Scowcroft Strategy Scorecard: Grading Trump’s second National Security Strategy

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
Scowcroft Strategy Scorecard: Grading Trump’s second National Security Strategy

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
Scowcroft Strategy Scorecard: Grading Trump’s second National Security Strategy

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

Scorecard

Dec 8, 2025

Scowcroft Strategy Scorecard: Grading Trump’s second National Security Strategy

By Atlantic Council

The Trump administration recently released its new National Security Strategy, a document that represents a major departure from past strategies. Experts from our Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security hand out their grades.

National Security
Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Dec 8, 2025

Charai for The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune: No Stabilization in Gaza Without Dismantling Hamas

By Atlantic Council

Conflict
International Security Assistance Force

UkraineAlert

Dec 8, 2025

Ukraine’s wartime experience provides blueprint for infrastructure protection

By Oleksandr Bakalinskyi, Maggie McDonough

Since 2014, Ukraine’s critical infrastructure has faced sustained and increasingly sophisticated attacks but continues to function, adapt, and evolve, offering the world one of the most comprehensive case studies for resilience under unrelenting cyber-kinetic pressure, write Oleksandr Bakalinskyi and Maggie McDonough.

Conflict
Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

Dec 5, 2025

The cost of an unjust peace in Ukraine? An emboldened China.

By Phillip M. Ramirez

A peace deal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine that favors Russia could embolden China to take military action of its own.

China
Conflict

New Atlanticist

Dec 5, 2025

Experts react: What Trump’s National Security Strategy means for US foreign policy

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts delve into the newly released document outlining the Trump administration’s principles and priorities for US foreign policy.

Defense Policy
Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Dec 5, 2025

Gray quoted in Politico on the National Security Strategy

On December 5, Alexander B. Gray, a nonresident senior fellow with the GeoStrategy Initiative at the Scowcroft Center, was quoted in the Politico newsletter on the newly released US National Security Strategy. He called it “a fundamental break from 35 years of how America views the world.”

Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Dec 4, 2025

Ukraine’s warning to the West: A bad peace will lead to a bigger war

By Myroslava Gongadze

It is delusional to think that sacrificing Ukraine will satisfy Russia. Instead, a bad peace will only lead to a bigger war, while the price of today's hesitation will ultimately be far higher than the cost of action, writes Myroslava Gongadze.

Conflict
Corruption

In the News

Dec 4, 2025

Grundman in Aviation Week on Pentagon acquisition reform

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense Senior Fellow Steven Grundman authored an article in Aviation Week entitled “Can Hegseth Transform U.S. Defense Acquisition?,” highlighting the importance of speed and agility in acquisition reform.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Dec 4, 2025

Russia has learned from Ukraine and is now winning the drone war

By David Kirichenko

Ukraine's more agile army and vibrant tech sector initially gave the country an edge in the drone war against Russia, but Moscow has now regained the initiative thanks to an emphasis on mass and training, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict
Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Dec 3, 2025

Returning Ukraine’s abducted children should be central to any peace plan

By Kristina Hook

The United States should lead efforts to secure the release and return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. This could help build confidence in the peace process and boost efforts to end the war, writes Kristina Hook.

Conflict
European Union
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Experts

Fellow

Leah Pisar

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Education

Fellow

Margaritis Schinas

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

English European Union

Fellow

Brenda Estefan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Economy & Business Latin America

Fellow

Nathan K. Finney

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Conflict Defense Policy

Fellow

Tom Mancinelli

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Expert

Gabrielius Landsbergis

Distinguished Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Lithuanian
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Events

Online Event Fri, December 12, 2025 • 11:00 am ET

Report launch: Analyzing stagnation and militarization in the Russian economy
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Russia
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