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Forward Defense quick reads

New Atlanticist Feb 9, 2023

Policymakers: Keep Ukrainian soldiers front of mind as this war of attrition continues

By Justin M. Conelli

As the war reaches the one-year mark, leaders concerned about grand strategy need to weigh the suffering and resilience of the soldiers at the front.
Conflict Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
Forward Defense quick reads

New Atlanticist Oct 13, 2023

What needs to change about US nuclear weapons strategy?

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts break down the 2023 Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States report.
China Indo-Pacific
Forward Defense quick reads

New Atlanticist Feb 15, 2024

Russian nuclear anti-satellite weapons would require a firm US response, not hysteria

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels, Mark J. Massa

If fielded, such weapons would directly challenge norms of responsible behavior in space and present a serious risk to all nations’ satellites.
Arms Control Russia

All timely commentary & analysis

New Atlanticist

Sep 1, 2021

How to avoid another state-building failure after Afghanistan

By Frank Ruggiero

Why did the United States continue a state-building policy after al-Qaeda was dismantled? And how can it learn to use force to negotiate the peaceful end to its next conflict?

Afghanistan
Conflict

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2021

Why is US defense acquisition falling behind? Blame the TINA paradox.

By John F. Wharton and Tate Nurkin

In order to safeguard taxpayer dollars and foster innovation in military technology, it’s time to rethink the Truth in Negotiations Act.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy
Force Posture

Strategic Insights Memo

Aug 5, 2021

A new strategy for US global defense posture

By Matthew Crouch, Barry Pavel, Clementine G. Starling, and Christian Trotti

This Policy Brief, produced by the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Forward Defense team, recommends a novel strategy for US global force posture to strengthen deterrence and competitive leverage vis-à-vis China, Russia, and other challengers. It addresses multifaceted challenges abroad, allocates missions according to mobility and range, lays the foundation for emerging technologies, and facilitates robust cooperation with allies and partners.

Defense Policy
Defense Technologies

Event Recap

Jul 30, 2021

Securing digital infrastructure: How transatlantic partners can lead transformative investment in global connectivity

By Alyxandra Marine

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Rep. Ro Khanna, and NSC Sr. Director Peter Harrell spoke at the Atlantic Council on challenges to securing infrastructure and the promise of a “trusted connectivity” approach.

China
Cybersecurity

Press Release

Jul 28, 2021

Atlantic Council releases issue brief on security of defense trade

New analysis offers an inside look at defense trade agreements between the US and its allies, with recommendations for enhancing the security of these supply chains

Security & Defense

Transcript

Jul 14, 2021

Estonian Prime Minister H.E. Kaja Kallas on securing digital infrastructure with ‘trusted connectivity’

By Atlantic Council

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Rep. Ro Khanna, and NSC Sr. Director Peter Harrell speak at the Atlantic Council on challenges to securing infrastructure and the promise of a “trusted connectivity” approach.

China
Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

Jul 13, 2021

Rallying the world’s democracies with ‘trusted connectivity’

By Kaush Arha

As a framework for investments in global infrastructure by democratic nations, the concept of ‘trusted connectivity’ can serve as a counterweight to efforts like China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Economy & Business
European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 1, 2021

Estonian president: Our connected world needs a trusted architecture

By Nick Fouriezos

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid and Anne Neuberger, deputy US national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, made the case for “trusted connectivity” at the Atlantic Council.

Cybersecurity
Digital Policy

New Atlanticist

Jul 1, 2021

The Free World vs. China and Friends: It’s ideology, stupid

By Kaush Arha

As the Chinese Communist Party celebrates its one hundredth anniversary, the US must sharpen the ideological contrast. For a nation conceived as an idea, the refusal to lead with the force of ideas is not only unbecoming—it is self-defeating.

China
European Union
Photo: US Air Force

Event Recap

Jul 1, 2021

Air Force Chief of Staff discusses air warfare in an era of strategic competition

By Vikram Venkatram

Forward Defense hosts the Chief of Staff of the US Air Force to discuss twenty-first century air warfare as part of the Commanders Series.

China
Defense Industry

Transcript

Jun 30, 2021

Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid on combating digital threats with ‘trusted connectivity’

By Atlantic Council

The Estonian president and Anne Neuberger, US deputy national security advisor for cybersecurity and emerging technology, appeared at the Atlantic Council to discuss the world’s digital challenges ahead. Here’s the full transcript.

Cybersecurity
Internet

Event Recap

Jun 12, 2021

Achieving security in space: A recap of The Atlantic Council space strategy launch

By Raphael Piliero

Sixty years since the first human launched into orbit, what is the future of security and prosperity in space? On April 12, the International Day of Human Spaceflight, the Scowcroft Center’s Forward Defense practice sought to answer this question with an engaging virtual public event featuring esteemed space experts and the launch of a new Atlantic Council Strategy Paper.

Economy & Business
National Security
Photo: NATO

Event Recap

Jun 9, 2021

The United States and NATO modernize to meet a changing European security landscape

By Vikram Venkatram

Forward Defense and the Transatlantic Security Initiative host the Commander of US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe for a discussion on competition and deterrence in the European theater as part of the Commanders Series.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy

Seizing the advantage

May 27, 2021

A connected world is a vulnerable world. The US can help secure it.

By Benjamin Jensen

National security is no longer measured by the size of a country’s military forces. It is measured by how efficiently and securely a country, as part of a network of allies and partners, exchanges information, resources, and ideas.

China
Cybersecurity

Fast Thinking

May 17, 2021

FAST THINKING: Mars, with Chinese characteristics

By Atlantic Council

What does China’s arrival on Mars mean for the great-power space race? What are the military implications? Our space experts phoned home with the answers.

China
Security & Defense
Photo: US Army Flickr

Event Recap

May 10, 2021

The Acting Secretary and the Chief of Staff of the Army consider how to shape the force for the next fight

By Julia Siegel

Forward Defense hosts the Acting Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army to discuss twenty-first century Army priorities as part of the Commanders Series.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy

Seizing the advantage

May 3, 2021

How the US and EU can counter digital threats together

By Harry I. Hannah

Russian and Chinese threats all seek to exploit gaps in Western cyber defenses and digital and information governance. To close these gaps as a part of its defense strategy, the United States should develop a strong collaborative relationship with the European Union in the digital and information sphere.

Cybersecurity
Defense Industry
Photo: US Air National Guard

Event Recap

Apr 13, 2021

The government services industry: Responding to the transforming market of problems and solutions

By Julia Siegel

Forward Defense hosts a Captains of Industry discussion on innovation stemming from the government services sector with Siemens Government Technologies CEO Tina Dolph, Applied Research Associates CEO Robert Sues, and Professional Services Council CEO David Berteau.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy

Seizing the advantage

Apr 2, 2021

Recalculating the math of great-power competition

By Arun Iyer

To better serve US interests, the Biden administration should recalculate the DoD’s GPC framework to address the threats that the country is most likely to confront, while improving the United States’ preparedness for the most dangerous threats. It should replace the single “2+3” concept with three multilayered and interactive frameworks nested upon one another.

Defense Policy
Security & Defense

Seizing the advantage

Mar 15, 2021

What the US can learn from the UK about strategic reviews

By Peter Watkins, Will Jessett CBE

The Biden administration has begun work on a slew of strategies—including a new National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and Nuclear Posture Review—that will form the framework for its approach to security challenges. There’s a lot that it can learn from the British experience of conducting strategic reviews.

China
Defense Industry
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Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.

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