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

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

In the News

Dec 3, 2024

Kyle Atwell co-authors article on irregular warfare and special operations

By Kyle Atwell

On November 30, Kyle Atwell, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, co-authored an article in the Military Review journal with Ken Tovo and Anthony Marco. The article argues that irregular warfare and special operations forces will play a significant role in conventional warfare in the upcoming years, especially in large-scale combat operations.

Conflict Security & Defense

Issue briefs and reports

Dec 2, 2024

Why NATO’s reaction force needs to be rapid to be relevant

By Richard D. Hooker, Jr.

If Russia were to attempt to overrun a Baltic nation, does NATO have the forces ready to react immediately? An air-transportable force NATO fielded a generation ago provides a good model for this generation's crises.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Nov 25, 2024

Marc Polymeropoulos reflects on future of the Pentagon under Trump with MSNBC

By Marc Polymeropoulos

On November 24, Marc Polymeropoulos joined MSNBC to discuss what the defense and intelligence community can expect from President-elect Trump’s promised changes.

Defense Policy Intelligence

In the News

Nov 25, 2024

Michael Groen writes an op-ed about securing AI labs in Real Clear Defense

By Michael Groen

On November 21, Michael Groen, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, authored an op-ed for Real Clear Defense arguing that the United States must focus on securing AI laboratories to protect its razor-thin advantage in the AI race with China. In his words, to address threats from China’s cyber-espionage and intellectual property theft, “the U.S. government, academia, […]

Artificial Intelligence Defense Technologies

In the News

Nov 22, 2024

Mezey quoted in The New York Times on Ukrainian long-range missile strikes into Russia

By Atlantic Council

On Tuesday, November 19, an excerpt from former Forward Defense Program Assistant Jacob Mezey's Issue Brief "Russian and Chinese strategic missile defense: Doctrine, capabilities, and development" was quoted by an article in The New York Times covering Ukrainian long-range missile strikes into Russia using US-made ATACMS systems.

Conflict Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Nov 21, 2024

As Russia’s war effort heads toward a breaking point, Europe must remain steadfast

By Beniamino Irdi and Gabriele Carrer

If Western resolve holds over the next twelve to eighteen months, then the conflict’s outcome could defy the Kremlin's expectations.

Conflict European Union

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