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

What Beijing Calls Open, Washington Should Call an Operation

The United States may lead in developing the world’s most advanced AI models, but China is competing to make its models the foundation of everyday technology. Two national security researchers warn that the consequences could extend far beyond the AI industry.

Trump-Xi Summit Puts China AI In Spotlight

China is about to run the largest influence operation in history. It will not have to run it. The world will download it.Our research team at [...] More

China Asia

Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

Opinion

Subterranean Warfare - An Urgent DoW Need Without An Owner

Steve Blank

The DoW urgently needs to organize its scattered subterranean warfare assets into a single unified organization. Ideally, a Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager (DRPM) for Subterranean Warfare, reporting to the Deputy [...] More

Opinion

The Sanctions We Cannot Afford

Richard Berry

On the evening of Friday, October 9, the Treasury published General License 135. It authorizes the “sale, delivery, offloading and importation” of Russian diesel until April 7, 2027, and does not specify a buyer, a [...] More

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News & Analysis

The 214th Separate Assault Battalion OPFOR Training Held In Ukraine

How Ukraine’s Ground Robots Are Changing the Battlefield

Operation Vivaldi, a Ukrainian military effort to repel Russian forces in the Donbas, has done much more than push back Moscow’s offensive in the [...] More

David Kirichenko Xen Europe Ukraine

Opinion

The Next Drone Won't Have a Radio Link, Our Intelligence Enterprise Needs to Plan for That Now

Peter Newell

The Next Drone Won't Have a Radio Link, Our Intelligence Enterprise Needs to Plan for That Now

On the last day of the 2026 World Cup, NORAD F-16s fired flares over northern New Jersey to warn off civilian pilots who had flown into restricted [...] More

Alternative Perspectives

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

Book Reviews

Catch-22 Goes To Langley
Catch-22 Goes To Langley

A Security Officer’s Self-Taught Tradecraft
A Security Officer’s Self-Taught Tradecraft

In This Spy Novel, An Ai Breach Sets Off A Globe-Trotting CIA Manhunt
In This Spy Novel, An Ai Breach Sets Off A Globe-Trotting CIA Manhunt

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The Best National Security Gossip

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH THE RANSOM NEGOTIATOR? Edward Dubrovsky made a career helping organizations deal with ransomware gangs. Now the Canadian cybersecurity executive is facing U.S. federal extortion charges. According to CyberScoop, Dubrovsky, 54, was arrested in Pennsylvania on October 8. He is the former chief operating officer and co-founder of CYPFER (no relation to us at “Cipher”) a firm specializing in helping victims of cyberattacks, including negotiating with the criminals. Now, Dubrovsky is charged with conspiring to threaten the confidentiality of information to extort money, in violation of federal computer [...] More

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Events

Live Events

2026 Threat Conference

2026 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

Upcoming: 25 October, 2026

The Cipher Brief 2027 HONORS Awards

The Cipher Brief 2027 HONORS Awards

Join us for the third annual Cipher Brief Honors Dinner, the evening of April 9, 2027. This Black-Tie event is invite-only. Please apply here for a [...] More

Upcoming: 09 April, 2027

Podcasts

State Secrets

A 10th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION of the State Secrets Podcast with Suzanne Kelly and Brad Christian as they share the behind-the-scenes stories from the past decade as The Cipher Brief prepares to host the Cipher Brief Threat Conference. From a world where terrorism was front and center and AI was still a curiosity, to today’s world, where China remains the pacing threat, and is buoyed by rapidly emerging technology and a new alignment with Russia, Iran and North Korea.