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

Strategic Insights Memo

Apr 20, 2026

A US tech agenda focused on Latin America to outcompete China

By Samantha Wong, Ginger Matchett, Peter Engelke

Insights from on the ground in Colombia, where the United States and China's competition for influence is playing out in the tech sector, among other places. 

Artificial Intelligence China

Dispatches

Apr 17, 2026

Four scenarios for geopolitics after the Iran war

By Jeffrey Cimmino, Barry Pavel

Policymakers should consider four potential outcomes for the Iran war and how they would impact US-China competition.

Conflict Defense Policy

Dispatches

Apr 17, 2026

The Strait of Hormuz is ‘open,’ but the US blockade remains in place. Here’s what that means.

By Theresa Luetkefend, Joe Costa

How long can the US military sustain a naval blockade against Iran? What are the risks? Atlantic Council experts answer these and other pressing questions.

Conflict Iran

In the News

Apr 15, 2026

Bertrand featured in Latinvex on decapitation strikes in Mexico

By Atlantic Council

On March 12, Charlotte Bertrand, project assistant with the GeoStrategy Initiative, was republished in Latinvex on the efficacy of decapitation strikes in Mexico.

Mexico Security & Defense

In the News

Apr 15, 2026

Kroenig interviewed on CNN on the blockade of the Straight of Hormuz

By Atlantic Council

On April 14, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was interviewed on CNN about the US blockade of the Straight of Hormuz and its strategic significance.

Iran Maritime Security

In the News

Apr 14, 2026

Kroenig quoted in The Wall Street Journal on the US blockade of Hormuz

By Atlantic Council

On April 13, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was quoted in The Wall Street Journal on the US blockade of the Straight of Hormuz, arguing that the Trump administration is escalating pressure on the Iranian regime.

Iran Maritime Security

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Apr 13, 2026

Braw in Bloomberg on U.S.-Iran talks collapse and Strait of Hormuz blockade threat

By Elisabeth Braw

On April 13, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was featured in a Bloomberg interview discussing the latest on the Middle East conflict as talks between the US and Iran collapsed and President Trump threatened to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

Middle East Security & Defense

Dispatches

Apr 10, 2026

Dispatch from Vilnius: Warfare is evolving rapidly. Here’s how NATO can keep up.

By David Julazadeh, Julia Salabert

The most important change is that the cost barrier to generating strategic effects has dropped dramatically.

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Apr 9, 2026

Matchett in AFP, France 24, and Arab News on the consequences of bombing Iran’s power plants

By Ginger Matchett

On April 8, GeoStrategy Initiative assistant director Ginger Matchett was quoted in “The consequences of bombing Iran’s power stations” for AFP on the risks of attacking civilian critical infrastructure if President Trump follow through on his “power plant day” threat. She and Joseph Webster argued that targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran is strategically ineffective for […]

Critical Infrastructure Policy Energy & Environment

In the News

Apr 9, 2026

Matchett in The Economic Times, Hindustan Times, Nepal News, The Express Tribune, on warning against US striking Iranian critical infrastructure

By Ginger Matchett

On April 7, GeoStrategy Initiative assistant director Ginger Matchett was quoted in “Atlantic Council warns: Hitting Iran’s power grid risks humanitarian disaster” for The Economic Times on President Trump’s “power plant day” threat. She and Joseph Webster argued that targeting civilian infrastructure in Iran is strategically ineffective and would have devasting spillover effects. They were […]

Critical Infrastructure Policy Energy & Environment

In the News

Apr 8, 2026

Kroenig interviewed on BBC on Trump and Iran

By Atlantic Council

On April 7, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was interviewed on BBC on the Trump administration’s policy in Iran.

Iran Security & Defense

In the News

Apr 8, 2026

Matchett for MIT Technology Review on weaponizing water in future warfare

By Ginger Matchett

On April 7, GeoStrategy Initiative assistant director Ginger Matchett was quoted in “Desalination plants in the Middle East are increasingly vulnerable” for MIT Technology Review on how lessons learned from the Iran war mean water can be weaponized more strategically than previously imagined.

Critical Infrastructure Policy Energy & Environment

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Apr 8, 2026

Braw in Visegrad Insight on Europe one year after “Liberation Day” and the future of global order

By Elisabeth Braw

On April 8, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was interviewed in Visegrad Insight in a discussion reflecting on one year after “Liberation Day,” examining how shifting U.S. trade and security policies are reshaping globalization, testing transatlantic ties, and pushing Europe to adapt to a more fragmented and competitive international order.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

Issue Brief

Apr 7, 2026

Fusion on paper or in practice? Making the cloud work for ISR and NATO

By Martin Zuber, Trey Herr

NATO’s eastern flank is under persistent pressure across multiple domains. The Alliance's core challenge is not sensing capacity

Defense Technologies NATO

AfricaSource

Apr 7, 2026

How a deeper US-Burundi partnership could unlock mineral and security gains

By Maureen Farrell, Rose Keravuori

Fraught with fragility yet rich in critical minerals and peacekeeping expertise, Burundi offers the United States a chance to diversify supply chains and strengthen regional security.

Critical Minerals East Africa

In the News

Apr 2, 2026

Matchett for War on the Rocks on threats to desalination plants and preparedness for attacks in the Gulf

By Ginger Matchett

On March 31, GeoStrategy Initiative assistant director Ginger Matchett wrote a feature for “Holding water hostage” for War on Rocks on the threat to desalination plants in the Gulf and how states should prepare for attacks. She wrote: “We are at an inflection point with how aggressors threaten strategic assets in warfare and the significant geopolitical weight […]

Energy & Environment Infrastructure

In the News

Apr 2, 2026

Kroenig published in The DailyWire on US options in Iran

By Atlantic Council

On April 1, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was published in The DailyWire on the Trump administration's options in Iran, arguing that the US has achieved its core objectives and should consider withdrawal.

Iran Security & Defense

Podcast

Apr 2, 2026

So, what was President Biden’s grand strategy?

By the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Host Matthew Kroenig is joined by Rebecca Lissner, a senior fellow for US Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, to discuss President Joe Biden’s grand strategy while in office. Did his administration have a grand strategy, and does President Donald Trump have one in his second term? Rebecca most recently served as deputy assistant to the president and principal deputy national security advisor to the vice president in the Biden-Harris administration.

Security & Defense United States

In the News

Apr 1, 2026

Saab in War on the Rocks on possible US seizure of Kharg Island

By Atlantic Council

On April 1, Bilal Saab, nonresident senior fellow with Forward Defense, published a piece in War on the Rocks assessing the feasibility and strategic risks of a potential US Marine seizure of Iran’s Kharg Island amid the ongoing US-Iran war.

Conflict Iran

In the News

Apr 1, 2026

Matchett quoted in ABC News on the threat of Iranian attacks on Gulf desalination plants

By Ginger Matchett

On March 31, GeoStrategy Initiative assistant director Ginger Matchett was quoted in “As Trump postpones threatened attacks on Iran’s power plants, experts warn of the potential humanitarian crisis” for ABC News about the consequences if Iran successfully destroyed the Gulf’s desalination infrastructure. She noted that due to arid conditions in the region, the facilities are a major potential […]

Energy & Environment Infrastructure
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