Defense and Security | Council on Foreign Relations

Palestinian Territories

What Is Hamas?

The Palestinian militant group struggled to govern the Gaza Strip before launching a surprise attack on Israel in 2023. Now facing Israel’s military campaign to destroy it, Hamas’s future is in doubt, as is Gaza’s.

Backgrounder by Kali Robinson April 18, 2024
Iran

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards

Conceived as the principal defenders of the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has evolved into an institution with vast political, economic, and military power.

Backgrounder by CFR.org Editors April 17, 2024
Indo-Pacific

Reflecting on a Changing Indo-Pacific: A Conversation With Admiral John Aquilino

Admiral John Aquilino discusses his work as commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, as well as the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, solutions to deliver integrated deterrence, and multilateral partnerships. Please note there is no virtual component to this meeting. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Event with John C. Aquilino and Mary McInnis Boies April 17, 2024

Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Preventing U.S. Election Violence in 2024

Violence around U.S. elections in 2024 could not only destabilize American democracy but also embolden autocrats across the world. Jacob Ware recommends that political leaders take steps to shore up civic trust and remove the opportunity for violence ahead of the 2024 election season.

Contingency Planning Memorandum by Jacob Ware April 17, 2024 Center for Preventive Action
Sudan

What Is the Extent of Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis?

A year into the civil war in Sudan, more than eight million people have been displaced, exacerbating an already devastating humanitarian crisis.

In Brief by Mariel Ferragamo and Diana Roy April 16, 2024
Iran

Iran’s Regional Armed Network

Iran’s web of armed partners such as Hezbollah and the Houthis serves to strengthen its influence in the Middle East and could pose a significant threat to the United States and U.S. allies in the region, especially Israel.

Article by Kali Robinson and Will Merrow April 15, 2024

Cybersecurity

Cyber Week in Review: April 12, 2024

U.S. lawmakers introduce comprehensive privacy bill; FCC may reinstate net neutrality; Biden administration awards TSMC $6.6 billion grant; report outlines IDF's use of AI for targeting; Biden administration may ban Kaspersky products.

Blog Post by Kat Duffy , Kyle Fendorf and Cecilia Marrinan April 12, 2024 Net Politics
Military Operations

Protecting U.S. Waterways, Coastlines, and Maritime Infrastructure

Eric Doucette, captain in the U.S. Coast Guard and visiting military fellow at CFR, discusses the primary missions of the coast guard including disaster management, protecting U.S. ports and shorelin…

Webinar by Eric J. Doucette and Irina A. Faskianos April 11, 2024 State and Local Webinars
Israel

U.S. Aid to Israel in Four Charts

Israel has long been the leading recipient of U.S. foreign aid, including military support. That aid has come under heightened scrutiny amid Israel’s monthslong war to eliminate Hamas.

Article by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow April 11, 2024
Myanmar

Myanmar’s Military is Facing Defeat Amid Civil War

Myanmar’s military faced a significant loss in the town of Myawaddy, bordering Thailand, this week.

Blog Post by Joshua Kurlantzick April 10, 2024 Asia Unbound
Genocide and Mass Atrocities

Remembering the Rwandan Genocide

Thirty years ago, Rwanda’s government began a campaign to eradicate the country’s largest minority group. In just one hundred days in 1994, roving militias killed around eight hundred thousand people. Would-be killers were incited to violence by the radio, which encouraged extremists to take to the streets with machetes. The United Nations stood by amid the bloodshed, and many foreign governments, including the United States, declined to intervene before it was too late. What got in the way of humanitarian intervention? And as violent conflict now rages at a clip unseen since then, can the international community learn from the mistakes of its past?

Podcast with Gabrielle Sierra , David J. Scheffer and Claude Gatebuke April 10, 2024 Why It Matters
Defense and Security

Series on Emerging Technology, U.S. Foreign Policy, and World Order: Frontline Innovations—Defense Solutions for National Security Challenges

Panelists discuss new and emerging commercial defense technology, current opportunities and challenges in defense innovation, and the future landscape of national security. For those attending 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 and video of this virtual meeting will be posted on the CFR website.

Virtual Event by Douglas A. Beck, Steve Bowsher and Linda S. Lourie April 9, 2024 Series on Emerging Technology, U.S. Foreign Policy, and World Order
Sexual Violence

Arthur C. Helton Memorial Lecture: Preventing and Addressing Sexual Violence in Conflict

The United Nations recognized rape as a war crime in 2008 through the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1820. Despite this step, sexual violence remains a widespread practice in wars and conflict zones globally. Panelists discuss the extent of sexual violence used as a tool of war and policies that can address it and help prevent future atrocities. The Arthur C. Helton Memorial Lecture was established by CFR and the family of Arthur C. Helton, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who died in the August 2003 bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad. The Lecture addresses pressing issues in the broad field of human rights and humanitarian concerns. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website. **For those attending 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 and video of this virtual meeting will be posted on the CFR website.**

Virtual Event by Phoebe Donnelly, Madeleine Rees, Rachel B. Vogelstein and Sheryl Sandberg April 8, 2024 Arthur C. Helton Memorial Lecture
Technology and Innovation

Cyber Week in Review: April 5, 2024

DeSantis signs teen social restrictions into law; CRSB releases report on Microsoft hack; report claims Meta and Google promote health disinformation; OpenAI discloses voice engine model; Google will destroy incognito data.

Blog Post by Kat Duffy , Kyle Fendorf and Cecilia Marrinan April 5, 2024 Net Politics
Trade

Series on Emerging Technology, U.S. Foreign Policy, and World Order: A Conversation With Patrick P. Gelsinger of Intel

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger discusses developments in the tech industry, implications of geopolitical conflicts on global trade, and leadership lessons learned.

Virtual Event by Patrick P. Gelsinger, Jon Fortt, Blair W. Effron and Michael Froman April 4, 2024 Series on Emerging Technology, U.S. Foreign Policy, and World Order