The Real Cost of US Support to Ukraine
OPINION — “U.S. aid to Ukraine is still probably the most cost-effective investment the U.S. and its strategic partners have recently made in national security, […] More
Posts Tagged ‘Russia’
Winter is coming, prompting Europe to shore up Energy Supplies
EXPERT Q&A — Europeans are already feeling the cold, even as near-full energy storage capacity and mild weather have worked to avert a full-blown European […] More
What the Joint Chiefs Chairman thinks about a Great Power War
OPINION — “There are a lot of lessons learned coming out of the Ukrainian war. There’s lessons learned for Taiwan. There are lessons learned that […] More
The Impact of a Single Missile
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — An explosion last week, in the eastern Polish village of Przewodow, killed two people and created heightened concern about just how quickly […] More
What Does the Beginning of the End Look Like in Ukraine?
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — The disastrous Russian invasion of Ukraine is now edging into its tenth month. Is there an endgame in sight? Most of the […] More
The Hope and Strategy Behind the New Realities of Nuclear Conflict
OPINION — There ought to be more public discussion over the following quote from the Biden Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) that was released November 8: […] More
Are We Witnessing the First Global Energy Crisis?
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — European Energy pressures exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have forced a reset in energy production and supply. “I don’t believe there […] More
Time to Get Tough on Putin’s Dirty Bomb Threat
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — Russia is intent on inflicting massive destruction to break Ukrainian morale, to improve its bargaining position at a future negotiation, and to […] More
Putin May be the Victim of his own Reaping Whirlwind
OPINION — “He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind, as the saying goes,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin during his multi-hour lecture and press conference on world […] More
As Xi Consolidates Power, Nationalism Gains Ground
EXPERT Q&A Read also Is a US-China Face-off Over Taiwan Looming for Subscriber+Members The Cipher Brief: At the 20th CCP Congress, what stood out amid the […] More
Despite moves, Putin loses ground in Ukraine
EXPERT Q&A Read also How Dirty and Dangerous will Putin Get in Ukraine for Subscriber+Members The Cipher Brief: What do you see as the significance of […] More
In Ukraine, We’re Witnessing the Future of War
OPINION — Like the 1936 – 1939 Spanish Civil War, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created a testing ground for the next generation of tactics […] More
How Low Is Putin Willing to Go in Ukraine?
EXPERT Q&A The Cipher Brief: Several media assessments suggest that within Ukraine, Russia will turn “dirtier and more dangerous,” replaying to a certain degree past tactics […] More
How Dirty and Dangerous Will Putin Get in Ukraine?
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE – Russian officials are warning of a nuclear ‘dirty bomb’ threat as Moscow continues attacking energy and civilian targets in Ukraine. It’s the […] More
China’s Post-Ukraine Playbook
Cipher Brief Expert and retired CIA Senior Executive Mark Kelton took part in a Russia panel during the recent Cipher Brief Threat Conference, along with […] More
Using Psychology as a Nuclear Deterrent
OPINION — I have growing concerns about the naked threats regarding use of nuclear weapons currently voiced by more of the senior characters surrounding Russian […] More
Putin’s Nuclear Risk Calculus
OPINION – Russian President Vladimir Putin is making his threats to use nuclear weapons clear. He recently elaborated on those threats after Russia’s recent humiliating […] More
Should We Worry About Putin’s Nuclear Threats?
OPINION — In an interview published by Al Jazeera last Thursday, Russian Lt. Gen. Leonid Reshetnikov (ret.) described as “impossible and would make little military […] More
The Drone Series: What’s Over the Horizon?
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE – Russian authorities say they shot down a Ukrainian drone over the area that serves as headquarters for the Russian Black Sea Fleet […] More
The New Age of Energy Crisis and Diplomacy
The energy pressures created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are continuing to shape a new global energy future. An EU embargo on Russian coal imports […] More
A Credible Source on Putin’s Trolls
BOOK REVIEW: Putin’s Trolls: On the Frontlines of Russia’s Information War Against the World By Jessikka Aro / Ig Publishing Reviewed by Dan Hoffman The […] More
What the CIA Director Knows About the Russian President
OPINION — No one has described today’s Russian President Vladimir Putin better than CIA Director William J. Burns did last Wednesday at a security forum […] More
The Biggest Winner in Ukraine is Beijing
Toby Esterhase: “You’re an old spy in a hurry, George. You used to say they were the worst.” \”The Cipher Brief has become the most […] More
The Drone Series: A New Battle in the Air
EXPERT PERSPECTIVE: The presence of drones/UAV’s in armed conflicts as varied as Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Ukraine is not only influencing military tactics and strategy but it’s […] More