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The Cipher Brief: National Security news, analysis and expert commentary.

The Caribbean Emerges as a Test of U.S. Power

The Caribbean Emerges as a Test of U.S. Power

DEEP DIVE — U.S. military forces this week carried out yet another strike on a vessel in Caribbean waters off Venezuela, marking the sixth such [...] More

AmericasLatin America
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The Open Source Report

​Colombia's President Gustavo Petro delivers a speech during a ceremony to destroy war material in Puerto Asis, Colombia on October 15, 2025.

Report for Global Intelligence Monday, October 20, 2025

Trump to hike tariffs on Colombia, halt aid, as US says it struck vessel linked to Colombian group

Trump tells Zelensky that Ukraine must cede land or be ‘destroyed’ by Russia

UK drafting new authority to shoot down drones over military bases

U.S. scrambles to save Gaza peace deal amid new clashes

Access Today’s Report

Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

AI-Powered Adversaries Require AI-Driven Defenses

John Hultquist

OPINION — The use of artificial intelligence by adversaries has been the subject of exhaustive speculation. No one doubts that the technology will be abused by criminals and state actors, but it can be difficult to [...] More

Tech/Cyber

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Quiet Drug War Wins Amid Trump’s Caribbean Strikes

Walter Pincus

OPINION / FINE PRINT — “The U.S. Coast Guard announced [last] Tuesday it has seized more than 100,000 pounds of cocaine in the eastern Pacific Ocean since launching Operation Pacific Viper in early August, averaging over [...] More

AmericasLatin AmericaWalter PincusFine Print
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News & Analysis

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is greeted by US President Donald Trump (L) upon arrival at the White House West Wing in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2025.

High-Stakes Talks in D.C.: Frozen Assets, Air Defense, and Tomahawks

DEEP DIVE – A senior Ukrainian delegation will travel to Washington D.C. this week for talks that are expected to include the use of frozen Russian [...] More

Brad ChristianEuropeUkraine

Opinion

The Hidden National Security Risk in Smart Cities

Anna Gielas

The Hidden National Security Risk in Smart Cities

OPINION — It is worryingly easy to get hold of personal and sensitive data on American military and intelligence personnel. Earlier this year [...] More

Tech/CyberAlternative Perspectives

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

Tapping a China Vibe in South Koreaplay icon

Tapping a China Vibe in South Korea

The Open Source Report

Book Reviews

High On Hype – A Tabloid Take On Delta Force and Drugs
High On Hype – A Tabloid Take On Delta Force and Drugs

A Call at 4AM in Israel: Crucial Decisions, Urgent Reading
A Call at 4AM in Israel: Crucial Decisions, Urgent Reading

Checkmate, Comrade: Espionage, Surveillance, and the Quiet Rebellion over the Chess Board
Checkmate, Comrade: Espionage, Surveillance, and the Quiet Rebellion over the Chess Board

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The Best National Security Gossip

HEADS UP DEAD DROP AFICIONADOS: The pace of Dead Drops early this week may be a bit lighter than usual since everyone who is anyone is fully consumed with the annual Cipher Brief Threat Conference. If you are saying to yourself – wait a minute! I’m someone and I’m not there – well, there’s always next year.The Dead Drop is now updating throughout the week. Why? Because there's just too much good gossip in the national security world these days for a once-a-week collection.GOT SOME GOOD GOSSIP? DROP US A NOTE AT thedeaddrop@thecipherbrief.com NEED TO CATCH UP ON LAST WEEK'S DROP? FIND IT HERE. [...] More

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Events

Live Events

Threat Conference

Threat Conference

The Cipher Brief Threat Conference is the nation’s premier forum for non-partisan discussion of global threats and solutions as well as high-level [...] More

Previous Event: 19 October, 2025

Podcasts

State Secrets

Shawn Chenoweth has one of the most fascinating titles in government, Director of Cognitive Advantage at the National Security Council. Sean explains the concept of cognitive advantage, the challenges of measuring success, and talks about the 'Kill Web' concept, which highlights the interconnectedness of information and cognitive processes in modern warfare.

Cover Stories: Spies, Books & Entertainment


David McCloskey, former CIA Analyst turned novelist is out with his fourth book, The Persian, about an Iranian dentist who is recruited by Mossad to take on a dangerous mission inside Iran. Cover Stories Host Suzanne Kelly digs in on how McCloskey’s real-life Intelligence background fueled his latest novel, and discovers a few of McCloskey’s own secrets along the way.