Our inspiration: Brent Scowcroft 1925-2020

Neil-R.-Brown

The Scowcroft Center honors the legacy of service of General Brent Scowcroft. The Center embodies his ethos of nonpartisan commitment to the cause of security, support for US leadership in cooperation with allies and partners, and dedication to the mentorship of the next generation of leaders.

Learn more about Brent Scowcroft

Scowcroft Center initiatives

GeoStrategy Initiative

The GeoStrategy Initiative serves to directly advance the Scowcroft Center’s core mission by developing sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world. Its competencies in long-range foresight and strategy development are vital assets to government and business leaders as they navigate a complex and unpredictable world. Through its work, the initiative strives to revitalize, adapt, and defend a rules-based international system in order to foster peace, prosperity, and freedom for decades to come.

Transatlantic Security Initiative

The Transatlantic Security Initiative (TSI) brings together senior officials and experts from Europe and North America to share insights, strengthen cooperation, and develop innovative approaches to the key challenges facing NATO and the transatlantic community. Through high-profile public convenings, off-the-record strategy sessions, war-gaming, digital engagement, and content-rich publications, the initiative directly advances the Council’s core mission of informing the transatlantic security debate.

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) develops purposeful programming designed to create an Atlantic-Pacific Community that can adapt, revitalize, and defend the rules-based international order in Asia. The effort is grounded in a dual approach of providing fresh perspectives on traditional issues (regional security and political-economic architecture) while assessing a new agenda of non-traditional topics (cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things) to develop new strategies and policies.

Forward Defense

Forward Defense 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.

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative

The Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, works to advance resilience as a core tenet of US and allied national security policy and practice. Resilience — the ability of individuals, societies, and systems to withstand, recover from, and adapt to shocks and disruptions — is a national security imperative in an increasingly contested world. To help the United States and its allies better prepare for and succeed amid 21st century challenges, the Initiative examines sources of, and develops strategies for enhancing, resilience across key pillars of individual and societal resilience.
Flyer for So what's the strategy? with Matthew Kroenig

Our new ACTV original series, ‘So what’s the strategy?’ with Matthew Kroenig, dives into whether the United States and its allies have an effective strategy to address today’s global challenges. Tune in to watch US and UK officials evaluate the strategy for China.

Watch on ACTV

Featured commentary and analysis

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Testimony Feb 18, 2025

Matthew Kroenig testifies to the House Committee on Homeland Security on China’s strategic port investments in the Western Hemisphere 

On February 11, 2025, Atlantic Council Vice President and Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Senior Director Matthew Kroenig testified before the US House Committee on Homeland Security on China’s strategic port investments in the Western Hemisphere, drawing on recommendations from the Atlantic Council Strategy Paper titled A Strategy to Counter Malign Chinese and Russian […]
China Infrastructure Protection
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Memo to… Apr 18, 2024

Memo to the president: The United States needs a new strategic approach fit for a new geopolitical era

By General (ret.) Wesley K. Clark

The urgent task before American leaders is to renew the foundations of US power, ensuring that the country’s power of example is matched by the example of its power.
National Security Security & Defense
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Testimony Oct 25, 2024

Andrew A. Michta testifies to the Helsinki Commission on Russia’s aggression in Central and Eastern Europe

By Andrew A. Michta

Andrew A. Michta, director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, testified before the Helsinki Commission on Russia’s imperial ambitions in Central and Eastern Europe.
Central Europe Eastern Europe
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Report Nov 4, 2024

NATO needs a ‘hellscape’ defense at ‘Replicator’ speed

By Franklin D. Kramer, Kristen Taylor

To enhance deterrence, the NATO Alliance should adopt a ‘hellscape’ approach designed to acquire and field low-cost, highly effective massed armaments, prepositioned on the forward lines of conflict, within a two-to-three year timeframe.
Europe & Eurasia NATO
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

New Atlanticist Mar 6, 2025

The real reason Russia invaded Ukraine (hint: it’s not NATO expansion)

