All timely commentary & analysis

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

Seizing the advantage

Feb 3, 2021

How the US can regain the advantage in its next National Defense Strategy

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels, Matthew R. Crouch

To seize the advantage, the next US National Defense Strategy needs a paradigm adjustment, not a shift. In the next NDS, the Biden defense team must take a broader definition of competition if the United States is to succeed in deterring, defending, and shaping the strategic environment in its favor.

Conflict Defense Industry

Event Recap

Jan 19, 2021

Veterans, war, and the arts: A 2020 celebration of military service

By Olivia Popp

VETERANS DAY 2020 joined the Atlantic Council’s creative energy with the nation’s celebration of veterans on this day of remembrance. Featuring welcome remarks by Adrienne Arsht and keynote remarks by General David Petraeus, this flagship event introduced a film adaptation of the stage play “War Words,” telling the stories of the veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Conflict

Event Recap

Jan 8, 2021

Future of DHS Project examines the role of Congressional oversight in department reform

By Julia Siegel

On Thursday, December 17, the Scowcroft Center’s Forward Defense practice and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a panel of former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials to discuss why now is the time to streamline congressional oversight of DHS.

Coronavirus Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2020

Reconciling ends and means in US national security

By Christopher Preble

The next National Defense Strategy should recognize that the American people’s unwillingness to spend considerably more money on the military necessitates a serious reconsideration of what is needed to secure the nation’s truly vital interests

Defense Policy National Security

Seizing the advantage

Dec 2, 2020

America’s fleeting second-mover advantage is here

By Matthew R. Crouch

Though Chinese initiative has upset the status quo, their first move clarifies their vulnerabilities and exposes potential effective counterweights. By acting promptly to exploit these opportunities, the United States can take the second-mover advantage.

China Coronavirus

Press Release

Nov 10, 2020

Lieutenant General Charles W. Hooper joins Atlantic Council

Former director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency will serve as nonresident senior fellow in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Press Release

Nov 4, 2020

Atlantic Council to host premiere screening of VETERANS DAY 2020

By Forward Defense

Short film based on the play “War Words” and created in partnership with Arena Stage will air November 11

New Atlanticist

Oct 20, 2020

Defense Secretary unveils a new strategy for bolstering allies and partnerships in an era of great-power competition

By David A. Wemer

As the United States prepares for long-term competition with adversaries such as China and Russia, the Department of Defense is unveiling new plans to strengthen America’s network of alliances and partnerships. “Our global constellation of allies and partners remain an enduring strength that our competitors and adversaries simply cannot match,” US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said during an Atlantic Council Front Page event on October 20.

China Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Oct 19, 2020

From cyber to China, here’s what has former US national security advisors worried

By David A. Wemer

Whether current US President Donald J. Trump is re-elected or former Vice President Joe Biden becomes the next occupant of the White House, the next US president will be confronted with a growing challenge from China, the lingering danger of an assertive Russia, and a broad range of threats complicated by the proliferation of new technologies.

China National Security

Event Recap

Oct 9, 2020

Future of DHS Project identifies new threats to the homeland

By Julia Siegel

On Wednesday, September 9, the Scowcroft Center’s Forward Defense practice launched the Future of DHS Project Final Report, building on its Key Findings and Recommendations released in August. Following the report release, Forward Defense hosted three panels of distinguished speakers to discuss the future of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a changing threat landscape.

China Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2020

US technological superiority will be wasted without a strengthened defense industrial base

By John Wharton and Tate Nurkin

The United States cannot let efforts to achieve technological superiority outpace the cultivation of an industrial base available to exploit this advantage.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Elections 2020

Aug 26, 2020

US needs to change the way it invests in defense if it wants to compete with rising rivals

By David A. Wemer

Successive years of stagnant defense spending levels and the prospect of lasting economic damage from the coronavirus pandemic could threaten to leave the United States handicapped in its growing military competition with rising powers China and Russia

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Aug 24, 2020

Mental health care in the military: An opportunity for progress

By Andrew Farnsworth

Now more than ever, military service members need exceptional mental health care—and the national security community is uniquely positioned to develop the actionable recommendations that are prerequisites for progress.

Defense Policy United States and Canada

Event Recap

Jul 28, 2020

Is the United States already losing the military tech race to China?

By Andrew Farnsworth

On June 30, Forward Defense hosted a panel of distinguished speakers to discuss the opportunities for, and challenges of, integrating autonomous technologies into the US military to better prepare it for great-power competition.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Jul 22, 2020

As Arctic warms up, US Air Force launches Department’s first strategy for confronting threats

By Larry Luxner

Driven by rising temperatures and melting ice, the vast Arctic region is changing—and so are the military priorities of the United States and its two biggest adversaries: Russia and China.

China Defense Policy

Event Recap

Jun 18, 2020

War stories from the future: Launch of new Forward Defense practice

By Andrew Farnsworth

On Tuesday, June 2, at the inaugural event for the Atlantic Council’s newly-established Forward Defense practice, the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security hosted a panel of distinguished speakers to discuss the importance of thinking creatively about national security and defense.

Coronavirus Defense Industry

Press Release

Jun 2, 2020

Atlantic Council launches Forward Defense

Groundbreaking practice area will shape the debate around US and allies’ greatest military challenges and create forward-looking assessments of the trends, technologies, and concepts that will define the future of warfare.

Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

May 28, 2020

Coronavirus should spur DoD to build back resilience and agility

By John F. Wharton and Tate Nurkin

A layered and targeted response is required to meet the proximate challenges to the defense and dual-use supply chain, which is critical to national security. This crisis, as terrible as it is, may be the catalyst for taking steps today that are necessary to build the supply chain resilience and industry agility required to meet future national crises.

Coronavirus Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Apr 1, 2020

The battle for 5G leadership is global and the US is behind: The White House’s new strategy aims to correct that.

By John T. Watts

The West has fallen behind in the competition for leadership of the 5G transition, a reality that has huge economic implications and also risks the West facing the reality of a global telecommunications backbone that not only has serious security flaws, but is also shaped by political values incompatible with our own. A new White House strategy aims to close the 5G transition gap.

Defense Technologies Internet

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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.