Gulf Security Task Force

In the Gulf region, increasing Iranian interference in the air and maritime domains, the proliferation of combat arms to non-state actors, violent extremist activity, and strategic competition with Russia and China represent serious and persistent threats to regional security. These issues, coupled with a US shift in focus to the Indo-Pacific, bring to the fore an old question of how to best protect US and partner interests in the region, particularly as America reduces its presence. The military capabilities to protect oil tankers and other vessels have improved vastly since the re-flagging of Kuwaiti tankers in 1987 and 1988. However, through its threat network and asymmetric capabilities, Iran is poised to remain an enduring threat to regional stability. Policymakers must seriously consider a leading role for Gulf states in providing for their own security, with US support. Despite considerable investments in defense and security, it does not appear that Gulf states are yet prepared to take on this responsibility. It is in the United States’ best interest to work more effectively with its Gulf partners to fundamentally change this. Our team of experts, whose US government experience includes senior roles at the Department of Defense, Department of State, White House, and Intelligence Community, seeks to shape this new, enduring strategy, with an eye on sustainable success in protecting both US and partner interests in the Gulf.

Featured content

The future of counterterrorism: Twenty years after 9/11

National security experts examine how the United States and its allies and partners must reimagine their counterterrorism strategies to counter the next terrorist threat.

Explore the series Watch the launch

Issue briefs and reports

Oct 20, 2020

Improving counterterrorism and law enforcement cooperation between the United States and the Arab Gulf States

By Thomas S. Warrick, Joze Pelayo

Thomas S. Warrick and Joze Pelayo present recommendations to improve and increase cooperation in civilian counterterrorism, law enforcement, border security, and aviation security between the United States and the Arab countries of the Gulf.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

MENASource Jun 30, 2020

Amid the coronavirus, where are US-Gulf counterterrorism efforts headed?

By Joze Pelayo

As governments of the Gulf Arab states seek to meet the extraordinary challenges posed by COVID-19, extremists have hastened to find ways to exploit the crisis.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

Report Sep 9, 2020

Future of DHS Project: Full report

By Thomas Warrick & Caitlin Durkovich

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needs to refocus its mission to lead the defense of the United States against major nonmilitary threats.

China Coronavirus

Article Sep 7, 2021

Combating domestic extremism means combating the insider threat in law enforcement

By Mary McCord

Dozens of law enforcement officers have been investigated or charged for their participation in events culminating in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol.

National Security Nationalism

Article Sep 7, 2021

An intellectual reckoning on counterterrorism

By LTG Michael Nagata

The time has come for the US counterterrorism community to undertake a difficult and probably painful review of whether the United States’ current practices and investments are sufficiently advancing its strategic interests and policy goals against terrorism.

Security & Defense Terrorism

Issue briefs and reports May 18, 2021

Domestic violent extremism and the intelligence challenge

By Mitchell D. Silber

Mitchell Silber presents recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the post-9/11 intelligence architecture against the domestic violent-extremist threat, including a more robust collection of social media content.

Americas Intelligence

Article Sep 7, 2021

Counterterrorism and great-power competition

By Nathan Sales

For nearly two decades after the attacks of September 11, 2001, counterterrorism was the United States’ top national security and foreign policy priority. That is no longer the case, as resources and policy maker bandwidth are increasingly shifting to challenges associated with peer and near-peer rivals such as China and Russia.

China Middle East

All content

New Atlanticist

Apr 29, 2025

To fund US military modernization, Congress needs to pass on-time annual defense budgets

By Jongsun Kim

The longer Congress relies on continuing resolutions to fund the military, the further the Pentagon will drift from its defense spending goals.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

In the News

Apr 24, 2025

Soofer and Massa discuss homeland missile defense on Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory speaker series

By Atlantic Council

On March 6, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Center for GlobalSecurity Research featured Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer and Forward Defense deputy director Mark Massa in their ongoing speaker series. In the dialogue, they discuss the future of homeland missile defense, specifically in reference to their co-authored report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case […]

China Defense Policy

In the News

Apr 23, 2025

Axios on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

Colin Demarest of Axios published an article covering Domino Data Lab’s $16.5 million AI contract, announced following the release of Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare report.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

In the News

Apr 22, 2025

National Defense reports on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On April 22, Joanna Ye of National Defense published an article highlighting key recommendations from Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare report.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

In the News

Apr 17, 2025

Soofer quoted in Politico article entitled, “Trump May Be Triggering the Fastest Nuclear Weapons Race Since the Cold War”

By Atlantic Council

On April 11, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in a Politico article entitled, “Trump May Be Triggering the Fastest Nuclear Weapons Race Since the Cold War.” In discussing US extended deterrence, Soofer is quoted saying, “What makes the South Koreans nervous is the fear that we wouldn’t risk San Francisco to save Seoul.”

Arms Control China

Online Event Thu, May 1, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Strengthening US shipbuilding: Congress’s role in maritime revitalization

Defense Industry Defense Policy Defense Technologies Maritime Security

In the News

Apr 11, 2025

Defense Acquisition University on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On April 11, Defense Acquisition University published an article highlighting the challenges and recommendations identified in Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare report.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

Report

Apr 11, 2025

The imperative of augmenting US theater nuclear forces

By Greg Weaver

The United States and its allies and partners face an impending change in the threats they face from nuclear-armed adversaries: a strategic environment marked by two nuclear peer major powers.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Apr 10, 2025

Daryl Press interviewed for ABC News article on B-2 nuclear-capable bombers

By Atlantic Council

On April 3, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Daryl G. Press was interviewed for an ABC News article entitled, “Satellite images show multiple US B-2 nuclear-capable bombers deployed to Indian Ocean.” In the article, Press was quoted as saying, “The movement of the aircraft to Diego Garcia definitely sends a signal to Iran about the extent […]

Defense Policy Iran

Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

Learn more