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

Podcast

Mar 9, 2026

Fighting mercenaries: A Ukrainian soldier’s perspective

By Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 15 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by Dimko Zhluktenko, a Ukrainian drone pilot and analyst within the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Ukrainian military. They discuss the realities of drone warfare in Ukraine, as well as the ways in which mercenary forces change the nature and tempo of battle.

Drones Eastern Europe

Report

Mar 9, 2026

Strategy for a new nuclear age

By Michael Albertson, Paul Amato, Henry "Trey" Obering, Ankit Panda, Kingston Reif, Amy Woolf

As it carries out strikes on Iran's nuclear program, the United States confronts a wider and ever more complex landscape of nuclear threats, with Russia, North Korea, and China all boosting their arsenals. In this new nuclear age, how should US policymakers think about force size, arms control, and missile defense?

Arms Control China

Dispatches

Mar 6, 2026

How would a Kurdish offensive change the war in Iran?

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts explain the goals of the various Kurdish groups the United States is reportedly backing for an attack against Iran and how their involvement could impact the wider war.

Conflict Defense Policy

Dispatches

Mar 6, 2026

Washington’s limited levers to shape a post-Khamenei Iran

By Nate Swanson, Ingrid Small

The United States and its allies do have some options to coax change that might result in a more Western-leaning Tehran.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Mar 6, 2026

The US and China are in ‘gray zone’ competition. A counterinsurgency model can help explain what that means.

By Dan Minnocci

A model originally designed for counterinsurgency can offer insights into the nature of US-China strategic competition.

Defense Policy Indo-Pacific

UkraineAlert

Mar 5, 2026

Iran war could save Vladimir Putin’s failing Ukraine invasion

By Peter Dickinson

While Russia’s inability to assist Iran is undoubtedly embarrassing for the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin could still emerge as a key beneficiary of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

Dispatches

Mar 5, 2026

What a Middle East oil and LNG crisis means for China and East Asia

By Joseph Webster, Reid I’Anson, and Kevin Li

China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan would each be affected by a collapse in energy through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed.

China Conflict

Dispatches

Mar 5, 2026

Enforce sanctions to prevent Russia from benefitting in a prolonged Iran crisis

By Kimberly Donovan

Russia has millions of barrels of sanctioned oil it is ready to sell—unless the United States and its allies step up sanctions enforcement.

Conflict Energy & Environment

Dispatches

Mar 5, 2026

While the Iran conflict continues, the Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis is only getting worse

By Michael Kugelman

The war in Iran threatens to exacerbate the escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Conflict

UkraineAlert

Mar 5, 2026

Russian army faces comms crisis amid Starlink cut and Kremlin crackdown

By Katherine Spencer, Marc Goedemans

The Russian army in Ukraine is facing a growing communication crisis amid recent disruptions to Telegram and Starlink, leaving troops increasingly in the dark and exposing mounting strains inside Russia, write Katherine Spencer and Marc Goedemans.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Experts

Events