By Andrew A. Michta

Russia invaded Ukraine not because of NATO expansion, but because the West failed to back up Europe’s post-Cold War security architecture with hard power.
Europe & Eurasia NATO
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Report Feb 7, 2025

Toplines: The United States and its allies must be ready to deter a two-front war and nuclear attacks in East Asia

By Markus Garlauskas

The “toplines” from Markus Garlauskus’ report on two emerging and interrelated deterrence challenges in East Asia with grave risks to US national security.
Arms Control China
all commentary & analysis

Featured in-depth research and reports

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series Jan 17, 2024

Global Foresight 2024

In this year’s Global Foresight edition, our experts identify the top risks and opportunities for 2024. Our foresight team spots “snow leopards” that could have major unexpected impacts in 2024 and beyond. And we share findings from our survey of global strategists and foresight practitioners on how human affairs could unfold over the next decade.
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Issue Brief Feb 20, 2025

Issue brief: A NATO strategy for countering Russia

By Ian Brzezinski, Ryan Arick

Russia poses the most direct and growing threat to NATO member states’ security. This threat now includes the war in Ukraine, militarization in the Arctic, hybrid warfare, and arms control violations. Despite NATO’s military and economic superiority, a unified and effective strategy is essential to counter Russia’s aggression.
Cybersecurity Defense Technologies
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Report Jan 14, 2025

The next decade of strategic competition: How the Pentagon can use special operations forces to better compete

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels, Theresa Luetkefend

Clementine G. Starling and Theresa Luetkefend discuss how the Department of Defense and Joint force should more effectively leverage Special Operations forces in strategic competition.
Africa China
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Report Jan 4, 2025

‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense

By Robert Soofer with contributions from Kari Anderson, James McCue, Tom Karako, Mark J. Massa, Alyxandra Marine, and Jonathan Rosenstein

A comprehensive analysis of U.S. homeland missile defense, addressing policies, security challenges, and strategies to counter threats from North Korea, China, and Russia.
China Defense Technologies
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Issue Brief Feb 13, 2025

Deterring Chinese aggression takes real-time intelligence

By Scott D. Berrier

LTG (R) Scott D. Berrier argues that transforming the Intelligence Communit’s early-warning system and attaining real-time awareness is crucial to deterring Chinese aggression.
China East Asia
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Issue Brief Oct 7, 2024

Strategic stability in the third nuclear age

By Matthew Kroenig

The world is entering a third nuclear age. This brief explores global strategic stability in the 2020s and 2030s.
NATO Nuclear Deterrence
all in-depth research

Leadership

Staff

Matthew Kroenig

Vice President and Senior Director, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy

Staff

Tressa Guenov

Director, Programs and Operations and Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Staff

Clementine G. Starling-Daniels

Director, Forward Defense

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Security & Defense NATO

Staff

Markus Garlauskas

Director

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Crisis Management Indo-Pacific

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia

Staff

Sarah Wallace

Program Assistant

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

French Human Rights

Staff

Staff

Ryan Arick

Associate Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Security & Defense

Staff

Imran Bayoumi

Associate Director

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Staff

Amy Cowley

Program Assistant, Forward Defense

Forward Defense

Conflict North & West Africa

Staff

Maeve Cuddy

Assistant Director

Forward Defense

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Staff

Philippe Dickinson

Deputy Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Chinese East Asia

Staff

Peter Engelke

Senior Fellow, GeoStrategy Initiative

GeoStrategy Initiative Global Energy Center

Technology & Innovation

Staff

Bailey Galicia

Project Assistant

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Extremism

Staff

Lauren D. Gilbert

Deputy Director

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

East Asia Human Rights

Staff

Kyoko Imai

Associate Director

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Security & Defense Japanese

Staff

Emily E. Kim

Program Assistant

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Korea Security & Defense

Staff

Curtis Lee

Program Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Korean

Staff

Theresa Luetkefend

Associate Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy German

Staff

Alyxandra Marine

Associate Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Crisis Management Defense Policy

