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

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Feb 12, 2025

Three worlds in 2035: Imagining scenarios for how the world could be transformed over the next decade

2024 was marked by increased climate shocks and collaboration of autocratic adversaries. What will the world look like in the next decade? The Atlantic Council’s top experts brought their globe-spanning expertise to the task of forecasting three different scenarios for the future.

Africa China

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Feb 12, 2025

Global Foresight 2025

In this year’s Global Foresight edition, our experts share findings from our survey of global strategists on how human affairs could unfold over the next decade. Our team of next-generation scholars spot “snow leopards” that could have major unexpected impacts in 2025 and beyond. And our foresight practitioners imagine three different scenarios for the next decade.

Civil Society Climate Change & Climate Action

In the News

Feb 9, 2025

Braw quoted in interview with L’Express on developments in the Northern Atlantic

By Elisabeth Braw

According to Swedish expert Elisabeth Braw, a specialist in the links between geopolitics and the global economy, the Danes have at least two ways of cooling the ambitions of the American president.

Report

Feb 7, 2025

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

By Markus Garlauskas

The "toplines" from Markus Garlauskus' report on two emerging and interrelated deterrence challenges in East Asia with grave risks to US national security.

Arms Control China

In the News

Feb 6, 2025

Soofer quoted in Matthew Kroenig’s Foreign Policy article arguing for an ‘Iron Dome’

By Atlantic Council

On February 5, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in a Foreign Policy article by Matthew Kroenig, Vice President and Senior Director of the Scowcroft Center. The argument piece was titled, “The United States Needs an Iron Dome.” Kroenig quotes Soofer’s recent report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland […]

China Defense Policy

In the News

Feb 6, 2025

Braw featured in Deutsche Welle discussing sabotage of cables and pipelines

By Elisabeth Braw

On February 6, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was featured in a television interview on Deutsche Welle discussing cases of cables and pipelines being illegally tampered with, and how the NATO alliance is acting in response to these hybrid threats.

In the News

Feb 6, 2025

Elliot Ackerman outlines the strategic case for taking Afghan refugees after 2021 Taliban takeover in a New York Times article

On February 1, Elliot Ackerman, a nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, published a piece in the New York Times that discussed the hundreds of remaining Afghan refugees, especially those who assisted US and allied forces, still struggling to find a new home abroad. In the opinion piece, Ackerman argued that accepting the “stranded” Afghans […]

Afghanistan English

In the News

Feb 6, 2025

T.X. Hammes proposes containerized weapons for US Navy merchant fleet in US Naval Institute Proceedings

On February 3, T.X. Hammes, a nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, wrote with Captain R. Robinson Harris, US Navy (ret.) in the US Naval Institute’s Proceedings, that deploying containerized weapons on merchant ships would bolster the US Navy’s capacity to manage the growing threat from China.

China Conflict

In the News

Feb 5, 2025

McNamara published in Pell Center series on espionage of US intellectual property

By Atlantic Council

On February 5th, Whitney McNamara, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, published a piece in the Pell Center’s series on China’s widespread espionage targeting critical intellectual property threatens US economic and military power.

China Cybersecurity

In the News

Feb 3, 2025

Soofer quoted in Washington Post article on Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’

By Atlantic Council

On January 30, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in a Washington Post article titled, “Could Trump’s Iron Dome work? Only if Canada attacks Detroit.” The article quotes Soofer’s recent report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense” on how refocusing missile defenses will “enhance US nuclear survivability.”

China Defense Policy

In the News

Feb 2, 2025

Grundman featured in Newsweek on Hegseth

By Atlantic Council

On February 2, Steve Grundman, a senior fellow at Forward Defense, was featured in a Newsweek article discussing the likelihood that Hegseth will serve Trump's full term as defense secretary.

Defense Policy National Security

New Atlanticist

Jan 31, 2025

Abolishing FEMA would hurt all Americans—particularly Trump voters

By Thomas S. Warrick

Instead of abolishing the agency, US President Donald Trump should support fixing its problems, making it more efficient, and changing its focus to include strategic resilience.

Politics & Diplomacy Resilience

In the News

Jan 31, 2025

Punaro on Fox Business on the DC plane crash and Tulsi Gabbard

By Atlantic Council

On January 31st, Arnold Punaro, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was featured on Fox Business to discuss the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the DC plane crash and Tulsi Gabbard’s Senate confirmation hearing.

Intelligence Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jan 30, 2025

Punaro mentioned in 1945 on the US all-volunteer force

By Atlantic Council

On January 30th, Arnold Punaro, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was mentioned in a 1945 article on the US all-volunteer force.

Defense Policy Security & Defense

In the News

Jan 29, 2025

Soofer’s report ‘First, we will defend the homeland’ featured in Newsweek article on Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’

By Atlantic Council

On January 28, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in a Newsweek article titled “Donald Trump’s Iron Dome Over US: What We Know.” The article features his recent Atlantic Council report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense,” where he critiques existing defense systems and outlines the challenges […]

China Defense Policy

In the News

Jan 29, 2025

Soofer cited in New York Times article on Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’ Executive Order

By Atlantic Council

On January 28, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was cited in a New York Times article entitled, “Trump Orders an ‘Iron Dome’-Style Defense System. Experts Are Skeptical.” The article quotes Soofer’s recent report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense” on how the “current approach to homeland missile defense […]

China Defense Policy

In the News

Jan 28, 2025

Marc Polymeropoulos on MSNBC discusses the influence of foreign terrorist groups on the New Orleans attack

On January 2, Marc Polymeropoulos, a nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was invited to give his expert analysis on MSNBC about the role of foreign terror groups in the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans. In his words, the attack was “very concerning” due to the ‘lone wolf’ nature, and was “straight out […]

Extremism Security & Defense

In the News

Jan 28, 2025

Geurts testifies at the Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on defense innovation and acquisition reform

By Atlantic Council

On January 28, Hondo Geurts, Commissioner on Forward Defense's Commision on Software-Defined Warfare, testified to the Senate Committee on Armed Services Hearing on defense innovation and acquisition reform.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Report

Jan 23, 2025

From Russia’s shadow fleet to China’s maritime claims: The freedom of the seas is under threat

By Elisabeth Braw

This report analyzes the deterioration of the global maritime order, focusing on rule violations in areas including maritime border alteration, harassment of civilian vessels, and disturbance of navigational tools

China Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jan 22, 2025

The Senate confirmation process is broken. Here are three ways to fix it.

By Arnold Punaro

The Senate and White House must ensure that the processes of nomination, confirmation, and appointment—particularly as applied to national security nominees—are effective and timely.

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

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