Defense and Security | Council on Foreign Relations

United States

U.S. China Strategy in the Decisive Decade

The Council on Foreign Relations and University of California, San Diego, invite CFR members to a special session focused on navigating the China challenge, including a review of the Biden administration's policies and what might change under the Trump administration. The speaker will be announced shortly. This event is co-organized by the Council on Foreign Relations’ China Strategy Initiative and the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, as part of the annual Washington China Forum. If you wish to attend virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this hybrid meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event by Stephen J. Hadley and Michael Froman January 27, 2025
Sudan

War in Sudan: A Conversation With U.S. Special Envoy Tom Perriello

Special Envoy Tom Perriello discusses the ongoing civil war in Sudan, the resulting humanitarian crisis, and the Biden administration’s designation of genocide by the Rapid Support Forces. Please note there is no Zoom component to the meeting. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Event with Thomas Perriello and Reuben E. Brigety II January 16, 2025
Southeast Asia

What Is ASEAN?

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization that brings together disparate neighbors to address economic and security issues, but the group’s impact remains limited.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors January 15, 2025

Experts in this Topic

Richard K. Betts

Adjunct Senior Fellow for National Security Studies

Stephen Biddle

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Defense Policy

Max Boot

Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies

Nathan M. Colvin

Military Fellow, U.S. Army

Thomas E. Donilon

Distinguished Fellow

Rush Doshi

C.V. Starr Senior Fellow for Asia Studies and Director of the China Strategy Initiative

Shuxian Luo

Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow

Manjari Chatterjee Miller

Senior Fellow for India, Pakistan, and South Asia

Lori Esposito Murray

Senior Fellow for National Security and Managing Director of CEO Programs

Thomas P. O’Donnell

Military Fellow, U.S. Navy

Daniel B. Poneman

Senior Fellow

Todd E. Randolph

Military Fellow, U.S. Air Force

Wilfred Rivera

Military Fellow, U.S. Marine Corps

Carla Anne Robbins

Senior Fellow

David Sacks

Fellow for Asia Studies

Sheila A. Smith

John E. Merow Senior Fellow for Asia-Pacific Studies

Paul B. Stares

General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action

Jacob Ware

Research Fellow

Center for Preventive Action

Preventive Priorities Survey Launch: What Conflicts to Worry About in 2025

This event will explore the results of the 2025 Preventive Priorities Survey which polls hundreds of foreign policy experts every year to assess thirty ongoing or potential violent conflicts and their likely impact on U.S. interests. The results are available here. Panelists will delve into the global political implications of the conflicts that top the list, as well as ways the Trump administration should handle them. If you wish to attend virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this hybrid meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event by Stephen E. Biegun, Michèle A. Flournoy, Meghan L. O'Sullivan, Paul B. Stares and Jonathan Karl January 15, 2025
Sudan

Sudan's Civilians Deserve Better

Complexity is no excuse for the world’s continued inaction on the war in Sudan.

Post by Michelle Gavin January 14, 2025 Africa in Transition
Syria

Will the Shake-up in Syria Undermine the Fight Against ISIS?

The United States appears intent on keeping its counterterrorism alliance with the Kurds in post-Assad Syria despite the strains it is causing with ally Turkey.

Expert Brief by Henri J. Barkey January 9, 2025

United States

Young Professionals Briefing: Securing the Future—Navigating Careers in Defense and National Security

Panelists discuss careers in defense and security within the U.S. government and the many forms they can take. The CFR Young Professionals Briefing Series provides an opportunity for those early in their careers to engage with CFR. The briefings feature remarks by experts on critical global issues and lessons learned in their careers. These events are intended for individuals who have completed their undergraduate studies and have not yet reached the age of thirty to be eligible for CFR term membership. We are pleased to extend this invitation to you through the recommendation of a CFR member. If you no longer wish to receive these invitations, please let us know by replying to this email.

Virtual Event by Stephanie Ahern, Peter I. Belk and Tammy S. Schultz January 8, 2025
International Law

What the ‘Genocide’ Label Means for U.S. Foreign Policy

The U.S. government has found that genocide has occurred in several parts of the world over the last two decades, most recently in Sudan and China. What are the policy implications of the label?

Expert Brief by John B. Bellinger III January 7, 2025
Conflict Prevention

Conflicts to Watch in 2025

U.S. foreign policy experts rank the thirty global conflicts that could most significantly affect the United States in 2025.

Report by Paul B. Stares January 7, 2025 Center for Preventive Action
Sub-Saharan Africa

The Ruse of Sovereignty

Getting rid of foreign military presence may be the least of African countries’ problems.

Post by Ebenezer Obadare January 6, 2025 Africa in Transition
United States

Here Are the U.S. Immigration Terms to Know

The U.S. immigration system is complex, consisting of various laws, policies, and programs. Here’s what to know about immigration under a second Trump administration.

Article by Diana Roy January 3, 2025
Myanmar

Could the Myanmar Junta Rapidly Collapse Like al-Assad?

With the sudden collapse of the al-Assad regime in Syria, analysts and fighters in other long running civil wars are wondering whether their country could be next.

Post by Joshua Kurlantzick December 26, 2024 Asia Unbound
Sub-Saharan Africa

What's at Stake for Africa in 2025

The incoming administration should think twice before ignoring the Africa portfolio.

Post by Michelle Gavin December 20, 2024 Africa in Transition
Cybersecurity

Cyber Week in Review: December 20, 2024

U.S. Supreme Court takes TikTok case; House AI Task Force releases report; Namibian telecom hacked; Arm and Qualcomm escalate chip licensing dispute; OMB releases AI use case inventories.

Post by Kat Duffy , Kyle Fendorf and Zoë Moore December 20, 2024 Net Politics
Syria

Syria’s Civil War

Photo Essay by CFR.org Editors December 20, 2024