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.

Content

UkraineAlert

Sep 24, 2025

What we can learn from Tibetan and Ukrainian freedom fighters

By Nolan Peterson

Nolan Peterson reflects on his experience embedded in the Tibetan and Ukrainian freedom struggles as he has sought to understand how these two nations summoned the will to defy the empires that meant to destroy them.

China Conflict

In the News

Sep 24, 2025

Gray on Fox News ‘Fox News @ Night’ on retaking the Bagram Airfield

On September 24, Alexander B. Gray, nonresident senior fellow of the GeoStrategy Initiative of the Scowcroft Center, appeared on Fox News to discuss President Trump’s desire to reclaim the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Conflict

UkraineAlert

Sep 23, 2025

Putin is escalating Russia’s hybrid war against Europe. Is Europe ready?

By Maksym Beznosiuk

Putin has clearly been encouraged by Trump’s efforts to downgrade America’s involvement in transatlantic security and feels emboldened to escalate his own hybrid war against Europe, writes Maksym Beznosiuk.

Belarus Conflict

MENASource

Sep 23, 2025

Iran’s minorities and policy complexity: A look at two communities

By David Sklar

Iran plays a significant role in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Policymakers should develop a sober, accurate mapping of its population.

Civil Society Iran

New Atlanticist

Sep 23, 2025

How to write a US National Security Strategy 

By Matthew Kroenig

The Trump administration will soon release a National Security Strategy. Experts who have contributed to past strategies share their perspectives on how to make one worth drafting and reading.

Conflict Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Sep 23, 2025

Dispatch from 2,200 feet over Gaza: What I learned from airdropping desperately needed food aid

By Ahmed F. Alkhatib

The head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project, joined a recent humanitarian flight over the Gaza Strip that delivered much-needed food to Palestinians.

Conflict Israel

In the News

Sep 23, 2025

Kroenig quoted in The Atlantic on the United Nations General Assembly

On September 23, Matthew Kroenig, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director, was quoted in an article in The Atlantic. He argues that the United Nations has turned into an arena for global competition.

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

In the News

Sep 22, 2025

Wieslander on Swedish radio

Director for Northern Europe Anna Wieslander has featured on Swedish radio on September 22 following the Russian fighter jets intrusion on Estonian airspace. Wieslander underlined that it was essential for NATO to react and discussed potential outcomes out of the meeting of the North Atlantic Council and stronger measures taken.

NATO Northern Europe

UkraineAlert

Sep 22, 2025

Moldova accuses Russia of election interference ahead of key vote

By Aidan Stretch

Moldova is raising the alarm over Russian interference ahead of this weekend's parliamentary election amid fears that a pro-Kremlin victory could derail Moldova's EU ambitions and create a new front in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, writes Aidan Stretch.

Conflict Corruption

New Atlanticist

Sep 22, 2025

Why has Japan deployed fighter jets to NATO bases in the US, Canada, and Europe?

By Atlantic Council experts

As part of Operation Atlantic Eagles, Tokyo has sent four F-15 fighter jets and four additional military aircraft to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Germany Japan

Experts

Events