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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Putin’s Ukraine invasion has made Russia China’s junior partner

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
Putin’s Ukraine invasion has made Russia China’s junior partner

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
Putin’s Ukraine invasion has made Russia China’s junior partner

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

UkraineAlert

Sep 23, 2026

Putin’s Ukraine invasion has made Russia China’s junior partner

By Zahar Hryniv

Putin’s evident inability to secure Beijing’s backing for the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline is strengthening international perceptions that the invasion of Ukraine has reduced Russia to the status of China’s junior partner, writes Zahar Hryniv.

China Conflict

Report

Sep 23, 2026

Building a multilateral cognitive warfare defense network: A collaborative framework for the United States, Japan, and Taiwan

By Yu-Hao “Vinson” Shen

Beijing is pressuring Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines not only with ships and aircraft but also in the cognitive domain—which no multilateral mechanism defends. This report explores what it would take to build a coordinated multilateral defense network to combat this threat across the first island chain.

Artificial Intelligence China

Dispatches

Sep 23, 2026

Three things to know about Trump’s Greenland deal

By Connor McPartland

The agreement signed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly makes several important changes to the status quo.

Europe & Eurasia Greenland

Dispatches

Sep 23, 2026

America is not ready for the drone threat

By Bilal Saab

Counter-drone technology is not enough to address the threat to US critical infrastructure.

Drones Security & Defense

UkraineAlert

Sep 22, 2026

Ukrainians are braced for a brutal winter. Are the Russians also ready?

By Peter Dickinson

With Ukraine's air defenses running low, Russia is expected to escalate the bombardment of Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure ahead of the coming winter season in a bid to freeze the country into submission, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Podcast

Sep 22, 2026

Strait talk: Yemen, mercenaries and the Iran war

By Alia Brahimi

In this first video episode of the podcast, Alia is joined by Ibrahim Jalal, an expert on Yemen and the Gulf. Ibrahim describes the major military escalation unfolding along the Red Sea coast and the tactics used by the Houthis.

Maritime Security Middle East

Dispatches

Sep 21, 2026

What to expect at the Trump-Xi summit in Washington

By Melanie Hart

The success of the meeting will likely hinge on just a few important issues, including artificial intelligence safety, Taiwan, and trade.

China Critical Minerals

MENASource

Sep 21, 2026

The Syria policy the US got wrong—and the bittersweet moment Washington finally got right

By Wa’el Alzayat

A former State Department official dissects how the US helped defeat ISIS but didn't protect the Syrian people.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

In the News

Sep 21, 2026

Rodriguez published in War on the Rocks on corporate governance gaps in federal foreign equity investments

On September 21, Forward Defense Commission Director and Senior Advisor Stephen Rodriguez was published in War on the Rocks, arguing that as the US government increasingly takes equity stakes in foreign companies in the critical minerals and defense sectors, it must compile and apply a set of standardized US corporate governance conditions to secure supply […]

Defense Industry Security & Defense

MENASource

Sep 21, 2026

Don’t talk about optimism in Syria, talk about action

By Arwa Damon

It’s been twenty months since Bashar al-Assad’s fall. People expect more, and patience is wearing thin.

Democratic Transitions Inclusive Growth
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Experts

Fellow

Natasha Ahmed

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Industry

Fellow

Osamah Al Rawhani

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Fellow

Ibrahim Al-Assil

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Bisher Al-Khasawneh

Distinguished Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

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

Arabic Defense Policy

Fellow

Omar Al-Nidawi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Energy & Environment

Fellow

Alexander Alden

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy English
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Events

Online Event Thu, October 29, 2026 • 8:00 am ET

Building collective cognitive resilience: A cross-strait and beyond seminar
Artificial Intelligence Disinformation Indo-Pacific Japan
Public Event Fri, October 30, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

General Dagvin R. M. Anderson on US strategy and security in Africa
Africa Defense Policy Security & Defense
Public Event Fri, October 30, 2026 • 1:30 pm ET

Raj Panjabi on turning crisis into community
Coronavirus International Organizations Non-Traditional Threats Technology & Innovation
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