The Challenge at the Border
The Northern Triangle – El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala – is one of the most violent regions in the world, with a staggering 17,422 homicides […] More
United States
Russia and China: Mutually Assured Detachment
The foreign ministers of China and Russia met last week amid North Korean aggression and the potential for a U.S. deployed THAAD missile defense system […] More
A Calculated Relationship
The Western perceptions of China-Russia relations tend to be polarized. In the aftermath of the Ukraine crisis, the pessimists see another Sino-Russia alliance emerging with […] More
It’s Not Black and White
Since Russia’s “pivot to the East” was launched amid great fanfare in 2013, much commentary has been devoted to its significance, its scale, and indeed […] More
Connecting with Latin America
President Barack Obama’s arrival in Havana, Cuba marks the first visit by a sitting U.S. President in 88 years. But more than just a warming […] More
The Region's Security Outlook
President Barack Obama’s trip to Argentina and Cuba gives welcome attention to the dynamics and challenges of Latin America and the Caribbean. While designed to […] More
Maintaining Momentum and a New Chapter
Frank Mora, the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Western Hemisphere, told The Cipher Brief that President Barack Obama has two distinct objectives […] More
How Foreign Governments Might be Analyzing the U.S. Presidential Race
Senior leaders of authoritarian governments almost certainly are asking their intelligence services to analyze the implications of the current U.S. presidential election. What follows is […] More
Trudeau in Washington: Five Things to Watch
Five Things to Watch as Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau Visits Washington Less than six months after leading his Liberal Party to a decisive victory over […] More
How Will the Next President Take the Daily Intelligence Brief?
Upon entering the Oval Office, every president since Harry Truman has faced a seemingly mundane decision with huge implications: how to take his daily intelligence […] More
Stability in the East China Sea
China’s less discussed territorial dispute is one that has the greatest potential for the United States to be drawn into conflict. While China has been […] More
The Potential for Conflict
As the world pays attention to the recent Chinese militarization of the South China Sea islets, China is establishing a “new normal” with more frequent […] More
Deterring Chinese Aggression
China’s militarization of the South China Sea includes beefing up its military facilities on Woody Island in the Paracel chain – occupied by China but […] More
What’s Wrong (and Right) with the CIA?
A Candid Conversation with former Acting Director Michael Morell Michael Morell, the former Deputy Director and twice Acting Director of CIA and the author of […] More
The Case for Closing Guantanamo Bay
For seven years, President Barack’s efforts to close the terrorist detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba have been thwarted by Congress. But the President has […] More
Understanding the Syrian Ceasefire
The Cipher Brief spoke with Mark Kelton, former Deputy Director of the National Clandestine Service for Counterintelligence at the CIA, about the possible ceasefire deal […] More
Arms Race Redux?
At a time when the world’s attention is focused on terrorist bombings and beheadings, as well as the fighting in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, little […] More
Strengthening Rule of Law
Does the deteriorating security situation in Mexico affect us here in the U.S.? Is it really a U.S. national security issue? If Mexico continues on […] More