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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)

Foreign Policy

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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Trump Wanted a European MAGA but May Get an Anti-American Europe Article
Supporters of the far-right AfD cheer.

Trump Wanted a European MAGA but May Get an Anti-American Europe

The Trump administration sees Germany’s far right as a European MAGA ally, but by empowering the AfD, it risks strengthening a nationalist movement that seeks to weaken American influence and reshape Europe on its own terms.

Robert Benson

Despite President Trump’s Claims of Foreign Election Interference, He Has No Legal Authority To Declare a National Emergency and Unilaterally Nationalize Elections Article

Despite President Trump’s Claims of Foreign Election Interference, He Has No Legal Authority To Declare a National Emergency and Unilaterally Nationalize Elections

The U.S. Constitution provides absolutely no basis for presidents to declare a national emergency to take control of elections and displace state rules.

Michael Sozan, Allison McManus, Dan Herman

How the Trump Administration Is Eroding the US Military Edge In the News

How the Trump Administration Is Eroding the US Military Edge

In an op-ed for The National Interest, Michael Schiffer explains how the Trump administration’s policies are compromising the nation’s military power and eroding the tools needed to address pressing security threats.

The National Interest

Michael Schiffer

Weighing Priorities: What U.S. Spending on the Iran War Could Fund Instead Interactive

Weighing Priorities: What U.S. Spending on the Iran War Could Fund Instead

The House of Representatives took the first step toward passing a bill that would provide the Trump administration $73 billion to fund its already costly war in Iran. That funding, if better allocated, could provide lifesaving and life-changing services for millions of Americans.

Jamie Friedman, Bobby Kogan, Allison McManus

Reclaiming U.S. Strategy on Chinese Overcapacity and National Security Article

Reclaiming U.S. Strategy on Chinese Overcapacity and National Security

The Center for American Progress urges the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to look beyond narrow trade balances, to partner with allies to address China’s industrial overcapacity, and to protect U.S. national security commitments from economic coercion.

Jonathan Fritz

Stopping Trump’s Crypto Corruption: The Risks of the Clarity Act to Democracy and National Security Past Event

Stopping Trump’s Crypto Corruption: The Risks of the Clarity Act to Democracy and National Security

Please join the Center for American Progress for a conversation with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) on why stronger oversight and anticorruption rules for cryptocurrency markets are essential to protecting U.S. national security and our democracy.

Center for American Progress and online via Zoom

Government Insiders Must Be Prevented From Profiting on Prediction Markets at the Expense of National Security Report
Gannon Ken Van Dyke seen through window and behind tree

Government Insiders Must Be Prevented From Profiting on Prediction Markets at the Expense of National Security

Government employees’ use of insider information to profit on prediction markets raises both national security and ethical concerns, and there are several steps Congress and the president should take, including completely banning government employees’ use of prediction markets as a condition of employment.

Alexandra Thornton, Sadhana Mandala, Devon Ombres, 1 More Allison McManus

The debate over AGOA is missing the point In the News

The debate over AGOA is missing the point

In an op-ed for Semafor Africa, Daniele Nyirandutiye argues that in considering whether to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act, Congress is having the wrong debate.

Semafor Africa

Daniele Nyirandutiye

Why Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner Should Visit Ukraine In the News

Why Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner Should Visit Ukraine

In an op-ed for The National Interest, Damian Murphy argues that witnessing the destruction in Ukraine is critical for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to engage in informed negotiations.

The National Interest

Damian Murphy

How to Rebuild Ukraine In the News

How to Rebuild Ukraine

In an op-ed for The National Interest, Luke Zahner argues that to rebuild Ukraine, the country's leadership and the international community will need a more unified approach.

The National Interest

Luke Zahner

Trump’s Failed War in Iran Echoes Bush’s Iraq Blunder Article
A ship remains anchored on May 16, 2026 in the Strait of Hormuz near Larak Island, Iran.

Trump’s Failed War in Iran Echoes Bush’s Iraq Blunder

The Trump administration’s disastrous war in Iran has failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives while harming the American people, reshaping the Middle East in ways detrimental to U.S. interests, and further undermining America’s global status.

Andrew Miller

The President’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Will Not Make the Country Safer Article
The Pentagon seal, showing the building, with

The President’s $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Budget Will Not Make the Country Safer

To protect national security, the United States needs a strategic and disciplined approach to defense spending—not the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion budget, which fails to match resources to strategy, needlessly inviting waste and increasing the deficit.

Allison McManus, Michael Schiffer, Steven Kosiak

Ebola outbreak requires multifaceted response In the News

Ebola outbreak requires multifaceted response

In an op-ed published by Semafor Africa, Daniele Nyirandutiye argues that containing the Ebola outbreak will require massive mobilization—along the lines of what USAID used to help provide.

Semafor Africa

Daniele Nyirandutiye

Not the time to cement North America’s fate In the News

Not the time to cement North America’s fate

In an op-ed published by El País, Dan Restrepo argues that Mexico, the United States, and Canada would be making a mistake if they extended the USMCA for 16 years.

El País

Dan Restrepo

2026 CAP IDEAS Conference Past Event

2026 CAP IDEAS Conference

The Center for American Progress’ signature event, now celebrating its 15th year, where CAP convenes the big thinkers and doers on the center-left for a day of not only identifying the problems facing Americans, but also sharing solutions to improve the lives of all Americans.

Online via Zoom

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