Forward Defense quick reads

Our commentary, op-eds, and analysis on defense policy, military strategy, defense industry, and emerging trends.

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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

Defense Industrialist

Oct 28, 2017

Aerospace revelations: What could possibly go wrong?

By Steven Grundman

The Four Horsemen in the Book of Revelations, let us recall, are no cowpokes but terrible harbingers of the end of times, each marked by the color of the horse he rides to summon a hardship which by degrees is more cataclysmic than the last. Holding that allusion in mind, I use the seasonal tradition of AerospaceDefenseChain to harvest my critical thinking about the things that could possibly go wrong and turn to doom and dust today’s happy outlook on the second century of aerospace. Put differently, “How could we screw this up?”

Defense Industry Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Oct 23, 2017

The North Korea nuclear threat and homeland missile defense

By Matthew Kroenig

In order to effectively address the growing tensions posed by North Korean nuclear capabilities, Washington needs a comprehensive strategy that will include a range of efforts, including, importantly, strengthened homeland missile defenses. Last week, US President Donald J. Trump, referring to the North Korean missile threat, claimed that “we have missiles that can knock out […]

Korea Missile Defense

Defense Industrialist

Aug 17, 2017

Can defense industrialists work with Trump?

By James Hasik

Whatever opprobrium the president is owed, his administration’s more important initiatives deserve attention. Donald Trump’s twin business advisory panels have collapsed. Members of both the Manufacturing Council and the Strategy & Policy Forum had been resigning quickly, and according to today’s Wall Street Journal—“CEOs Scrap Trump Panels”—they voted yesterday just to disband. At first, the president […]

Defense Industry Economy & Business

Defense Industrialist

Aug 4, 2017

How to be like Ike

By Steven Grundman

Project Solarium as a model for assessing defense-industrial policy It is hard not to read a pretext for protectionism into the Executive Order President Trump signed last month under the ponderous title, “Assessing and Strengthening the Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base and Supply Chain Resiliency of the United States.” And yet, the Administration also has gone […]

Defense Industry Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Feb 15, 2017

Washington must respond to Russia’s new nuclear missile

By Matthew Kroenig

The New York Times reported on February 14 that Russia has secretly deployed two batteries of a new nuclear-capable cruise missile in violation of its international treaty obligations. The news is disturbing, but hardly surprising. Unless the United States and its allies respond promptly, the situation is likely only to deteriorate further. Russia’s missile deployments […]

Arms Control Missile Defense

Art of Future Warfare

Nov 9, 2015

World War Z Author Max Brooks to Join the Atlantic Council’s Art of Future Warfare Project

By Atlantic Council

WASHINGTON, DC – The Atlantic Council announced today the appointment of Max Brooks as a Nonresident Senior Fellow for the Art of Future Warfare Project, which is an initiative of the Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. Brooks is the acclaimed author and screenwriter of works such as World War Z: An Oral History […]

Crisis Management National Security

Commanders Series

Sep 23, 2011

Implementation of the ‘Canada First’ Defence Strategy in the Americas

By Jason Harmala

On September 23, the Atlantic Council’s International Security Program held a discussion with Lieutenant-General Walter Semianiw.

United States and Canada

Commanders Series

Nov 19, 2008

Transcript: General David McKiernan Speaks at Council’s Commanders Series

By Peter Cassata

Transcript by Federal News Service, Washington, D.C. FREDERICK KEMPE:  Well, General, it looks as though we have a full house for you here. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.  I’m Fred Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council, and let me welcome you all to the Atlantic Council and this installment of our commander series, […]

Afghanistan Iraq

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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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