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

Russia’s is Waging a Sabotage Shadow War on Europe

A wave of covert attacks—from rail lines blasts to fiber cables—signals a sharper Russian campaign to destabilize Europe and undermine support for Ukraine.

Russia’s is Waging a Sabotage Shadow War on Europe

DEEP DIVE — In the darkness of night on November 15, a massive explosion ripped through a stretch of the Warsaw-Lublin railway line close to Mika, [...] More

RussiaEurope
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The Open Source Report

<span>Global Intelligence Report for Wednesday, December 10, 2025</span>

Global Intelligence Report for Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Danish intelligence agency describes U.S. security risk

Trump reportedly presses Ukraine to agree to peace deal by Christmas

Hamas says Gaza truce cannot enter second phase over alleged Israeli “violations”

Former senior Chinese diplomat urges China-Russia cooperation against Japan

Access Today’s Report

Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

Why an Unmanned Mission May be Most Effective in Venezuela

Joey Gagnard
Nils Alstad

OPINION — Wars are increasingly fought by unconventional means. A recent example is Ukrainian insertion of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to attack Russian airfields, launched from civilian outfitted trucks. The Israeli [...] More

AmericasJoey GagnardLatin America

Can Europe Survive the New Multipolar World?

Brigadier General Edin Fako

EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — For more than three decades after the Cold War, Europe lived under the illusion that history had settled in its favor. Liberal democracy seemed ascendant, global markets expanded without friction, and [...] More

Europe
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News & Analysis

What China’s ‘World-Class Navy’ Means for the U.S. and Asia

What China’s ‘World-Class Navy’ Means for the U.S. and Asia

DEEP DIVE — On a Wednesday in November, with Chinese President Xi Jinping looking on, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned the [...] More

ChinaAsia

Opinion

America’s Antibiotic Weakness Is a National Security Blindspot

Barry C. Buckland

America’s Antibiotic Weakness Is a National Security Blindspot

OPINION – Offshoring and outsourcing antibiotic production to China and India is putting America’s access to lifesaving medicines at risk. It’s time [...] 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

Stealing Success: A Hard Look at China's Rise
Stealing Success: A Hard Look at China's Rise

The FBI’s Pursuit of Chi Mak and the Challenge of Modern Spycraft
The FBI’s Pursuit of Chi Mak and the Challenge of Modern Spycraft

Want a Security Clearance? Stop Smoking Pot and Read This
Want a Security Clearance? Stop Smoking Pot and Read This

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The Best National Security Gossip

FONTS OF WISDOM? Loyal readers of The Dead Drop with excellent memories will remember in our January 20, 2023 edition, under the memorable headline: “I Shot the Serif,” we relayed word that then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a cable throughout his department declaring that everyone should use Calibri font rather than Times New Roman for all documents headed to the Executive Secretariat. The reason given was that fonts like Times New Roman were harder for people with visual disabilities to read as compared to serif-less type types – like Calibri. Well, that was then. Blinken’s successor Marco Rubio has undone the [...] More

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Events

Live Events

The Cipher Brief 2026 HONORS Awards

The Cipher Brief 2026 HONORS Awards

Join us for the third annual Cipher Brief Honors Dinner, the evening of March 13, 2026. This Black-Tie event is invite only, please apply here for a [...] More

Upcoming: 13 March, 2026

Podcasts

State Secrets


Join Suzanne Kelly as she delves into the world of Russian intelligence with former CIA operations officer Sean Wiswesser. Discover the intricacies of Russian operations, the impact of propaganda, and the ongoing secret war led by Putin. Gain insights into the challenges faced by the Russian people and the global implications of state-sponsored actions. Don't miss this eye-opening episode of the State Secrets Podcast.

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.