Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

Explore the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s latest insights, commentary, articles, media hits, and in-depth reports

All commentary & analysis

In the News

Dec 28, 2024

Braw in Trade Winds on How to Counter Violations in the Global Maritime Order

By Elisabeth Braw

On January 3rd, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw authored an article in Trade Winds where she discussed rule violations of the global maritime order in the Baltic Sea. Braw also provided recommendations on how to counter actors who seek to upend this order.

NATO Non-Traditional Threats

In the News

Dec 27, 2024

Braw on NPR outlining NATO’s response to Russian malign activities

By Elisabeth Braw

On December 27th, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw spoke in an NPR segment about the implications and logistics of Russia’s malign activity in the Baltic Sea.

In the News

Dec 26, 2024

Global China Hub and Indo-Pacific Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Dexter Tiff Roberts on NBC Montana

By Dexter Tiff Roberts

On December 26th, GCH and IPSI nonresident senior fellow Dexter Tiff Roberts was featured in a 20-minute interview with NBC Montana on US-China competition, economic coercion, critical minerals, chips, the Belt and Road Initiative, South China Sea tensions, Taiwan, and more.

China East Asia

In the News

Dec 25, 2024

Global China Hub and Indo-Pacific Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Dexter Tiff Roberts on NBC Montana

By Dexter Tiff Roberts

On December 25th, GCH and IPSI nonresident senior fellow Dexter Tiff Roberts was interviewed on NBC Montana on China’s ban on critical minerals exports and how the US might turn to reserves in Montana.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2024

Trade data reveal the inner workings of Russia and China’s defense industrial cooperation

By Joseph Webster

Moscow and Beijing are increasingly sharing technology and defense industrial capabilities in ways that severely impact US and Western interests.

China Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Dec 18, 2024

It’s (still) more expensive to rotate military forces overseas than base them there

By John R. Deni

In his previous term, President Donald Trump ordered the US Army to withdraw one-third of its troops based in Europe. The alternative to soldiers based in Germany or Poland is rotating US-based units through Europe on nine-month deployments—and new Army data confirms this is far costlier and harder on soldier morale than forward stationing.

Central Europe Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2024

The global ripple effects of South Korea’s political turmoil

By Atlantic Council experts

The fallout from Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment could have massive implications for Seoul’s relations with the United States and Japan.

Civil Society Elections

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2024

The United States must revisit the basics of geostrategy

By Andrew A. Michta

It’s time to return to realism in US national security policy, putting hard power considerations and geopolitics front and center.

China National Security

In the News

Dec 16, 2024

Michta in 19FortyFive on why the United States must revisit the basics of geostrategy

On December 15, Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow of the GeoStrategy Initiative, published an article in 19FortyFive on what ideas should underlie the next US national security strategy. He assesses that, with a new “Axis of Dictatorships” forming between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, the United States has returned to an era of […]

Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific

In the News

Dec 16, 2024

Lord and Sweatt advocate for rapid adoption of cutting-edge defense software in DefenseNews

By Atlantic Council

On December 16, Ellen Lord and Tyler Sweatt of Forward Defense's Commission on Software-Defined Warfare published an article in DefenseNews on how the US Defense Department and its allies ought to approach software-defined warfare.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry
A Swedish flag is raised during a flag-raising ceremony at NATO headquarters following the accession of Sweden to the alliance, in Brussels, Belgium March 11, 2024. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Issue Brief

Dec 13, 2024

How a new global defense bank—the ‘Defense, Security, and Resilience Bank’—can solve US and allied funding problems

By Rob Murray

A perennial problem for NATO is getting member states to meet their financial commitments, which include the pledge to spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense. A bank specifically focused on funding defense projects could offer a way out of the political impasse—and keep NATO technologically up to speed.

Europe & Eurasia International Financial Institutions

In the News

Dec 12, 2024

Elliot Ackerman in the Free Press on Pete Hegseth

On December 10, Elliot Ackerman, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, published a piece in the Free Press and offers his opinions on statements made by President-elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth.

Defense Policy Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 12, 2024

Over-the-horizon counterterrorism does not work. It’s time for a new approach.

By Ahmad Zia Saraj and Jennifer A. Counter

Turning a blind eye to transnational terrorism that is presumed far away is dangerous, and prevention is far more impactful than relying on responses after the fact.

Afghanistan Middle East

In the News

Dec 10, 2024

Michta in RealClearDefense and RealClearWorld on a new approach to NATO

On December 9, Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow of the GeoStrategy Initiative, published an article in RealClearDefense on why the United States must rethink its approach to NATO. He outlines that, due to the wide range of challenges facing the Alliance, the next US president should focus efforts toward the countries in the Northeast […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Report

Dec 10, 2024

Europe and the United States need to revolutionize their defense industrial bases—and how they cooperate

By Rob Murray

With powerful state and nonstate actors challenging the post-World War II international order, innovation in the tech sector happening at breakneck speed, and climate change threats, NATO allies must rethink traditional defense cooperation to stay relevant.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Dec 6, 2024

Romania annulled its presidential election results amid alleged Russian interference. What happens next?

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts answer six burning questions on the Romanian Constitutional Court’s decision to annul first-round presidential election results after allegations of Russian interference.

Central Europe Disinformation

In the News

Dec 6, 2024

Elliot Ackerman in the <i>Atlantic </i>on semantics and the War Department

On December 5, Elliot Ackerman, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, published a piece on the successes and failures of the Department of Defense and advocates for its renaming.

Political Reform Security & Defense

Report

Dec 6, 2024

The threats posed by the global shadow fleet—and how to stop it

By Elisabeth Braw

Since 2022 the number of aging ships whose ownership, insurance status, and safety is unknown has exploded, prompted by Russia's reliance on this "dark fleet" to ship its oil in defiance of Western sanctions. What can be done about this environmental, economic, and safety threat on the high seas?

China Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Dec 5, 2024

Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption in Forbes article

On December 2, the final report of the Commission of Defense Innovation Adoption was referenced in a piece entitled “Speeding Up Digital Acquisition Dramatically At The US Navy” in Forbes. The article addresses developments in acquisition processes in the Navy, and in particular, the work of Navy PEO Digital to bring new pathways for disruptive […]

Defense Industry Security & Defense

In the News

Dec 4, 2024

Jennifer Counter mentioned in the New York Times about the global consequences of undersea cable damage

By Jennifer A. Counter

On November 29, Jennifer Counter, a non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was featured in an article by the New York Times discussing the cascading effects of undersea cable damage on global connectivity. Counter highlighted the issue, stating, “The more we rely on our phones to get everything done, the more we forget how we connect. But […]

Africa Internet

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