All timely commentary & analysis

Issue Brief

Feb 21, 2024

This year’s bipartisan immigration bill offers a border blueprint for 2025

By Thomas S. Warrick

The consequences of another year of inaction on border security and immigration policy may convince a supermajority in the Congress to take up again in 2025 many of the ideas in this year’s bipartisan Senate compromise—no matter which party captures the White House in November.

Mexico Migration

New Atlanticist

Feb 15, 2024

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

By Clementine G. Starling, 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

Experts react

Feb 15, 2024

Experts react: What to know about Russia’s apparent plans for a space-based nuclear weapon

By Atlantic Council experts

Reports that Russia is developing a space-based nuclear anti-satellite weapon have raised national security concerns in Washington.

Defense Policy National Security

New Atlanticist

Feb 14, 2024

Reading between the lines of the new US National Defense Industrial Strategy

By Kathryn Levantovscaia

The new strategy’s strength as a rallying cry for a robust industrial base is hampered by an absence of specifics on implementation.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Hybrid Conflict Project

Jan 25, 2024

International law doesn’t adequately protect undersea cables. That must change.

By Amy Paik and Jennifer Counter

What’s missing: A global effort to protect undersea cables in international waters.

China Cybersecurity

Announcements

Jan 22, 2024

Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense practice launches Commission on Software-Defined Warfare

WASHINGTON D.C. — JAN. 22, 2024 Following the success of the Atlantic Council’s Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption, the Atlantic Council has convened more than 30 senior leaders to launch a brand-new Commission on Software-Defined Warfare.   Co-chaired by former US Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper, former Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox, […]

Security & Defense

Trackers and Data Visualizations

Jan 10, 2024

Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption tracker

Implementing reforms to increase the speed of defense innovation and capability development has been an increasing priority for policymakers in Congress and the Department of Defense (DoD) in the past year.  Following the publication of the Commission on Defense Innovation Adoption’s interim report and final report, Congress and the DoD took actions to ensure defense […]

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Jan 5, 2024

Overstretched and undersupplied: Can the US afford its global security blanket?

By Kathryn Levantovscaia

The hollowing out of the broader US manufacturing base has made defense companies dependent on supply chains originating in, of all places, China.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Strategic Insights Memo

Dec 20, 2023

Expanding NATO’s competitive mindset: Deterring and defending across physical and virtual domains

By Delharty Manson

In October 2023, the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Forward Defense program, in partnership with NATO ACT, convened current and former practitioners for a private workshop on expanding NATO’s approach to multi-domain operations (MDO), identifying key challenges and opportunities to operationalizing MDO across the Alliance. This memo summarizes the workshop’s key takeaways and conclusions.

Crisis Management Defense Policy

Announcements

Dec 8, 2023

Atlantic Council launches major commission to ensure US and allied military advantage in software-defined warfare

An Atlantic Council commission on improving DoD production and integration of state-of-the-art software solutions

United States and Canada

Transcript

Nov 28, 2023

Our experts explain what US policymakers should know about deterring Russia’s and China’s nuclear threats

The fellows of Forward Defense’s Nuclear Strategy Project met at a roundtable to discuss how to deter nuclear powers Russia and China from expanding their capabilities and from giving nuclear weapons a greater role in Moscow’s and Beijing’s defense strategies.

China East Asia

New Atlanticist

Nov 28, 2023

As the US faces down new nuclear threats, will Cold War solutions work once again?

By Alyxandra Marine

The tripolar nuclear power world is certainly new; but the deterrence theories of the Cold War may not need to be completely changed, our experts find.

China Nuclear Deterrence

New Atlanticist

Nov 15, 2023

AUKUS is hamstrung by outdated US export control rules. Here’s what Congress can do.

By Deborah Cheverton, John T. Watts

US lawmakers must show that they are willing to make the necessary changes to a needlessly limiting export control regime that does more harm than good.

Arms Control Australia

New Atlanticist

Nov 2, 2023

Autonomous weapons are the moral choice

By Thomas X. Hammes

Arguments about whether democratic nations should field and employ lethal autonomous weapon systems miss the point. They have used autonomous weapons for decades.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Technologies

Testimony

Oct 25, 2023

The urgent threats posed by the Iranian regime: Atlantic Council experts testify before the US House Committee on Homeland Security

By Nathan Sales and Thomas S. Warrick

Nathan Sales and Thomas Warrick testify before the House Committee on Homeland Security on the threat Iran poses to the United States.

Iran Israel

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

New Atlanticist

Oct 12, 2023

Hamas wants the world (and especially Iran) to watch it take Israelis hostage

By Jennifer A. Counter

For Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, high-profile attacks against Israeli targets help to justify continued support from Iran.

Conflict Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2023

Jets and rockets are important, but Ukraine also needs faster munitions deliveries

By Thomas S. Warrick

Today’s battlefield chews up ammunition and equipment at extraordinary rates. The US “arsenal of democracy” needs to start working overtime.

Conflict Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Sep 26, 2023

The US Navy will employ autonomous vessels in a new region—but integrating the tech won’t be easy

By Sophia Costes and Grace Jones

Autonomous vessels could make a big difference in Latin America by helping the effort to reduce the flow of illicit drugs and trafficking.

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Commanders Series

Sep 19, 2023

Flying high with Europe and Africa: A conversation with General James B. Hecker

By Atlantic Council

Hecker outlined his top five priorities for NATO to ensure that it is ready should it need to invoke Article Five.

Conflict Defense Policy

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Forward Defense

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.