Content

EnergySource

Sep 15, 2025

Jet fuel, China, and lanthanum: a hidden risk to US military power projection

By Macdonald Amoah, Morgan Bazilian, and Jahara Matisek

The making of jet fuel for military use depends on the rare earth element lanthanum. With China in control of most of the element's supply, the United States must prepare for potential supply disruptions.

China Energy & Environment

Inside the Taliban's gender apartheid

Sep 15, 2025

Education as resistance: How women in Afghanistan fight gender apartheid through solidarity

By Rahela Sidiqi

Even under the Taliban’s gender apartheid, the women and girls of Afghanistan continue to learn, build, and gain leadership skills with the help of community mentors and small stipends.

Afghanistan Civil Society

In the News

Sep 15, 2025

Kroenig in Foreign Policy on overestimating autocracies

By Atlantic Council

On September 15, Matthew Kroenig, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director, published an article in Foreign Policy titled “Are We Overestimating Autocracies?” He argues that Russia and Iran’s vulnerabilities were overlooked by military analysts, and thus advocates for a reassessment of strategies for confronting China.

China Iran

Issue Brief

Sep 12, 2025

Trustworthy digital identities can set the standards for secure benefits provision in the US

By Ananya Kumar

The proliferation of online services necessitates verifiable digital IDs globally. While they can improve convenience and reduce fraud in benefits provision, they raise privacy concerns and surveillance risks. This paper examines US digital identity challenges, analyzes EU and Japan implementations, and provides policy recommendations for responsible digital ID development in the US.

Cybersecurity Digital Currencies

UkraineAlert

Sep 11, 2025

China, India, and North Korea back Russia as changing global order takes shape

By Katherine Spencer

Support from China, India, and North Korea for Russia’s war in Ukraine will allow the killing to continue while undermining Trump’s efforts to pressure the Kremlin into ending the invasion, writes Katherine Spencer.

China Conflict

New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2025

Focus on dual deterrence, not headcount, for transforming US Forces Korea

By Markus Garlauskas

In Washington, a narrow focus on the number of US troops in South Korea has obscured a more important discussion on the broader capabilities needed going forward.

Korea Maritime Security

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2025

Why China and Russia are unlikely to move the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline forward

By Joseph Webster, Landon Derentz

While questions remain over the mega pipeline project, Russia has already secured significant export volumes via smaller projects, largely from Chinese buyers.

China Economy & Business

Inflection Points

Sep 4, 2025

In Beijing and Paris, a tale of two global futures

By Frederick Kempe

Recent gatherings in China and France revealed that competing international orders are crystallizing. What part will the United States play?

China European Union

EnergySource

Sep 4, 2025

The China-Russia natural gas deal is a distraction from LNG sanctions evasion

By Olga Khakova

The announcement of a China-Russia natural gas pipeline deal is attention-grabbing geopolitical theater. The United States should instead be focused on curbing Russia's evasion of LNG sanctions.

China Energy & Environment

Issue Brief

Sep 2, 2025

Leveraging Beijing’s playbook to fortify DFC for global competition

By Caroline Costello

A close look at Chinese development lending practices reveals lessons for the United States on why Chinese deals succeed—and fail—and how the United States should reform its own institutions.

Africa China

Experts