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Our inspiration: Brent Scowcroft

1925-2020

Neil-R.-Brown

The Scowcroft Center honors the legacy of service of General Brent Scowcroft. The Center embodies his ethos of nonpartisan commitment to the cause of security, support for US leadership in cooperation with allies and partners, and dedication to the mentorship of the next generation of leaders.

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Scowcroft Center initiatives

Scowcroft Strategy Initiative

The Scowcroft Strategy Initiative serves to directly advance the Scowcroft Center’s core mission by developing sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world. Its competencies in long-range foresight and strategy development are vital assets to government and business leaders as they navigate a complex and unpredictable world. Through its work, the initiative strives to revitalize, adapt, and defend a rules-based international system in order to foster peace, prosperity, and freedom for decades to come.

Transatlantic Security Initiative

The Transatlantic Security Initiative (TSI) brings together senior officials and experts from Europe and North America to share insights, strengthen cooperation, and develop innovative approaches to the key challenges facing NATO and the transatlantic community. Through high-profile public convenings, off-the-record strategy sessions, war-gaming, digital engagement, and content-rich publications, the initiative directly advances the Council’s core mission of informing the transatlantic security debate.

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) develops purposeful programming designed to create an Atlantic-Pacific Community that can adapt, revitalize, and defend the rules-based international order in Asia. The effort is grounded in a dual approach of providing fresh perspectives on traditional issues (regional security and political-economic architecture) while assessing a new agenda of non-traditional topics (cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things) to develop new strategies and policies.

Forward Defense

Forward Defense generates ideas and connects stakeholders in the defense ecosystem to promote an enduring military advantage for the United States, its allies, and partners. Our work identifies the defense strategies, capabilities, and resources the United States needs to deter and, if necessary, prevail in future conflict.

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

The Atlantic Council’s work on Middle East security honors the legacy of Brent Scowcroft and his tireless efforts to build a new security architecture for the region. Our work in this area addresses the full range of security threats and challenges including the danger of interstate warfare, the role of terrorist groups and other nonstate actors, and the underlying security threats facing countries in the region.
Flyer for So what's the strategy? with Matthew Kroenig

Our new ACTV original series, ‘So what’s the strategy?’ with Matthew Kroenig, dives into whether the United States and its allies have an effective strategy to address today’s global challenges. Tune in to watch US and UK officials evaluate the strategy for China.

Watch on ACTV
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

New Atlanticist Sep 15, 2023

The pathway to NATO’s ‘2/20’ goal is through real growth of defense spending

By Wayne Schroeder

Next year’s NATO Summit in Washington is a golden opportunity for the Alliance to endorse a defense real growth pathway to its “2/20” guideline.
Defense Policy National Security
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

New Atlanticist Sep 14, 2023

Ukraine’s drone strikes are a window into the future of warfare

By Mark Jacobsen

Kyiv’s innovations will usher in a new generation of do-it-yourself drone technology, making their use a routine feature of warfare.
Conflict Defense Policy
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

New Atlanticist Sep 13, 2023

What the Putin-Kim authoritarian get-together means for Russia’s war and North Korea’s capabilities

By Atlantic Council experts

Experts react to Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.
China Conflict
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

New Atlanticist Aug 29, 2023

The Dutch are leading the way on military aid to Ukraine. Here’s why.

By Timo S. Koster

The Netherlands is punching above its weight in terms of military aid to Ukraine, in part because the Dutch have felt firsthand the threat Putin poses.
Conflict Defense Policy
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

New Atlanticist Aug 25, 2023

Here’s what F-16s will (and will not) mean for Ukraine’s fight against Russia 

By Clementine G. Starling, Jacob Mezey, and Holly Ryan

The Netherlands and Denmark have announced they will send F-16s to Ukraine as soon as training is complete, and the United States has unveiled new plans to train Ukrainian pilots and ground crew.
Conflict Defense Policy
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

New Atlanticist Aug 23, 2023

Experts react: What the Prigozhin plane crash reveals about Putin, the Wagner Group’s future, and the war in Ukraine

By Atlantic Council experts

Experts weigh in on what the mercenary leader’s apparent death will mean for the Russian state and Wagner’s operations abroad.
Belarus China
all commentary & analysis
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Issue Brief Sep 11, 2023

The draft ended fifty years ago. Can the all-volunteer force survive another fifty?

