Emily Benson

Senior Associate (Non-resident), Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program
Emily Benson

Emily Benson is a senior associate (non-resident) with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and head of strategy at Minerva Technology Futures, where she advises transatlantic clients on geopolitical risks that affect trade and investment decisions, primarily relating to AI, semiconductors, and other critical technologies. She previously served as a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce in a unit focused on geopolitical risk in critical supply chains. She also directed the Project on Trade and Technology at CSIS in Washington, D.C., and worked in legislative affairs and international trade law in the EU-U.S. context. Her work has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, and on television, including the BBC, Bloomberg, and CNN. She received her joint BA in international affairs and political science from the University of Colorado and her MA in political science from the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Fluent in French, Emily has lived abroad in France, Indonesia, and Switzerland.

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

Emily Benson's Reports

Photo: IGOR/ADOBE STOCK

Photo: IGOR/ADOBE STOCK

Toward a U.S. Economic Security Strategy

This report evaluates the U.S. approach to economic security, laying out recommendations for how the U.S. government, together with key allies and partners, can advance a more cohesive economic security strategy, focused on reimagining international economic engagement.

Report by Emily Benson, Catharine Mouradian, and Andrea Leonard Palazzi — July 9, 2024

Emily Benson's Analysis

Photo: da-kuk/Getty Images

Photo: da-kuk/Getty Images

The Kyndryl-Solvinity Case: A Barometer for Investment Security Reviews?

A blocked U.S.-Dutch cloud deal in the Netherlands signals a widening transatlantic rift: As Europe races toward tech sovereignty, U.S. firms face mounting scrutiny over data access, the CLOUD Act, and control of critical digital infrastructure.

Commentary by Emily Benson and Lexi Linafelter — July 30, 2026

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The Eurofile

The (Associate) European Union and a Transatlantic Tech Update

Max and Lexi unpack Von der Leyen's State of the European Union address in Strasbourg. Plus, Emily Benson joins to take stock of the transatlantic tech relationship.

Podcast Episode by Max Bergmann, Lexi Linafelter, and Emily Benson — September 17, 2026

CSIS

The Kyndryl-Solvinity Case: A Barometer for Investment Security Reviews?

A blocked U.S.-Dutch cloud deal in the Netherlands signals a widening transatlantic rift: As Europe races toward tech sovereignty, U.S. firms face mounting scrutiny over data access, the CLOUD Act, and control of critical digital infrastructure.

Commentary by Emily Benson and Lexi Linafelter — July 30, 2026

Audio Briefs

The Kyndryl-Solvinity Case: A Barometer for Investment Security Reviews?

An audio version of "⁠The Kyndryl-Solvinity Case: A Barometer for Investment Security Reviews?⁠," a new commentary by CSIS’s Emily Benson and Lexi Linafelter. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Emily Benson and Lexi Linafelter — July 30, 2026

Audio Briefs
Audio Briefs

New Momentum, Old Problems: Transatlantic Export Control Considerations

An audio version of “⁠New Momentum, Old Problems: Transatlantic Export Control Considerations⁠,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Emily Benson and Lexi Linafelter. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.  

Podcast Episode by Emily Benson and Lexi Linafelter — April 15, 2026

Audio Briefs

New Momentum, Old Problems: Transatlantic Export Control Considerations

The newly introduced MATCH Act seeks to close gaps in U.S. export restrictions by limiting China's access to advanced chipmaking tools through non-U.S. suppliers—but its reach into European supply chains raises serious questions for the transatlantic relationship.

Commentary by Emily Benson and Lexi Linafelter — April 15, 2026

Audio Briefs

How Could Europe Respond to Future U.S. Threats to Greenland?

An audio version of “⁠How Could Europe Respond to Future U.S. Threats to Greenland⁠?,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Federico Steinberg, Emily Benson, and Nicholas Fenton. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Federico Steinberg, Emily Benson, and Nicholas Fenton — January 22, 2026

Audio Briefs

How Could Europe Respond to Future U.S. Threats to Greenland?

If the Trump administration returns to using threats of economic coercion to pressure Europeans over the territorial status of Greenland, the European Union has a range of economic tools at its disposal to respond.

Commentary by Federico Steinberg, Emily Benson, and Nicholas Fenton — January 22, 2026

Why Greenland Could Spur Europe’s Digital Awakening

U.S. pressure over Greenland is pushing Europe to confront a deeper vulnerability: its dependence on U.S. tech. The result could be a profound shift in cloud, AI, and digital sovereignty across the European Union.

Commentary by Emily Benson — January 14, 2026

Audio Briefs

Why Greenland Could Spur Europe’s Digital Awakening

An audio version of “⁠Why Greenland Could Spur Europe’s Digital Awakening⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS's Emily Benson. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Emily Benson — January 14, 2026

Audio Briefs