Opinion

OPINION — The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has long served as a critical instrument of American soft power, delivering humanitarian assistance, promoting economic […] More

OPINION — A few months ago, I received an unexpected message from a well-placed source within the Taliban. That message led to a series of secured […] More

OPINION — The so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made headlines regularly in recent weeks, as it works to slash the federal workforce and do […] More

OPINION — “Well, we actually are trying to be as transparent as possible. In fact, we post our actions to the DOGE [Department of Government […] More

OPINION — Based on my numerous assignments abroad, my work for the late Director of Central Intelligence William Casey as his Special Assistant and subsequent work […] More

EXPERT Q&A — As Ukraine and other European nations grapple with the past week’s sudden U.S. pivot towards Russia, they are scrambling to find ways to […] More

EXPERT Q&A — The Cipher Brief spoke to several experts who attended the recent Munich Security Conference, which — as we have been reporting — featured […] More

EXPERT Q&A — The Cipher Brief spoke to several experts who attended the just-concluded Munich Security Conference, which featured tensions and debate involving the U.S. stance […] More

OPINION / EXPERT PERSPECTIVE (LONDON) – U.S. President Donald Trump has only been back in the White House for 6 weeks, but the reaction in […] More

OPINION — “This December, Romania straight up cancelled the results of a presidential election based on the flimsy suspicions of an intelligence agency and enormous […] More

OPINION — The 2025 Munich Security Conference may go down in history as the moment when an eight-decade post-World War II alliance between the United […] More

OPINION / EXPERT PERSPECTIVE – As talks move forward between the U.S. and Russia with the intention of an agreement to end Moscow’s war in […] More

EXPERT Q&A — The U.S. has been pursuing a new integrated missile defense system for Guam, a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific that plays […] More

OPINION — The absence of any diplomatic engagement with North Korea during the past four years has resulted in a more belligerent North Korea, now more […] More

EXPERT Q&A — As The Cipher Brief reported last month, Greenland has found itself at the center of the global national security conversation, following President Donald […] More

OPINION / EXPERT PERPSECTIVE — In coming weeks, President Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and after that meeting, with Russian President Vladimir […] More

OPINION — “I have discussed, as a general matter, with Elon Musk the need for reforms and effective use of the FBI’s greatest asset, its […] More

OPINION — Embedded in President Trump’s shocking proposal to “own” and develop the Gaza Strip are some uncomfortable truths and even some “common sense,” as […] More