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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

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

Seizing the advantage

Mar 1, 2021

How should the next National Defense Strategy balance terrorism, rogue regimes, and great-power competition?

By Matthew R. Crouch, Ronald C. Fairbanks

Our experts explore how the United States can tackle terrorism, address the advances of rogue regimes, and establish a balance between competition and cooperation with other global powers.

China Conflict

Seizing the advantage

Feb 19, 2021

How the next National Defense Strategy can get serious about emerging technologies

By Justin Sherman, Evanna Hu

US adversaries including China, Iran, and Russia are investing in additional technological capabilities to counterbalance the United States’ advantages in great-power competition—specifically its dominance in kinetic operations and weapons. The next NDS must differentiate among different technologies to create more nuanced strategies.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Event Recap

Feb 16, 2021

Keeping pace with the competition: How the Pentagon can incentivize innovation at the speed of relevance

By Julia Siegel

Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf, Maxar CEO Dan Jablonsky, Atlantic Council Nonresident Senior Fellow Dr. Melissa Flagg, and NDIA Chairman MajGen Arnold Punaro joined Forward Defense for a Captains of Industry discussion on how the Department of Defense can adapt acquisition practices to improve its access to the US innovation base.

China Defense Industry

Event Recap

Feb 11, 2021

Foreseeing the future of warfare: Indo-Pacific nations lead in emerging defense innovations

By Julia Siegel

Indo-Pacific experts joined the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center and its Forward Defense practice for a discussion on Nonresident Senior Fellow Tate Nurkin’s latest report on “The Five Revolutions: Examining Defense Innovation in the Indo-Pacific Region.”

China Defense Industry

Event Recap

Feb 10, 2021

Looking beyond COVID-19: The need to focus US national strategy on the next major crisis

By Julia Siegel

Health security and technology experts joined the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center and its Forward Defense practice for a discussion on building resilience for the next major national security shock.

Coronavirus Crisis Management

Seizing the advantage

Feb 4, 2021

Elevating ‘deterrence by denial’ in US defense strategy

By Erica D. Borghard, Benjamin Jensen, and Mark Montgomery

As the Biden administration reshapes foreign policy and makes decisions about how to invest in US military capabilities for the future, it should acknowledge the value of a denial-based approach to deterrence.

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.

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