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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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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.

Damian Murphy, Michael Clark

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

The Trump Administration’s Reckless Strikes in Iran Raise More Questions Than Answers Article
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after announcing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

The Trump Administration’s Reckless Strikes in Iran Raise More Questions Than Answers

Amid a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Iran, the ultimate consequences of President Trump’s military intervention in Iran remain unknown but are potentially deeply damaging to U.S. interests. Congress should exert its authority to prevent the president from drawing the United States further into conflict in the future.

Andrew Miller, Allison McManus

America Is on the Verge of Catastrophe in the Middle East In the News

America Is on the Verge of Catastrophe in the Middle East

In an op-ed published by Foreign Affairs, Andrew Miller argues that by joining Israel’s campaign against Iran, the United States has made a sustainable long-term solution less attainable.

Foreign Affairs

Andrew Miller

Point: America’s Law-and-Order Problem Is Donald Trump In the News

Point: America’s Law-and-Order Problem Is Donald Trump

In an op-ed published by Inside Sources, Damian Murphy argues that President Donald Trump's deployment of federal forces against protestors mirrors the actions of authoritarian regimes around the world.

Inside Sources

Damian Murphy

America’s Role in the World: The Value of Leadership and Alliance Past Event

America’s Role in the World: The Value of Leadership and Alliance

Join us for a conversation with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) as part of CAP’s “What’s Next: Conversations on the Path Forward” series.

Center for American Progress and online via Zoom

Trump Should Not Give Israel a Pass on Gaza Blockade In the News

Trump Should Not Give Israel a Pass on Gaza Blockade

Andrew Miller and Philip Gordon make the case for why President Trump should be held to the same high standard as former President Biden on Gaza.

Foreign Policy

Andrew Miller, Philip Gordon

Cutting Deep Abroad and at Home: Slashing Foreign Assistance Causes Worldwide Harm Past Event

Cutting Deep Abroad and at Home: Slashing Foreign Assistance Causes Worldwide Harm

Please join the Center for American Progress for the next in a series of virtual events highlighting the impact that DOGE’s cuts are having on the lives of everyday Americans; this event will focus on how cuts to foreign assistance will not only affect those abroad who depend on aid, but also farmers and small businesses here at home who rely on foreign assistance grants.

Online via Zoom

Democratic backsliding in Europe holds lessons for America In the News

Democratic backsliding in Europe holds lessons for America

In an op-ed for Politico EU, Robert Benson discusses how America can more effectively push back against authoritarian creep by learning from the experiences of European countries.

Politico EU

Robert Benson

100 Days of the Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy: Global Chaos, American Weakness, and Human Suffering Report
President Donald Trump is seen sitting at a table with members of his Cabinet.

100 Days of the Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy: Global Chaos, American Weakness, and Human Suffering

In only 100 days, the Trump administration has wrought chaos around the world and weakened the United States’ place in it—leaving the American people and billions of others worldwide to pay the price.

Allison McManus, Ryan Mulholland, Andrew Miller, 3 More Dan Herman, Robert Benson, Courtney Federico

How Democracies Defend Themselves Against Authoritarianism Report
A crowd of protestors is gathered holding signs.

How Democracies Defend Themselves Against Authoritarianism

Democracies facing authoritarian threats from within have found ways to push back by strengthening institutions, reinforcing democratic norms, and building popular resistance against encroaching autocracy. Understanding these strategies is vital to learning how to fight back.

Robert Benson

The Risks of Trump’s Politicization of the Military Past Event

The Risks of Trump’s Politicization of the Military

Please join the Center for American Progress for a virtual discussion about the Trump administration's recent decision to fire high-ranking U.S. military members.

Online only

It’s Time for a Just and Lasting Peace in Israel and Palestine In the News

It’s Time for a Just and Lasting Peace in Israel and Palestine

In an op-ed published by Inkstick, Allison McManus argues why the United States should seize moments of opportunity ahead to propel the West Bank toward a just and lasting peace and outlines the role the country could play in doing so.

Inkstick

Allison McManus

Trump and Vance’s Disgraceful Oval Office Ambush of Zelenskyy Comes at America’s Expense and Only Benefits Putin Article
U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the White House, February 2025.

Trump and Vance’s Disgraceful Oval Office Ambush of Zelenskyy Comes at America’s Expense and Only Benefits Putin

Trump and Vance’s deliberate humiliation of Zelenskyy in Washington signaled to allies and adversaries alike that America’s leadership is in crisis, jeopardizing Ukraine’s fight for survival and emboldening Putin’s aggression.

Allison McManus, Robert Benson

Syria’s Transition and the Shadow of the Arab Uprisings Report
The sun is seen setting over the city of Damascus.

Syria’s Transition and the Shadow of the Arab Uprisings

While the Syrian people should ultimately determine their own future, the United States must learn from its mistakes during the Arab uprisings to best facilitate a democratic transition.

Andrew Miller

How Trump’s Attack on USAID Undermines American Leadership and Security Article
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters is seen on February 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

How Trump’s Attack on USAID Undermines American Leadership and Security

President Donald Trump’s MAGA plan to gut America’s low-cost, high-impact foreign assistance programs to help fund tax cuts for the ultrawealthy is a blow to U.S. influence abroad that will also make Americans less safe at home.

Alan Yu, Allison McManus, Laura Kilbury

Pete Hegseth Is Unfit To Lead the Pentagon Article
An aerial view of the Pentagon.

Pete Hegseth Is Unfit To Lead the Pentagon

Pete Hegseth lacks the credibility and experience required to lead a body as massive and as critical as the Department of Defense; his confirmation as secretary of defense would be a major risk to Americans’ safety and security.

Allison McManus, Dan Herman, Laura Kilbury

From Biden to Trump: Off-Ramp or Accelerator to Middle East Conflict? Article
Photo shows a man sitting in a chair with his hand resting on a cane, looking out of the window of his destroyed home

From Biden to Trump: Off-Ramp or Accelerator to Middle East Conflict?

How President Biden and President Trump manage their handoff, both their separate administrations and together during the transition, will have a powerful impact on whether forces of escalation or de-escalation in the Middle East prevail.

Andrew Miller

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