Scowcroft Center Research & Reports

The top 23 risks and opportunities for 2023

The war in Ukraine changed the world in 2022. How will it continue reshaping global affairs in 2023 and what else looms on the horizon? The Atlantic Council’s top experts brought their globe-spanning expertise to the task of forecasting the near future.

A next-generation agenda for US-ROK-Japan cooperation

By Lauren D. Gilbert, Kyoko Imai

Trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and South Korea has proved challenging over the years, owing largely to historical tensions. As a result, this project has sought perspectives from next-generation leaders of the three countries to define areas where targeted, flexible, and informal cooperative arrangements can provide clear mutual benefit to all.

Arms racing under nuclear tripolarity: Evidence for an action-reaction cycle?

By Matthew Kroenig

Matthew Kroenig argues that there has not been a nuclear arms race since the Cold War—but that China’s nuclear buildup might start one.

Taiwan: The key to containing China in the Indo-Pacific

By John B. Barranco

2021-2022 Senior Marine Corps Fellow John Barranco considers the role of the US-Taiwanese relationship in deterring Chinese aggression and ways in which the United States can strengthen this relationship.

Strengthening deterrence with SLCM-N

By John R. Harvey and Robert Soofer

John Harvey and Robert Soofer argue that the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile is necessary to deter Russia and China

In brief: A ten-step guide to transforming intelligence sharing with US allies

By Transatlantic Security Initiative

The Atlantic Council presents ten practical recommendations to enhance intelligence sharing with US allies, improve strategic warning, and bolster collective security.

Power projection: Accelerating the electrification of US military ground vehicles

By Reed Blakemore, Tate Nurkin

Reed Blakemore and Tate Nurkin highlight advantages and propose next steps of the electrification of US military ground vehicles in this Global Energy Center and Forward Defense issue brief.

Beyond NOFORN: Solutions for increased intelligence sharing among allies

By AVM Sean Corbett, CB MBE and James Danoy

Intelligence sharing is a perennial issue, but modern solutions exist to balance enhancing cooperation with key allies with providing decision advantage to policymakers.

Advancing a framework for the stabilization and reconstruction of Ukraine

By Patrick Quirk and Prakhar Sharma

This policy brief articulates an actionable and evidence-based framework for the stabilization and reconstruction of Ukraine.

An allied strategy for China after the 20th Party Congress

By Matthew Kroenig, Jeffrey Cimmino, David O. Shullman, Colleen Cottle, Emma Verges

Chinese president Xi Jinping secured a third term in power as general secretary, and China is likely to continue along a more assertive course in global affairs. The United States and its allies need an updated strategy to navigate this period of relations with China.