By James L. Jones, Jr., Arnold Punaro

Retired Marine Corps Generals James L. Jones and Arnold Punaro argue that in its current form the United States’ all-volunteer force is on an unsustainable path.
Civil Society Defense Policy
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Issue Brief Sep 6, 2023

Alternative security futures in the High North

By David Auerswald

Climate change, combined with increasing geopolitical competition and hostilities, has focused renewed attention on national security interests in the Arctic. By 2035, how will those variables combine to influence the High North?
China Climate Change & Climate Action
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Issue Brief Aug 16, 2023

Biases blind us to the risk of Chinese military intervention in Korea

By Jonathan Corrado

This paper examines the historical record of cognitive biases, focusing on the US intelligence community’s failure to forecast PRC intervention in the Korean War, despite collecting information and evidence indicative of that outcome.
Arms Control China
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Report Aug 16, 2023

The United States and its allies must be ready to deter a two-front war and nuclear attacks in East Asia

By Markus Garlauskas

This report highlights two emerging and interrelated deterrence challenges in East Asia with grave risks to US national security: 1) Horizontal escalation of a conflict with China or North Korea into simultaneous conflict; 2) Vertical escalation to a limited nuclear attack by either or both adversaries to avoid conceding.
Arms Control China
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Report Aug 14, 2023

How modern militaries are leveraging AI

By Tate Nurkin, Julia Siegel

Tate Nurkin and Julia Siegel explore the implications of incorporating artificial intelligence into military operations and the challenges of the US Department of Defense’s adoption of human-machine teaming.
Defense Industry Defense Policy
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Issue Brief Jul 10, 2023

We don’t really know which NATO allies are pulling their weight. Here’s how to fix that.

By John R. Deni

As NATO allies gather in Vilnius, there will be much discussion about burden-sharing and who’s living up to the 2014 Defense Investment Pledge. But exclusive statistical analysis by John R. Deni shows that spending more on defense doesn’t necessarily add up to contributing more to NATO missions.
Europe & Eurasia National Security
all in-depth research

Leadership

Staff

Matthew Kroenig

Vice President and Senior Director, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy

Staff

Markus Garlauskas

Director

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Crisis Management Indo-Pacific

Staff

Andrew A. Michta

Director and Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Strategy Initiative

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Scowcroft Strategy Initiative

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Staff

Christopher Skaluba

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Security & Defense

Staff

Clementine G. Starling

Director, Forward Defense

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Security & Defense NATO

Staff

Jeffrey Cimmino

Deputy Director, Operations and Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Staff

Staff

Ryan Arick

Assistant Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Security & Defense

Staff

Imran Bayoumi

Assistant Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Scowcroft Strategy Initiative

Staff

Joslyn Brodfuehrer

Assistant Director, Transatlantic Security Initiative

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

China Disinformation

Staff

Peter Engelke

Deputy Director of Foresight, Scowcroft Strategy Initiative

Global Energy Center Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Technology & Innovation Europe & Eurasia

Staff

Lauren D. Gilbert

Associate Director

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

East Asia Human Rights

Staff

Kyoko Imai

Assistant Director

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Politics & Diplomacy Japanese

Staff

Kathryn Levantovscaia

Associate Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Staff

Soda Lo

Project Assistant

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Scowcroft Strategy Initiative

Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society

Staff

Delharty Manson

Program Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Staff

Alyxandra Marine

Assistant Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Crisis Management Defense Policy

Staff

Mark J. Massa

Associate Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy National Security

Staff

Jacob Mezey

Program Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Missile Defense

Staff

Danielle Miller

Assistant Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Scowcroft Strategy Initiative

