Southeast Asia, the promise and pitfalls of tariff diplomacy are on full display 

By Amy Searight

US President Donald Trump’s high-profile intervention in the Thai-Cambodian border dispute delivered a cease-fire, but its violation exposes the fragility of tariff diplomacy and raises questions about the durability of coercive US diplomacy in the region.

Indo-Pacific
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Issue Brief

Dec 12, 2025

From the DRC to Sudan, Trump’s disruptive moves could revive stalled negotiations

By Maureen Farrell

Across Africa, US President Donald Trump’s unorthodox diplomacy is unsettling old patterns—reviving talks between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda and injecting new momentum into Sudan mediation. The gains may be fragile, but the openings are real.

Africa
East Africa

Report

Dec 12, 2025

Inside Trump’s peace plans  

By Atlantic Council experts

From Rwanda to Cambodia, US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts mix economic pressure, trade deals, and high-profile ceremonies. His unorthodox style produces rapid results—but can it achieve lasting peace?

Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Issue Brief

Dec 12, 2025

It’s all about Hamas’s disarmament

By Daniel B. Shapiro

A US-brokered cease-fire ended the Israel-Hamas war, but the next phase depends on the group’s disarmament. Until that happens, Gaza’s reconstruction, regional diplomacy, and political future hang in the balance.

Israel
Middle East

In the News

Dec 12, 2025

Kroenig quoted in NPR on President Trump’s peace deals

On December 12, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was quoted in an article in NPR titled “Trump touts his peace deals – but many are already unraveling.” He argues the President’s unconventional negotiation style has yielded some notable successes.

Crisis Management
Politics & Diplomacy

The Big Story

Dec 11, 2025

Bosnia’s forgotten war is still with us

By Thom Shanker

Fewer than fifty years after the end of World War II, genocide returned to Europe in Bosnia. The carnage ended on December 14, 1995, with the signing of the US-brokered Dayton Accords. Thirty years on, have the war's lessons—for Europe; for diplomacy, humanitarian intervention, and more—been heeded?

Conflict
NATO

Podcast

Dec 11, 2025

“Youth as merchandise”: Iraqi mercenaries in Ukraine

By Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 13 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by the Iraqi political analyst Mohammed Salih to discuss the legion of Iraqi men turning up on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine.

Iraq
Middle East

UkraineAlert

Dec 11, 2025

Russia’s insistence on a defenseless Ukraine betrays Putin’s true intentions

By Peter Dickinson

Russia's key demands during US-led peace talks all appear designed to leave Ukraine disarmed and defenseless. This is a clear indication of Vladimir Putin's intention to continue his invasion and complete the conquest of Ukraine, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict
Disinformation

In the News

Dec 10, 2025

Wieslander in New York Times

Director for Northern Europe, Anna Wieslander, featured in the New York Times on Wednesday December 10 on the challenges to Europe’s security. Wieslander underlines that Ukraine is Europe’s first line of defense against Russia but explains that “we don’t follow through on what that means and what it costs”. The frozen Russian assets are essential […]

Defense Policy
Northern Europe
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Experts

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Amanda Thorpe

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Amir Asmar

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Intelligence Israel

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Alexandre Marques Pinho

Adviser to the Minister, Portugal Ministry of Defence

Millennium Leadership Program

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

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Nic Adams

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Energy & Environment Middle East

Fellow

Alexander B. Gray

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

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Jon Wilks

Distinguished Fellow, Transatlantic Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Crisis Management
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Events

Public Event Wed, December 17, 2025 • 10:30 am ET

The Pentagon’s Michael Cadenazzi on revitalizing the defense industrial base
Defense Industry Defense Policy Defense Technologies National Security
Online Event Fri, December 19, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Can Europe meet the geopolitical moment?
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union Politics & Diplomacy