Trump and Russia: Political Firestorm or National Security Concern?
As new questions arise about the Trump Administration’s contacts with Russian officials, one man has been caught in the political maelstrom: Russian Ambassador to the […] More
Donald Trump
The U.S.-Japan Alliance: Reform and Uncertainty
Japan is a nation in flux. Economically, the government is struggling to stoke growth with expansionary monetary policy and reform; demographically, it is challenged by […] More
U.S.-Japan Defense Relations Under Trump
During the 2016 U.S. presidential contest, Donald Trump was highly critical of the structure and costs of the U.S.-Japan mutual defense relationship and openly raised the possibility […] More
Trump and East Asia: Moving from Campaign Mode to Governing
After a presidential campaign peppered with accusations of inadequate burden-sharing by Japan in its security relationship with the United States, President Donald Trump has attempted […] More
“Fighting Fire with Fire:” Will Trump Bring Back What He Calls Torture?
Top former national security leaders are questioning a draft executive order that calls for a policy review to potentially authorize the CIA to reopen overseas […] More
NATO’s Changing Face Under the Trump Administration
The future of the transatlantic defense alliance is in jeopardy, according to news reports from the past few months. It all started with then-candidate Donald […] More
Experts Question Significance of Upgrading WH Counterterrorism Post
A number of national security veterans have challenged the Trump transition team’s claim that it is significantly raising the profile of a key White House […] More
Intelligence, Trump, Putin, and Russia’s Long Game
The Russian hacking of the U.S. presidential campaign and the subsequent sanctions imposed by the Obama Administration continue to dominate the news this week, with […] More
Eyes on the Kremlin: Russia and the World in 2016
Editor’s Note: Over the coming days, The Cipher Brief presents some of our most incisive coverage on key issues of 2016 and a look ahead […] More
Putin Meets His Match?
Russian President Vladimir Putin, a leader known for his unpredictability, may have met his match: the new President of the United States, Donald Trump. Until […] More
Trading with Trump: The Future of TPP
During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly slammed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a “bad deal” that would harm U.S. workers and export jobs to […] More
When Does a President Become a National Security Risk?
There are a couple of key questions we should all have when it comes to the difference of opinion between President-elect Donald Trump and the […] More
Mattis as Defense Secretary: Wartime Experience for a Country at War
Late Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would appoint retired Marine General James Mattis – nicknamed “Mad Dog” – as Secretary of Defense. “They […] More