Climate Change & Climate Action National Security

Staff

Sydney Sherry

Project Assistant

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Scowcroft Strategy Initiative

Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society

Staff

Julia Siegel

Associate Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Security & Defense

Staff

Kimberly Talley

Program Assistant

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Security & Defense

Staff

Emma C. Verges

Program Assistant

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Chinese

Staff

Katherine Yusko

Project Assistant

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Arabic Climate Change & Climate Action

Content

In the News

Nov 30, 2023

Michta on Al Jazeera discussing the war in Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

On November 29, an interview with Dr. Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow of the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, was released by Al Jazeera Balkans. Michta discusses the war in Ukraine and European security architecture, noting that Russia will be able to rebuild its military in only a few years.

Conflict NATO
Image for Deliberate nuclear use in a war over Taiwan: Scenarios and considerations for the United States

Report

Nov 30, 2023

Deliberate nuclear use in a war over Taiwan: Scenarios and considerations for the United States

By Matthew Kroenig

Matthew Kroenig argues the US and the PRC would have incentives to use nuclear weapons in a Taiwan war. The US must deter PRC nuclear use.

Arms Control China

Report

Nov 30, 2023

Four scenarios for the future of multilateral peacebuilding and conflict prevention

By Peter Engelke, Anca Agachi, Imran Bayoumi

The scenarios on this page explore four alternative, plausible narratives envisioning the world in the mid-2030s, guided by dynamic interactions of drivers and trends highlighted in the larger The Future of Multilateral Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention report.

Crisis Management International Organizations

Report

Nov 30, 2023

The future of multilateral peacebuilding and conflict prevention

By Peter Engelke, Anca Agachi, Imran Bayoumi

The multilateral system, defined as the set of rules, norms, and institutions that together constitute the world’s governance architecture, is not static.

Africa China

Transcript

Nov 28, 2023

Our experts explain what US policymakers should know about deterring Russia’s and China’s nuclear threats

The fellows of Forward Defense’s Nuclear Strategy Project met at a roundtable to discuss how to deter nuclear powers Russia and China from expanding their capabilities and from giving nuclear weapons a greater role in Moscow's and Beijing's defense strategies.

China East Asia

New Atlanticist

Nov 28, 2023

As the US faces down new nuclear threats, will Cold War solutions work once again?

By Alyxandra Marine

The tripolar nuclear power world is certainly new; but the deterrence theories of the Cold War may not need to be completely changed, our experts find.

China Nuclear Deterrence

Report

Nov 25, 2023

Ten challenges to implementing Force Design 2030

By Bruce Stubbs

Bruce Stubbs points out key questions for the success of the US Marine Corps's Force Design 2030.

China Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Nov 22, 2023

China’s acoustic aggression against a US ally follows a pattern. Military talks won’t help.

By Markus Garlauskas and Philip Yu

On November 14, a Chinese warship used its active sonar to harass and injure two Australian Royal Navy divers with high-powered sound waves.

Australia China

In the News

Nov 22, 2023

Michta in Politico discussing how a “federalized” EU would impact US interests

By Atlantic Council

On November 21, Dr. Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow of the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, was published in Politico on proposed European Union treaty revisions that “would transform the EU from a confederation of sovereign countries into a unitary federal entity.” Dr. Michta argues that, while this shift has been ignored by US policymakers, it […]

NATO Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

Nov 22, 2023

The role of nuclear weapons in a Taiwan crisis

By Gregory Weaver

Nuclear deterrence would be key in a Taiwan crisis, in part because a PLA amphibious fleet would be vulnerable to a US nuclear strike.

China Conflict
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Events

Public Event Mon, December 4, 2023 • 2:30 pm ET

Designing the future joint force with Admiral Christopher Grady
Defense Policy Security & Defense Technology & Innovation United States and Canada
Public Event Tue, December 5, 2023 • 11:00 am ET

A conversation with the Minister of Defense of the Kingdom of Sweden Pål Jonson
Conflict Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia NATO