On November 10, CNAS hosted a panel on recent advances in frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models and their potential to transform cyber offense and defense alike.

Featuring the new report, Tipping the Scales: Emerging AI Capabilities and the Cyber Offense-Defense Balance, CNAS Technology and National Security Program expert Caleb Withers examines how capable today’s AI systems are at cyber-relevant tasks, which emerging capabilities matter most, and what defenders, policymakers, and industry should do to prepare. The discussion drew on those insights to cover a range of topics from recent advances in frontier AI intelligence models to the attacker-defender imbalance in cybersecurity operations, and more.

The panel featured:

• Moderator Derek B. Johnson, journalist, CyberScoop
• Caleb Withers, Fellow, Center for a New American Security
• Andrew Lohn, Senior Fellow, Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology
• Chris Rohlf, Security Engineer, Meta

To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

On October 23, CNAS hosted a panel on the U.S. defense budget and the Department of Defense’s alignment of resources to strategy.

Featuring our new report, Stuck in the Cul de Sac: How U.S. Defense Spending Prioritizes Innovation over Deterrence, CNAS Defense Program experts Dr. Carlton Haelig and Philip Sheers examine the gaps between the Department of Defense’s strategic priorities and its resource allocation and identify a wide range of challenges and opportunities the Pentagon faces in transitioning its key modernization initiatives to the field. This discussion drew on those insights to cover a range of topics from creating and maintaining a next-generation force, the impacts of a government shutdown on defense preparedness, and more.

The panel featured:

• Moderator Philip Sheers, Research Associate, Defense Program Center for a New American Security
• The Honorable Susanna V. Blume, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Defense Program, Center for a New American Security
• Todd Harrison, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
• Dr. Carlton Haelig, Fellow, Defense Program, Center for a New American Security

To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

On Wednesday, October 15, CNAS hosted a live, virtual event​ on Countering China's Digital Silk Road featuring former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Digital Silk Road (DSR), China’s flagship initiative to strengthen its global ties and influence through technology. A decade after its launch, the DSR has become more vital to Beijing than ever as technology has moved to the center of its global ambitions. Since the DSR's inception, Beijing has signed bilateral technology agreements with over 80 countries, and Chinese tech exports have increased nearly 10-fold in the past three years alone.

This CNAS event featured a fireside chat between former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and CNAS Senior Fellow Vivek Chilukuri, followed by an expert panel that examined the DSR's evolution and effectiveness to date, U.S. and allied efforts to counter it, and key domains of U.S.-China tech competition in emerging markets. The panel featured:

• Moderator James Palmer, Deputy Editor at Foreign Policy and author of FP's weekly China Brief newsletter
• Jonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow for Geoeconomics, Council on Foreign Relations and author of The Digital Silk Road: China’s Quest to Wire the World
• Ruth Berry, Senior Director and Head of Policy, NVIDIA Government Affairs
• Ruby Scanlon, Research Associate, Technology and National Security Program, Center for a New American Security

To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

Judge Advocates General (JAGs) serve a critical role in the U.S. military by providing expert, apolitical legal advice to commanders and defense officials. On Wednesday, October 8, CNAS held the Judge Advocates General: On the Frontline of National Security and the Rule of Law event. The event featured opening remarks from Admiral John Richardson, USN (Ret.), member of the CNAS Board of Directors and former chief of naval operations, and a panel discussion with Judge James E. Baker, former chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; Rear Admiral James E. McPherson, JAGC, USN (Ret.), former undersecretary of the Army and former judge advocate general of the Navy. Hosted by Carrie Cordero, General Counsel and Senior Fellow at CNAS, the conversation covered the critical role of Judge Advocates General on the frontline of national security and rule of law, the need for factual and legal assessments in military operations, how JAGs can navigate operational pressure when providing legal advice to their commanders, and more.

Over the past two years, CNAS has conducted research work that focuses on federalism and national security, including work that addresses disputes that can arise between presidents and governors over deployment of the National Guard. This work includes a commentary series published in May that provides recommendations at the federal and state levels for ensuring that domestic deployment of the military is consistent with law and the protection of civil liberties.

To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

On Tuesday, September 16, CNAS held the first National Security Exchange fireside chat with Adam Boehler, Special Envoy for Hostage Response, hosted by Richard Fontaine, CEO of CNAS.

The conversation covered the latest in the hostage situation in Gaza, how the Special Envoy coordinates with the rest of the U.S. government, common misconceptions around hostage negotiation, and more.

To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

Nationwide, there has been a noticeable uptick in swatting cases, negatively impacting the safety and security of high-profile public servants and law enforcement agencies. In this episode of our Safe@Home speaker series, CNAS hosted a virtual event with Kenneth Corey, former NYPD Chief of Department, and Josh Campbell, CNAS Adjunct Senior Fellow and CNN Correspondent, for a conversation on the increase of these incidents targeting public officials, challenges to law enforcement agencies in terms of resources, capacity, and risk, and proposed legislative remedies at the state and federal levels.

The CNAS Safe@Home speaker series focuses on challenges to homeland security such as international and domestic terrorism, political violence against government officials, mass shootings and gun violence, pandemic preparedness and response, climate related emergency management, cybersecurity and response, and related issues. Under the Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative, this series aims to inform policymakers to ensure that domestic security and public safety are adequately represented in national security conversations and problem-solving efforts.

Sanctioning China represents a challenge more complex than any other in the modern era of sanctions. Yet, if tensions with China escalate or conflict appears imminent, U.S. policymakers would reach for the sanctions tool as part of their overall response. Would sanctions work? Could the United States impose harsh sanctions without devastating the U.S. and global economies? Would any allies join the United States in a sanctioning effort?

CNAS hosted a virtual discussion on Friday, December 15 to discuss a new report called No Winners in This Game: Assessing the U.S. Playbook for Sanctioning China, that explores these questions and challenges.

Representative Mike Gallagher and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi who lead the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party provided opening remarks, and were followed by an expert panel.

You can learn more about upcoming events by heading to cnas.org/events

International terrorism and domestic violent extremism are once again at the forefront of U.S. national security concerns. As a result of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, antisemitism has been increasing at an exponential rate, both in the U.S. and around the world. On Friday, December 1, CNAS hosted a virtual event with Michael Masters, National Director and CEO of the Secure Community Network, for a conversation on antisemitism in the U.S., the work of the Secure Community Network, and the way forward to combat antisemitism and the accompanying outbreak in violence and aggression. Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow Carrie Cordero hosted the discussion.

The CNAS Safe@Home speaker series, relaunching in December 2023, focuses on challenges to homeland security such as international and domestic terrorism, political violence against government officials, mass shootings and gun violence, pandemic preparedness and response, climate related emergency management, cybersecurity and response, and related issues. Under the CNAS Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative, this series aims to inform policymakers, the media, and the public to ensure that domestic security and public safety are adequately represented in national security conversations and problem-solving efforts.