Departments

National Security and International Policy

Advancing progressive national security policies that are grounded in respect for democratic values: accountability, rule of law, and human rights.

Representatives of the U.N. Security Council members raise their hands to vote in favor of a draft resolution at the U.N. headquarters in New York, September 30, 2021. (Loey Felipe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

What We're Doing

Defending democracy

Democracies around the globe—including our own—face threats not seen in generations. We work to bolster the guardrails of democracy around the world, strengthening the rule of law and accountability, and in so doing, we add our voice to the chorus pushing against authoritarian forms of government.

Revitalizing diplomacy

The United States’ most enduring advantage is our network of alliances. Alliances and relationships are increasingly important components of U.S. national power, furthering economic, security, and humanitarian aims. We develop and support approaches for revitalizing diplomacy to further U.S. engagement in improving lives at home and around the world.

Putting climate at the center of U.S. foreign policy

Climate change threatens global security, stability, and humanity, bringing sweeping changes to our world. We are working to center climate in our international efforts and policies by transforming strategy, culture, and budgets; outlining collective responses; and defining new bilateral and multilateral alliances that can advance collective solutions to these urgent problems confronting the country and the world.

Redefining American security in today’s threat environment

Many of today’s most foreseeable threats are those that affect daily life and prospects for prosperity: COVID-19, climate change, systemic inequality, racism, and global disinformation aimed at undermining rights and democratic practices. We are working to reconceptualize what national security means in the 21st century and how U.S. national security institutions and foreign policy priorities can adapt to protect Americans and safeguard human security for all.

The National Security and International Policy department advances progressive national security policies that are grounded in respect for democratic values: accountability, rule of law, and human rights.

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Latest

Compact View

China First: The Trump Administration Has Willfully Destroyed U.S. Levers of Power in Advance of the APEC Summit Article

China First: The Trump Administration Has Willfully Destroyed U.S. Levers of Power in Advance of the APEC Summit

The Trump administration has both sabotaged the sources of American strength and competitiveness at home and dismantled American power and influence abroad, leaving the country in a weak, compromised position as President Trump heads to the APEC summit to negotiate with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

A New Vision for American Foreign Policy Past Event

A New Vision for American Foreign Policy

Please join the Center for American Progress for an event unveiling an affirmative vision for American diplomacy and global leadership.

Center for American Progress and online via Zoom

Peace in Gaza? Hopefully, But Not Assuredly Article

Peace in Gaza? Hopefully, But Not Assuredly

Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement offers hope for an end to the war, but its implementation will depend on disciplined implementation from the inconstant president.

Andrew Miller

Nobel Peace Prize for Department of War President? In the News

Nobel Peace Prize for Department of War President?

In an op-ed published by Foreign Policy, Damian Murphy argues that instead of making the world a safer place, the president’s approach to foreign policy stokes tension to further American interests.

Foreign Policy

Damian Murphy

The Turnberry trap: Trump, Europe and global reordering In the News

The Turnberry trap: Trump, Europe and global reordering

In an op-ed published by Politico Europe, Robert Benson argues that President Trump's recent trade deal with the European Union represents an alarming global reordering—one that empowers bullying, sows division, and destabilizes international norms.

Politico Europe

Robert Benson

The Authoritarian Playbook in Action: What Global Cases Tell Us About Trump’s 2025 Military Deployments Article
President Donald Trump, alongside Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaks during a news conference.

The Authoritarian Playbook in Action: What Global Cases Tell Us About Trump’s 2025 Military Deployments

The cases of Canada, South Korea, and Turkey illustrate a dangerous escalatory pattern: When elected leaders rely on the military to resolve domestic challenges, they often accelerate democratic backsliding.

Dan Herman, Robert Benson, Vishal Gogusetti

Save the PMF Program or Risk Losing a Generation of Public Servants In the News

Save the PMF Program or Risk Losing a Generation of Public Servants

In an op-ed published by Just Security, Andrew Miller and Kelly L. Razzouk discuss the importance of Presidential Management Fellows (PMF), a professional development program that the Trump administration is seeking to eliminate.

Just Security

Andrew Miller, Kelly L. Razzouk

America’s Window To Stop Russia Is Closing Article
Smoke blankets Kyiv after an overnight drone strike by Russia.

America’s Window To Stop Russia Is Closing

Trump’s hasty ultimatum and symbolic tariffs will not deter Putin; only rapid weapons deliveries and enforceable energy sanctions can shift the battlefield and force Moscow to meaningfully negotiate, creating the conditions for a Ukraine ceasefire.

Robert Benson

By cutting science, the Defense Department is eating its seed corn In the News

By cutting science, the Defense Department is eating its seed corn

In an op-ed published by Defense News, Frank Kendall warns that the Trump administration's cuts to science and research funding harm U.S. national security by giving China a solid edge on research and technology development.

Defense News

Frank Kendall

Is This What Winning Looks Like? Report

Is This What Winning Looks Like?

The Trump administration’s brazen unilateral trade war has put the future of America’s trade partnerships in doubt, made a recession more likely, and hurt American workers and families.

Ryan Mulholland

Uniformed Disservice: How Trump’s Agenda Harms Veterans and Service Members Past Event

Uniformed Disservice: How Trump’s Agenda Harms Veterans and Service Members

Please join the Center for American Progress for the latest installment in a series of virtual events highlighting the impact that DOGE’s cuts are having on the lives of everyday Americans: a discussion about the burdens the Trump administration’s failed policies are placing upon American veterans and service members.

Online via Zoom

Fact Sheet: Trump’s Rescission Request Would Slash Spending on Foreign Assistance Programs That Benefit American Interests Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: Trump’s Rescission Request Would Slash Spending on Foreign Assistance Programs That Benefit American Interests

The Trump administration’s FY 2025 rescission package would eliminate more than $8 billion in investments critical to global health, stability, and democracy while the administration increases spending in areas that bring little benefit to the American people.

Laura Kilbury

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