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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Braw in Al Jazeera on Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian port infrastructure

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
Braw in Al Jazeera on Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian port infrastructure

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
Braw in Al Jazeera on Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian port infrastructure

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

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 12, 2026

Braw in Al Jazeera on Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian port infrastructure

By Elisabeth Braw

On August 12, Elisabeth Braw was interviewed by Al Jazeera to discuss Ukrainian naval drone attacks on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk.

Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security

In the News

Aug 12, 2026

Rudolph and VerGow published in RealClearDefense on innovation in the Navy

By Atlantic Council

On August 12, Forward Defense Assistant Director Abigail Rudolph and Non-Resident Senior Fellow Joshua VerGow were published in RealClearDefense, discussing the US Navy’s decision to reclassify 19 Virginia-class submarines. In this article, Rudolph and Vergow argue that the reclassification of these submarines exemplifies the Navy’s broader embrace of Distributed Maritime Operations and suggests that meaningful […]

Security & Defense Technology & Innovation

UkraineAlert

Aug 11, 2026

Western weakness is encouraging Putin to test NATO

By Peter Dickinson

As Moscow's hybrid war against NATO continues to escalate, the alliance's reluctance to impose any additional costs on the Kremlin will only only embolden Putin and fuel Russian perceptions of Western weakness, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

MENASource

Aug 11, 2026

Israel cannot afford to miss the IMEC moment

By Samantha Sutton

For the next Israeli government, the economic gains of investing in the corridor are worth the political costs.

Israel Middle East

TURKEYSource

Aug 11, 2026

Turkey wants a bigger role in NATO. Its defense industry will be key.

By Alp Ozen

With the NATO Summit in Ankara behind it, Turkey’s defense sector now faces the challenge of turning political momentum into action—from defense-industrial cooperation to diplomatic initiatives and NATO capability development.

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

AfricaSource

Aug 10, 2026

How to push back against Mali’s propagandists? Help factual creators go viral.

By Tom Bonsundy-O’Bryan

Mali’s information space is now dominated by livestreaming “videomen” pushing misinformation. The West needs to respond by funding fact-based creators.

Africa Disinformation

Dispatches

Aug 7, 2026

Why Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey just signed a defense pact

By Atlantic Council experts

Each country pledged to defend the others, but each country also has its own motivations for joining the pact.

Conflict Iran

Fast Thinking

Aug 7, 2026

The Senate just agreed to hand Trump a tariff weapon against Russia. Will he use it?

By Atlantic Council

Our experts break down what exactly the Russia sanctions bill would accomplish and its prospects of becoming law.

Conflict Russia

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 7, 2026

Braw in New York Times on disrupting Russian sea routes to Crimea

By Elisabeth Braw

On July 15, Elisabeth Braw was quoted in a New York Times article on the small Russian vessels bringing supplies to Crimea and their likely contents.

Europe & Eurasia Russia

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 7, 2026

Braw in Politico on Kyiv’s drone triumphs

By Elisabeth Braw

On July 25, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw published an article in Politico about the importance of rightsizing the role of drones in a nation’s defense capabilities.

Europe & Eurasia Russia
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Experts

Fellow

Nilofar Sakhi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Afghanistan Arabic

Staff

Julia Salabert

Former Program Assistant

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Nathan Sales

Distinguished fellow, Middle East Programs

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

Extremism Human Rights

Fellow

Jean-Loup Samaan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Arabic Defense Policy

Fellow

Omar Samad

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Democratic Transitions Conflict

Fellow

Lisa C. Sawyer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Economy & Business
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Events

Online Event Tue, November 10, 2026 • 3:00 pm ET

Elisabeth Braw on “Undersea War” and the battle over cables and pipelines
Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security Security & Defense