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

Podcast

Aug 27, 2026

The Biollywood Podcast: Doom (2005)

By the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense​

In this episode of The Biollywood Podcast, the Director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at the Atlantic Council, Asha M. George, Associate Director for Research, J.T. O'Brien, and Associate Director for Government Relations and Policy, Robert Bradley, discuss the 2005 film "Doom" – starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Karl Urban – and its implications for astrobiodefense, biosafety and biosecurity, and genetic modification.

Report

Aug 27, 2026

AI and autonomy in contested operations

By Owen J. Daniels

Any potential major conflict the United States engages in will be shaped by AI and autonomous systems. US forces should expect their systems to operate in denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) conditions imposed by jamming techniques, cyber-attacks, and anti-satellite capabilities designed to sever the connectivity and wreak havoc on military operations.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Policy

Dispatches

Aug 24, 2026

Experts react: Will Trump’s Operation Economic Outcast isolate Iran?

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts weigh in on the US Treasury’s newest measures intended “to sever every remaining economic lifeline sustaining” the Iranian regime.

Conflict Economy & Business

Fast Thinking

Aug 24, 2026

Four scenarios for a looming global food crisis

By Atlantic Council

In this debut edition of Fast Foresight, we explore how the future could unfold into 2027, driven by the Strait of Hormuz impasse and the "super" El Niño.

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on Restricted Handling on Chinese political influence campaigns

By Atlantic Council

On July 5, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed on the Restricted Handling podcast to discuss Chinese political influence campaigns and penetration of American critical infrastructure. He highlights the need for an American response strategy based on Beijing’s long-term intelligence strategy.

China Critical Infrastructure Policy

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades testified at the National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

By Atlantic Council

On June 25, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades testified in front of the National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as part of a roundtable on gray zone threats. He emphasized the scale of China’s penetration of American critical infrastructure and urged policymakers to develop a response strategy.

China Critical Infrastructure Policy

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on Deterrence Down Under on countering Chinese covert influence operations

By Atlantic Council

On February 26, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed on Deterrence Down Under for a conversation about the organizational structure of the Chinese intelligence apparatus. He underscored the importance of a credible deterrence framework to respond to Chinese covert influence operations, particularly given increasing threats of economic and political interference.

China Indo-Pacific

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on Restricted Handling on intelligence strategy in China

By Atlantic Council

On December 31, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed on the Restricted Handling podcast to discuss the history of China’s intelligence capabilities and how they have been met by American strategy. The conversation covers economic espionage, American vulnerabilities to foreign influence, and ways intelligence strategies can counter Chinese influence.

China Intelligence

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on China Insider Podcast on Chinese intelligence operations

By Atlantic Council

On July 10, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed on the China Insider Podcast to discuss trends in Chinese Communist Party espionage. He highlighted an uptick in economic espionage and concerns around forms of intelligence collection efforts, and provided history around how China’s intelligence apparatus is constructed.

China Intelligence

In the News

Aug 21, 2026

Eftimiades interviewed on NTD Newsroom on Chinese shipment masking

By Atlantic Council

On August 15, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Eftimiades appeared on NTD Newsroom to discuss industrial-scale Chinese shipment masking. He highlighted a variety of methods used to mask shipments and argued that transshipment networks have grown after tariff increases. He also discussed China’s espionage tactics.

China Intelligence

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 21, 2026

Braw in POLITICO on the effect on drone warfare on global shipping

By Elisabeth Braw

On August 21, Elisabeth Braw was published in POLITICO on the effect of drone warfare on global shipping.

Europe Security & Defense

Dispatches

Aug 20, 2026

Why Iran has not folded yet

By Andrew L. Peek, Jonathan Panikoff

Formed by the brutal Iran-Iraq War, the men who now lead the Iranian regime will fight back before giving in. But time is not on their side.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Aug 19, 2026

The view from South Korea on Trump scaling back joint military exercises

By Atlantic Council experts

Seoul-based Atlantic Council experts weigh in on how US president’s decision to cut short military training is being viewed by the US ally.

Defense Policy Korea

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 19, 2026

Braw in Foreign Policy on gray-zone warfare in Germany

By Elisabeth Braw

On August 19, Elisabeth Braw was published in Foreign Policy on gray-zone warfare targets in Germany.

Europe Security & Defense

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 19, 2026

Braw in BFBS on UK drone production and Russia’s response

By Elisabeth Braw

On August 19, Elisabeth Braw was published in BFBS Forces News on Putin’s response to UK drone production.

Europe Security & Defense

Podcast

Aug 18, 2026

So what’s the strategy for democracy in 2026?

By the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Host Matthew Kroening is joined by Damon Wilson, president and CEO of the National Endowment for Democracy, to discuss the state of global democracy in 2026. Wilson explains why strong democratic allies are critical to the security of the United States.

Dispatches

Aug 14, 2026

What shrinking US missile stocks means for allies and adversaries around the world

By Tressa Guenov, Bailey Galicia

Replenishing US inventories following the Iran war could take years, and the consequences could extend to Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and beyond.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 13, 2026

Braw in New York Times on Russia’s war against Ukrainian merchant shipping

By Elisabeth Braw

On August 13, Elisabeth Braw was interviewed in an article in the New York Times on Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian merchant shipping.

Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 13, 2026

Braw in DW on drone incident at the Leipzig/Halle Airport

By Elisabeth Braw

On August 13, Elisabeth Braw was interviewed by DW News to discuss the recent drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany.

Europe Security & Defense

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Aug 12, 2026

Braw in Al Jazeera on Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian port infrastructure

By Elisabeth Braw

On August 12, Elisabeth Braw was interviewed by Al Jazeera to discuss Ukrainian naval drone attacks on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk.

Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security
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