Five pillars for deterring strategic attacks

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
Five pillars for deterring strategic attacks

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
Five pillars for deterring strategic attacks

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

Issue Brief

Jul 24, 2025

Five pillars for deterring strategic attacks

By Mark J. Massa, Alyxandra Marine

As its highest priority, the Department of Defense must deter strategic attacks on the United States. A five-pillar strategy could guide efforts to prevent nuclear and nonnuclear threats while ensuring resilience and readiness against large-scale nuclear attacks on the US homeland.

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

New Atlanticist

Jul 24, 2025

Dispatch from Manila: A lesson in calling out Chinese maritime aggression

By Markus Garlauskas, Philip W. Yu

As the Philippines has focused more on Chinese threats to itself, Manila also seems increasingly inclined to see its own security as connected to that of the broader region.

China Indo-Pacific

In the News

Jul 24, 2025

Charai in Jerusalem Post: Israel’s moral dilemma: Being a picture of morality or destroying Hamas

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Extremism

Testimony

Jul 24, 2025

Daniel B. Shapiro testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism

By Daniel B. Shapiro

Daniel B. Shapiro testifies before the US Senate Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism on US diplomatic strategies for a dynamic Middle East.

Conflict Defense Policy

MENASource

Jul 24, 2025

An open wound, a fading light: Marking eleven years since the Yezidi genocide

By Pari Ibrahim and Murad Ismael

One consequence of the Middle East's shifting landscape has been an erosion of international attention on Yezidi issues.

Human Rights International Norms

Issue Brief

Jul 23, 2025

Invest in space or lose the high ground

By Edward Brady, Clementine G. Starling-Daniels

Space superiority underpins military dominance across all domains. To deter and win future conflicts, the United States must significantly invest in the capabilities of its Space Force—including space command and control, as well as domain awareness.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2025

To meet NATO’s 5 percent benchmark, allies need more industrial capacity. Here’s how they can build it.

By James Hursch, Kristen Taylor

Without more industrial muscle to increase defense production, the positive momentum coming out of The Hague summit could grind to a halt.

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

MENASource

Jul 23, 2025

Iran, China, Russia, and the collapse of deterrence in the Red Sea

By Fatima Abo Alasrar

Multiple powers now patrol with different mandates, different rules, and increasingly different interpretations of acceptable behavior.

China Iran

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2025

A terrorist designation should only be the start in weakening Mexican cartels

By Aaron Kolleda

The Trump administration’s designation of several Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations must be followed by actions that meaningfully weaken those groups.

Conflict Defense Policy

AfricaSource

Jul 23, 2025

The Sahel is pivoting toward Turkey. Here’s what that means for Washington.

By Jordanna Yochai

Washington will need to consider partnering with Turkey when it advances US interests—but it must approach any cooperation with clear eyes.

Defense Technologies Sahel
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Experts

John Watts

Fellow

John T. Watts

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Conflict Crisis Management

Staff

William F. Wechsler

Senior Director, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

National Security Middle East

Fellow

Peter Westmacott

Distinguished Ambassadorial Fellow

Europe Center

Economy & Business European Union

Fellow

Kevin M. Wheeler

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Technologies Indo-Pacific

Fellow

Moira Whelan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Crisis Management Disinformation

Fellow

Lloyd Whitman

Senior Advisor and Fellow, Science and Technology Policy

Defense Technologies Education
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Events

Public Event Wed, August 13, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

The US Space Force’s Jonathan Farrow on the US Space Warfighting Framework
Defense Policy National Security Space Security
Public Event Wed, October 8, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

2025 Energy & Defense Summit
Defense Policy Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance Geopolitics & Energy Security