Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

Polymeropoulos quoted in New York Times article on investigation into unsolved cases of Havana Syndrome

By Atlantic Council

Marc Polymeropoulos discusses investigations into the causes of Havana Syndrome.

Kroenig and Cimmino reflect on President Biden’s approach to dictators

By Atlantic Council

On January 20, The Dispatch published a piece by Matthew Kroenig and Jeffrey Cimmino reflecting on how President Biden has approached authoritarian rivals during his first year in office. They argue that the president has been tough on China, but has not adequately confronted Russia, Iran, or international terrorism.

Grieco in The Diplomat: The China-US Space Race is a Myth

By Atlantic Council

On January 19, Kelly Grieco published an opinion piece in The Diplomat analyzing the supposed space race between the United States and China. She laid out the case that there is not actually an ongoing space race and that the United States has demonstrated it is far more advanced in space technology, with fears about China overtaking […]

Jensen in the Hill on NATO’s role in the Russia-Ukraine crisis

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Ben Jensen recommends focus areas for NATO in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Manning in Voice of America: North Korea launches fourth missile in two weeks… [translated from Korean]

By Atlantic Council

On January 18, Robert Manning was quoted in a Voice of America article about recent North Korean ballistic missile launches. “Former State Department policy adviser Robert Manning said North Korea’s successive missile tests put into action Chairman Kim Jong-un’s willingness to develop a wide range of nuclear weapons and missiles at a military parade a […]

Manning in SpyTalk: US Signaling Putin that Ukraine Will Be Bloody

By Atlantic Council

On January 18, Manning was quoted in a SpyTalk article regarding the behavior of Russian president Vladimir Putin and what the US response might be. “The diplomatic game of chicken between Russia and the U.S. appears to be rolling toward a violent climax, with a U.S. official warning Tuesday that the situation is ‘extremely dangerous,’ and that Russia could invade […]

Jain quoted in The Hill on US reputation abroad after Jan 6

On January 8, Scowcroft Center director for democratic order Ash Jain was quoted in The Hill discussing the January 6 insurrection’s impact on America’s image and role in the world, as allies question the resilience of American democracy and adversaries seek to exploit US democratic deficits.

Ashford in Inkstick: The “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” intervention in Kazakhstan

By Atlantic Council

On January 13, Ashford published an opinion piece on the Russian intervention in Kazakhstan. “The blink-and-you-might-miss-it intervention nonetheless provided some important reminders about security in Central Asia. Russia, for example, still has substantive interests and influence across Central Asia. Meanwhile, it appears that China is largely willing to stay hands-off on security matters in the […]

Manning in The Hill: What Kazakhstan says about the autocracy question

By Atlantic Council

On January 13, Robert Manning published his weekly column in The Hill on the events in Kazakhstan and how they demonstrate the inherent weakness in autocracies. Manning made the point that there is widespread discontent among populations ruled by autocrats, but that the challenges facing the US internally undermine protestors in autocracies from turning to […]

Ashford in The New York Times: “It will certainly produce more militarization of the alliance’s eastern flank.”

By Atlantic Council

On January 13, Emma Ashford was quote in the New York Times on the Russia-Ukraine standoff. “It will certainly produce more militarization of the alliance’s eastern flank,” Emma Ashford, a researcher at the Atlantic Council research group wrote of NATO’s likely response to Russia’s threats against Ukraine. “Just because we think it’s a stupid, self-defeating […]

Pavel and Cimmino in The National Interest: America and Europe defeated authoritarians before, and can do so again

By Atlantic Council

On January 11, The National Interest published a piece by Barry Pavel and Jeffrey Cimmino arguing that the United States needs to strengthen and adapt its alliances to navigate the challenge presented by two continental great-power rivals in China and Russia. The piece sketches the contours of a refreshed European-American alliance relationship to tackle the challenges […]

Ashford in Politico: “Emma Ashford and Matthew Kroenig debate whether the unrest will inflame tensions between Russia and the West.”

By Atlantic Council

On January 10, Ashford and Matthew Kroenig’s “It’s Debatable” column was featured in Politico’s Global Insider newsletter. “Kazakhstan’s main military relationship is with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which replaced the Warsaw Pact for Russia and some Central Asian states. Tokayev has appealed for the CSTO to intervene in the ongoing unrest, and small […]

Ashford on NPR: “Even if we wanted to intervene … we just don’t have that much leverage in Kazakhstan.”

By Atlantic Council

On January 9, Emma Ashford was interviewed by NPR Morning Edition on the Russian intervention in Kazakhstan. “Even if we wanted to intervene, even if there was a clear side upon which we thought we could intervene – which I don’t think there is – we just don’t have that much leverage in Kazakhstan. We […]

Kroenig and Ashford discuss unrest in Kazakhstan and the Ukraine-Russia crisis

On January 6, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and New American Engagement Initiative senior fellow Emma Ashford assessing the latest news in international affairs. In their latest column, they discuss ongoing protests in Kazakhstan and Russia’s continued threats against Ukraine.

Preble in Vox: “I can’t point to anyone who was sanctioned for supporting the war”

By Atlantic Council

On January 7, Christopher Preble was quoted in a Vox article on the rehabilitation of the careers of those who served in the Trump administration. Preble made the point that many who were involved in the justification for going to war in Iraq were similarly able to secure jobs in Washington after their time in […]

Kroenig’s op-ed on Iran quoted in Politico’s National Security Daily newsletter

By Atlantic Council

On January 7, Politico‘s National Security Daily newsletter quoted Matthew Kroenig and Mark Dubowitz’s recent Wall Street Journal op-ed encouraging the Biden administration to prepare military options if diplomatic negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program falter.