Content

British Army soldiers during Steadfast Dart 25, the Allied Reaction Force’s first large-scale exercise, in Romania on February 17, 2025. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)/Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/nato/54354207050/in/album-72177720324100561.

Issue Brief

Jun 2, 2025

For NATO in 2027, European leadership will be key to deterrence against Russia

By Scott Lee, Andrew Michta, Peter Jones, and Lisa Bembenick

NATO lacks the operational integration, logistics, and joint force capabilities needed to quickly counter Russian mass and tempo near its borders. With the United States increasingly focused elsewhere, how can the Alliance retain military superiority in 2027 without overreliance on US military might?

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Report

Jun 2, 2025

Transatlantic relations and a region in flux

By Atlantic Council Turkey Program

The fifth issue of the Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY assesses key dynamics as we enter a new era.

Central Asia Conflict

In the News

Jun 2, 2025

Murray in Sky News on UK’s Strategic Defence Review

By Atlantic Council

On June 2, Rob Murray, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense and the Transatlantic Security Initiative, appeared on Sky News to offer his insights on the UK’s Strategic Defence Review. Murray emphasized the importance of re-drawing financial architectures and increasing credit flow into supply chains to effectively finance the Review’s ambitious armament procurement goals.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

May 30, 2025

How NATO’s eastern flank is setting the standard for collective defense

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

NATO's eastern flank countries have shown that regional coordination can transform vulnerabilities into strategic assets that enhance deterrence and operational readiness.

Central Europe Defense Industry

Issue Brief

May 30, 2025

The frontier is the front line: On climate resilience for infrastructure and supplies in Canada’s Arctic

By Jeffrey Reynolds, Kristen Taylor

The front lines of strategic competition now run through the Arctic. Ottawa must do more to enhance its military readiness and infrastructure preparedness in the region.

Climate Change & Climate Action Defense Policy

In the News

May 28, 2025

Hammes speaks about China’s maritime expansion on Midrats podcast

On May 5, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow T.X. Hammes was a guest on the Midrats podcast. The episode, titled “China’s Overseas Bases & the Transition to War,” discusses how China continues to expand its ownership, access, and control of ports globally while simultaneously building the world’s largest navy and diverse set of military capabilities […]

China Conflict

In the News

May 28, 2025

Hammes quoted in The Economist article on US shipment of ship-killer missiles to the Philippines

On May 22, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow T.X. Hammes was quoted in The Economist in an article titled “America’s new ship-killer missiles come to the Philippines.” Hammes believes that the deployment of the short-range missile system will create uncertainty for China’s military leaders, enhancing US deterrence efforts in the region.

China Defense Policy

In the News

May 27, 2025

Soofer’s report, “Strengthening Deterrence with SLCM-N,” quoted in Asia Times article

By Atlantic Council

On May 13, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in an Asia Times article titled, “US Navy wants sea-launched nuke missiles to hold China at bay.” The article cites his Atlantic Council issue brief, co-authored with John Harvey, “Strengthening Deterrence with SLCM-N.” The article references their argument that SLCM-N capabilities address “a US […]

China Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

May 27, 2025

British ambassador to the US: The UK must ‘become less dependent on America, while remaining inseparably linked’

By Peter Mandelson

In speaking at the Atlantic Council's 2025 Christopher J. Makins Lecture, Peter Mandelson outlined how the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe can foster peace through military, economic, and technological strength.

Conflict Defense Industry

In the News

May 27, 2025

Eftimiades interviewed by NTD on Chinese espionage

By Atlantic Council

On May 20, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Nicholas Eftimiades was interviewed by NTS News, in a segment entitled, “Former Intelligence Officer: China Leverages Entire Society for Intel.” With Tiffany Meier, Eftimiades discusses the Chinese Communist Party’s espionage strategy, pulling insights from his book, Chinese Intelligence Operations and Tactics.

China Defense Policy

Experts