Council of Councils
Think Global Health
Defense and Security
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Ceremonial Foreign PolicyIn shallowly engaging with Kinshasa and Kigali, Washington does little to promote peace and risks insulating leaders from accountability.
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Can the New Gang Suppression Force Bring Relief to Haiti?The UN authorization of a new security mission in Haiti marks an escalation in efforts to curb surging gang violence. Aimed at alleviating a worsening humanitarian crisis, its militarized approach has nevertheless raised concerns about repeating mistakes from previous interventions.
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Mapping the U.S. Military Buildup Near VenezuelaThe United States has significantly increased its military presence near Venezuela, carrying out strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and threatening Nicolás Maduro’s regime with the possibility of invasion.
Experts in this Topic
International Affairs Fellow in National Security, sponsored by Janine and J. Tomilson Hill
General John W. Vessey Senior Fellow for Conflict Prevention and Director of the Center for Preventive Action
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DoD's AI Balancing ActTo secure a strategic advantage, the DoD must manage the tension between vendor hype and extreme alarmism regarding AI adoption.
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Conflict in Cambodia and Thailand Resumes—With No End in SightWeeks after a Trump-negotiated ceasefire fell apart, the two countries seem far from finding another pause in the fighting. In fact, the border conflict is likely to get worse.
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Putin’s Nuclear Offer: How to Navigate a New START ExtensionThe United States should not fall for Putin’s gambit to undercut Ukraine. Before agreeing to an extension, it must secure greater verification guarantees and a commitment to further negotiations.
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Overcoming a Culture of Secrecy: Can the United States Kick its National Security Over-Classification Habit?The United States faces evolving threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, but a culture of overclassification of intelligence results in the routine failure to share vital information at speed and scale. In an example of bipartisanship, panelists discuss how the United States can reform its national security information policies, regulations, and laws to ensure crucial insights are shared quickly and effectively across government. Please note there is no Zoom component to the meeting.
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Trump’s Focus on Christians Misses Boko Haram’s Wider Threat in NigeriaThe Trump administration’s accusations that Nigeria is allowing targeted killings of Christians distract from the bigger problem of jihadist and other forms of indiscriminate violence.
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‘America First’ Meets the National Security and Defense StrategiesWill the two congressionally mandated documents provide some clarity about President Trump’s priorities and strategy?
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U.S. Economic Security: Winning the Race for Tomorrow’s Technologies
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Strategic competition over the world’s next generation of foundational technologies is underway, and U.S. advantages in artificial intelligence, quantum, and biotechnology are increasingly contested. The United States must address vulnerabilities and mobilize the investment needed to prevail. -
Are We Ready? | AI, Espionage, and Influence, With Jessica BrandtJessica Brandt, senior fellow for technology and national security at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping cyber operations, influence campaigns, and intelligence gathering, and what those changes mean for U.S. national security.
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Open to Debate: Should the United States Militarize the War on Drugs?In a collaboration between CFR and Open to Debate, panelists debate the legal, moral, operational, and diplomatic trade-offs of the Trump administration's recently authorized military strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels and its designation of certain cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Supporters argue this is a necessary deterrent and part of a broader strategy to treat narcotrafficking as a national security threat. Critics claim it violates domestic and international law, undermines sovereignty, risks civilian harm, and may provoke dangerous escalation. Under what circumstances, if any, is military force justified in combating drug trafficking networks? Open to Debate is the nation’s only nonpartisan, debate-driven media organization dedicated to bringing multiple viewpoints together for a constructive, balanced, respectful exchange of ideas. Open to Debate is a platform for intellectually curious and open-minded people to engage with others holding opposing views on complex issues. Please note there is no virtual component to this meeting. The recording of this debate will be posted on the CFR and Open to Debate websites and broadcast on NPR stations nationwide.
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Time to Accept Risk in Defense AcquisitionsU.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth launched enterprising Pentagon reforms that prioritize speed in acquiring new military capabilities, but this ambitious proposal is at risk of running into the same bureaucratic obstacles that have plagued past efforts.
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Policy Brief: The Value and Achievements of the U.S. Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017Since 2000, 115 governments have made formal commitments to increase women’s participation in mitigating and resolving conflict and reducing violence against women and girls. The U.S. government was the first to pass a law to codify its obligations in 2017. Support for the WPS Act has recently been called into question, despite a record of substantial achievement since its passage. Continued implementation of the law aligns with the current administration’s goals of ending wars and reducing violence, and U.S. leadership can galvanize increased international action on this front.
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New Frontiers in Intelligence: The Changing Nature of EspionagePanelists discuss the new frontiers of intelligence gathering, examining how emerging technologies are transforming espionage, expanding its reach to the public domain, and reshaping the future of U.S. national security. 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.
