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UkraineAlert

Mar 6, 2025

US peace initiative can help bring Ukraine’s abducted children home

By Kristina Hook, Iuliia Hoban

Securing the return of the thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia since 2022 must play a part in the peace efforts recently initiated by US President Donald Trump, write Kristina Hook and Iuliia Hoban.

Civil Society Conflict

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2025

The real reason Russia invaded Ukraine (hint: it’s not NATO expansion)

By Andrew A. Michta

Russia invaded Ukraine not because of NATO expansion, but because the West failed to back up Europe’s post-Cold War security architecture with hard power.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

UkraineAlert

Mar 5, 2025

Prospect of peace talks sparks fresh debate over Russia’s frozen assets

By Ivan Horodyskyy

US President Donald Trump's efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine are sparking fresh debate over the fate of $300 billion in frozen Russian assets, writes Ivan Horodyskyy.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2025

The Egyptian plan for postwar Gaza is a good starting point—but it needs changes

By Thomas S. Warrick

While many obstacles remain, the Egyptian proposal could form the starting point for negotiations over a workable plan for postwar Gaza.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 5, 2025

Luetkefend co-authors essay with Army War College focused on Germany’s foreign policy shift since 2022

On February 27, Theresa Luetkefend, an Assistant Director in the Forward Defense program, co-authored an essay with Jeff Rathke, the President of the American-German Institute, through the US Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute. Luetkefend’s essay, titled “The International Dimension: NATO, the EU, and Multinational Cooperation,” was featured in a broader report called Assessing the […]

English Europe & Eurasia
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen give a statement before a meeting with EU Commissioners in Brussels, Belgium, January 11, 2023.REUTERS/Johanna Geron

Issue Brief

Mar 5, 2025

The EU must become a strategic player in defense—alongside NATO

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

The European Union and NATO need renewed alignment on defense to meet the new geopolitical moment. Refocused cooperation would provide a critically needed burden sharing to eliminate vulnerabilities and prepare Europe to withstand new realities.

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Mar 5, 2025

Grundman on Investor’s Business Daily on technological innovation in the defense sector

By Atlantic Council

On March 5, Steven Grundman, senior fellow at Forward Defense, was featured on Investor’s Business Daily in a segment of their Growth Stories.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2025

How US military action against drug cartels in Mexico could unfold

By James Fowler and Alicia Nieves

A potential four-part scenario can be constructed by examining recent developments in the US-Mexico relationship and US counterterrorism efforts.

Crisis Management Mexico

MENASource

Mar 5, 2025

Nasrallah’s funeral was Hezbollah’s desperately needed lifeline

By David Daoud

By bringing the community out to Nasrallah’s funeral in the hundreds of thousands, Hezbollah sent a message to its domestic opponents and the government.

Conflict Extremism

In the News

Mar 5, 2025

Creamer published in the Small Wars Journal on US and allied readiness in a “multi-theater general war”

On March 5, Shawn Creamer, nonresident senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative and Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, was published in the Small Wars Journal on US under preparedness for large-scale conflict and the steps needed to strengthen defense and societal resilience. He argues that, as our adversaries are acting in a coordinated manner to build up […]

Crisis Management Defense Industry

Experts

Events