Staff

Mark J. Massa

Deputy Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy National Security

Staff

Ginger Matchett

Program Assistant

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Africa Climate Change & Climate Action

Staff

Andrew A. Michta

Senior Fellow, GeoStrategy Initiative

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Staff

Audrey Roh

Program Assistant

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Cybersecurity Japan

Staff

Jonathan Rosenstein

Program Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Nuclear Deterrence

Staff

Abigail Rudolph

Program Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Staff

Sydney Sherry

Assistant Director

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society

Staff

Kimberly Talley

Assistant Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Security & Defense

Staff

Kristen Taylor

Assistant Director

Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Staff

Alexander Young

Project Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

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Content

New Atlanticist

Jul 16, 2025

What’s in NATO’s first-ever commercial space strategy?

By Corey Jacobson

Released at The Hague summit, the Alliance’s new strategy is an important acknowledgement that the private sector is driving innovation in space.

NATO Space

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2025

In the Indo-Pacific, US defense industrial partnerships go much deeper than AUKUS submarines

By Adam Kozloski, Markus Garlauskas

The US review of AUKUS should be understood as part of a larger US effort to accelerate defense industry cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2025

How Canada can become a global food security superpower

By Ginger Matchett, Peter Engelke

Policymakers and business leaders will need to make significant progress across the four specific areas to propel Canadian agriculture forward.

Economy & Business Resilience & Society

In the News

Jul 15, 2025

Ullman in the Hill on Trump’s National Security Council

On July 14, Atlantic Council Senior Advisor Harlan Ullman published an op-ed in the Hill on US President Trump’s “restructuring” of the National Security Council (NSC). He argues that clearly defined and streamlined decision-making processes are essential to improving the NSC’s effectiveness and ensuring coordinated national security policy.

National Security Security & Defense

Fast Thinking

Jul 14, 2025

Will Trump’s pivot on Putin change the war?

By Atlantic Council

Our experts unpack the US president’s turn toward providing military aid for Ukraine and applying economic pressure on Russia.

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Jul 14, 2025

Taussig interviewed in BBC Newshour on Ukraine’s patriot announcement

By Torrey Taussig

On July 14, Transatlantic Security Initiative director and senior fellow Torrey Taussig was interviewed by BBC Newshour on what we can expect from President Trump regarding Russia and American military support for Ukraine.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

In the News

Jul 13, 2025

Kroenig quoted in the Wall Street Journal on potential US strategic pivot to Asia

On July 13, Matthew Kroenig, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal on the suggestion by some officials within the US presidential administration that the United States should prioritize the Indo-Pacific over other regions.

China Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Jul 11, 2025

Three ways NATO can shift defense industrial capacity into high gear

By David Julazadeh, Kristen Taylor

The Alliance’s deterrence rests on more than unity—it depends on speed, readiness, and industrial credibility.

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia
Republic of Korea Marines storm onto beach during a simulated amphibious assault

Issue Brief

Jul 10, 2025

South Korea is the ideal anchor for the first island chain

By Brian Kerg

The assumptions underpinning analysis and discussion of conflict in the Indo-Pacific are due for a rethink. Though many conversations about Chinese military aggression assume South Korea would not get involved, it could play a decisive role in deterring and defeating an attack on Taiwan.

China Conflict

New Atlanticist

Jul 9, 2025

Dispatch from Svalbard: Tensions are simmering in the High North

By Tressa Guenov, Ian Brzezinski

A recent visit to the Norwegian archipelago revealed just how active Russia and China are in the High North.

Maritime Security NATO
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Events

Public Event Thu, July 24, 2025 • 4:15 pm ET

SAIC CEO Toni Townes-Whitley on mission integration in the defense ecosystem

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—SAIC CEO Toni Townes-Whitley discusses the role of mission integrators in today's defense industrial base and the future of the US defense ecosystem.

Defense Industry Defense Policy Defense Technologies Security & Defense