Hong Kong and Beijing: Getting Back to “Basics”
Twenty years ago, when Britain handed Hong Kong back to China, Beijing agreed to administer the island according to the Basic Law, which would preserve […] More
News & Analysis
Is Hong Kong Losing its Identity?
Hong Kong’s society and economy have changed under 20 years of Beijing’s influence. Chinese capital has bought out companies and real estate and job seekers […] More
Cipher Brief Cyber Advisory Board: Identifying the “Emerging Hacker”
In the early days of the internet, criminals quickly saw the new technology as an avenue for data theft, extortion, and uninhibited global reach. These […] More
Decisions Loom for Qatar as Arab Countries Harden Stance
The tense standoff between Qatar and a group of Middle East countries that includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates is nearing […] More
Gulf States Need to Compromise with Qatar
Last Friday, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt provided Qatar with a list of 13 harsh demands that Qatar must meet within 10 days […] More
Gulf Rift Threatens Region’s Stability
The dispute between Qatar and its Arab neighbors has now entered its fourth week, causing an uptick in tension throughout the Middle East. The Cipher […] More
White House Nominates Susan M. Gordon for Key IC Role
The White House announced on Wednesday that President Donald Trump is nominating Susan M. Gordon to serve as the next Principal Deputy Director of National […] More
Trump Administration Tightens Aviation Security
The Department of Homeland Security has unveiled new aviation security measures for all international commercial flights bound to the United States, a move that could […] More
Are France and Germany the Last Hope for the EU?
With Britain leaving the European Union, a surge in support for populist and anti-EU parties across the continent, and an uncertain United States that seems […] More
France Must Reform Before Building a Franco-German Engine
Will French President Emmanuel Macron be able to work with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to restore a fracturing European Union to a position of strength? […] More
The Germans Won’t Budge on their Vision of Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron clinched a major win in the country’s recent parliamentary elections, and as Germany looks toward federal elections in September, Chancellor Angela […] More
White House Warning to Syria Leaves Little “Wiggle Room”
The White House late Monday night released a statement warning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime against launching another chemical weapons attack. The Trump administration said […] More
As ISIS Falls, Border Battles Loom
The U.S.-led military campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria appears to be nearing its end. In Mosul, Iraqi military forces are now pushing into […] More
The Complex State of Play in Eastern Syria
The territorial battle against ISIS is nearing its final stages in Iraq and Syria. In Iraq, U.S. coalition-backed Iraqi forces have trapped the remaining ISIS […] More
The Fight for the Northern Iraq-Syria Border
The Iraq-Syria border has emerged in recent months as the hottest piece of real estate in the multi-sided struggle between the Islamic State (ISIS), anti-ISIS […] More
Getting the Intelligence Edge with High-Risk, High-Payoff Research
Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity Director Jason Matheny worries a lot about national security risks that probably aren’t headlining many lists of pressing threats to […] More
Trump, Modi Vow to Fight Scourge of Terrorism
At first glance, the similarities between President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi point to a foundation for a strong relationship. Both wish […] More
Under Fire: Cipher Brief Wargame Shows Difficulty of Deterrence in Cyberspace
It’s Labor Day, September 4, 2017, and the National Security Agency has just intercepted communications between the senior leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, […] More