All timely commentary & analysis

Announcements

Jan 24, 2025

Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense program launches Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force

WASHINGTON, JANUARY 24, 2025 — The Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense program has convened former government officials and industry leaders on a Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force to address the opportunities that hypersonic capabilities offer to the United States to enhance deterrence and the challenges posed by adversary hypersonic capabilities. 

China Defense Policy

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

New Atlanticist

Jan 3, 2025

The Atlantic Council’s greatest hits of 2024

By Frederick Kempe

These articles, reports, initiatives, and convenings represent the best of the Atlantic Council’s work in 2024 to shape the global future together with allies and partners.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

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

New Atlanticist

Nov 7, 2024

Experts react: Scholz’s coalition has collapsed. What’s next for Germany?

By Atlantic Council experts

After months of infighting, the German government’s “traffic light” coalition of the Social Democratic Party, the Free Democratic Party, and the Greens has come apart. Atlantic Council experts share their insights on the political turmoil in Berlin.

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist

Nov 6, 2024

Donald Trump just won the presidency. Our experts answer the big questions about what that means for America’s role in the world.

By Atlantic Council experts

When Trump returns to the presidency on January 20 next year, a number of global challenges will be awaiting him. Our experts outline what to expect.

Conflict Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Oct 28, 2024

How the US can counter Russian and Chinese nuclear threats in space

By Peter L. Hays and Sarah Mineiro

As China and Russia bolster their counterspace capabilities, the United States must modernize its space-based nuclear command.

China Nuclear Deterrence

Transcript

Oct 16, 2024

Inside the Navy’s plan to improve its readiness for conflict, with Admiral Lisa Franchetti

Franchetti spoke about the new plan at a Commanders Series event, hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense initiative.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Oct 11, 2024

Senator Mark Warner on the top five risks for the next administration to watch

By Katherine Golden

At an Atlantic Council Front Page event, the senator outlined those risks, ranging from competition with China to the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.

Artificial Intelligence China

Experts react

Sep 18, 2024

Experts react: What’s behind the Hezbollah beeper and walkie-talkie explosions

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts explain what the explosions of communication devices in Lebanon could mean for the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Conflict Defense Technologies

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2024

This is not the time for the United States to go soft on Hezbollah

By Jonathan Rosenstein and Eliana Aiken

If Israel decides on a major campaign in Lebanon to remove the threat from Hezbollah, the US should have its ally’s back.

Crisis Management Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Sep 11, 2024

Senator Chris Murphy on why US foreign policy is ‘mismatched’ to its challenges and what Democrats can do about it

By Katherine Golden

Murphy argued that the United States is spending heavily on military aid and investment but not enough on solutions to the “most serious threats” for the United States.

Conflict Elections

New Atlanticist

Aug 27, 2024

How the Israeli intelligence community got its mojo back

By Marc Polymeropoulos

Israel’s recent preemptive strikes against Hezbollah targets helped avert a wider war and showed how Israeli intelligence has bounced back from the failures of October 7.

Conflict Intelligence

New Atlanticist

Jul 3, 2024

Don’t cut corners on US nuclear deterrence

By Matthew Kroenig, Mark J. Massa

Bipartisan support for modernizing and expanding the US nuclear arsenal will be essential for the United States to deter its adversaries.

Conflict Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

May 23, 2024

General CQ Brown, Jr., on the US role in Gaza, Ukraine, and other crises around the world

By Katherine Golden

It’s time to plan for the long term in the Middle East, the general said at an Atlantic Council event.

Conflict Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

May 21, 2024

Congress should save the Sentinel ICBM—its true value is more than simply its cost

By James McCue

The value of the new intercontinental ballistic missile program should be measured over its full lifetime and not just by its current price tag.

Defense Technologies National Security

New Atlanticist

May 17, 2024

NATO must ‘win up front but be ready to win long’ in modern warfare, says General Christopher Cavoli

By Katherine Golden

At an Atlantic Council Front Page event, Cavoli spoke about the war in Ukraine, NATO’s modernization efforts, the China challenge, and more.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

May 7, 2024

The drones are small—the arms race may not be. Here’s how the US can win.

By Matthew Rose, Kathryn Levantovscaia

With rapid advances in drone technology, the United States needs to develop an updated, comprehensive counter-drone strategy.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Apr 19, 2024

Great power competition is back. What does that mean for US special operations forces?

By Alyxandra Marine

With their wide array of capabilities, US special operations forces can play a central role in strategic competition.

China Conflict

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2024

Pax Americana vs. autonomy: How the US and EU defense industrial strategies diverge

By Kathryn Levantovscaia

This is the first year in which both the United States and the European Union have formally introduced defense industrial strategies.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

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Forward Defense, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, generates ideas and connects stakeholders in the defense ecosystem to promote an enduring military advantage for the United States, its allies, and partners. Our work identifies the defense strategies, capabilities, and resources the United States needs to deter and, if necessary, prevail in future conflict.