Defense and Security | Council on Foreign Relations

Mexico

Mexico’s Long War: Drugs, Crime, and the Cartels

Violence continues to rage some two decades after the Mexican government launched a war against drug cartels.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors February 21, 2025
Ukraine

Media Briefing: Trump, Russia, and the Future of Ukraine

Given recent developments in the Trump administration's approach to Russia and Ukraine, members are invited to join this virtual media briefing with CFR fellows. As the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine approaches, CFR experts provide insights on the talks between the United States and Russia, the reactions from Europe, and the path forward for Ukraine. To register for this virtual meeting, please click the Register or Decline button or reply to this email. Please join the Zoom event at least five minutes before the start of the presentation by using the below details: Trump, Russia, and the Future of Ukraine Zoom Webinar ID: 848 1398 4959 Zoom Password: 862896 For additional analysis by CFR experts, please visit CFR’s Special Initiative on Securing Ukraine’s Future.

Virtual Event by Stephen Sestanovich , Thomas Graham , Charles A. Kupchan and Paul B. Stares February 20, 2025
Ecuador

Ecuador’s Next President Will Face Debt, Drought, and Gangs

April’s runoff election could decide whether Ecuador continues a descent into instability and violence, or charts a new course.

Expert Brief by Will Freeman February 20, 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

Cybersecurity

New Entries in the CFR Cyber Operations Tracker: Q2 2024

An update of the Council on Foreign Relations' Cyber Operations Tracker for the period between April and June 2024.

Post by Adam Segal and Kyle Fendorf February 20, 2025 Net Politics
Ukraine

Ukraine, NATO, and War Termination

The United States has an unquestionable interest in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Equally imperative, argue Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s Eric Ciaramella and Eric Green, is safeguarding Ukraine’s postwar sovereignty and security while signaling to Russia and other adversaries that attempting to change borders through force will incur a heavy cost.

Report by Eric Ciaramella and Eric Green February 14, 2025 Center for Preventive Action
RealEcon

Trump’s National Security Tariffs

Section 232 tariffs can backfire without exemptions, harming rather than helping national security.

Article by Jonathan E. Hillman February 12, 2025 RealEcon

Space

Securing Space: A Plan for U.S. Action

As outer space becomes more congested with debris and international tensions escalate, the threat to U.S. national security grows. The United States must act now to reassert its leadership and create pathways for management in this critical strategic domain.

Task Force Report by Nina M. Armagno, Jane Harman, Esther Brimmer and Anya Schmemann February 11, 2025
United States

The Costs of Trump’s Foreign Policy Disruption

Donald Trump’s embrace of power politics could be costly for the United States.

Post by James M. Lindsay January 31, 2025 The Water's Edge
Ukraine

Defending Ukraine in the Absence of NATO Security Guarantees

A cease-fire deal with Russia will not ensure Ukraine’s long-term security. CFR’s Paul Stares and the Brookings Institution’s Michael O’Hanlon argue for a multilayered defense system that could prevent another invasion while being financially sustainable for Ukraine’s allies.

Report by Paul B. Stares and Michael O'Hanlon January 30, 2025 Center for Preventive Action
Ukraine

Securing Ukraine’s Future: What Should the United States Do?

As the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine looms, President Donald Trump and his administration are working toward bringing the war to a swift end. Five experts lay out recommendations for the Trump administration to ensure Ukraine’s survival and independence in alignment with core U.S. interests.

Article by Heidi Crebo-Rediker , Liana Fix , Thomas Graham , Michael O’Hanlon and Paul B. Stares January 29, 2025
Democratic Republic of Congo

The Fall of Goma

As civilians in Goma once again flee chaos, leaders fail to take responsibility for the crisis.

Post by Michelle Gavin January 28, 2025 Africa Program
Colombia

U.S.-Colombia Relations

Over the two centuries since Colombia’s independence, the relationship between Washington and Bogotá has evolved into a close economic and security partnership. But it has at times been strained by U.S. intervention, Cold War geopolitics, and the war on drugs.

Timeline by Diana Roy January 27, 2025
Ukraine

The Art of a Good Deal: Ukraine’s Strategic Economic Opportunity for the United States

As President Donald Trump pursues a quick end to the war in Ukraine, he should recognize that maximizing Ukraine's security in any negotiated settlement is in the long-term economic interests of the United States.

Article by Heidi Crebo-Rediker January 24, 2025 Wachenheim Program on Peace and Security
United States

Why the January 6 Pardons Could Be Catastrophic for Public Safety

The deterrence power of prosecuting the insurrectionists has been destroyed.

Article by Jacob Ware January 24, 2025 National Security and Defense Program
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