International Security Program

The CSIS International Security Program (ISP) is a constant source of reliable analysis on the international security and defense landscape, particularly with growing competition between the United States and such countries as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea

About Us

Learn more about the CSIS International Security Program, our goals, and our primary areas of research.

ISP About Us

Meet Our Experts

Meet our network of experts, staff, and non-resident affiliates who contribute to our analysis.

Seth G. Jones

Explore our Research

The CSIS International Security Program leads a rigorous analytic agenda covering the most pressing challenges facing the U.S. globally. Our research projects range from multi-year reports to short commentaries and opinion pieces on breaking news. Explore our various research projects here.

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Contact

  • Alexis Day
  • Program Manager, Smart Women, Smart Power Initiative and Outreach Manager, International Security Program
  • aday@csis.org

Media Queries

On-Demand Event

One Year Later: Assessing Russia’s War In Ukraine

Presented by International Security Program
February 17, 2023 • 10:00 – 11:00 am EST

Recent Analysis

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US Navy

The Future of AUKUS with Admiral Harry Harris Jr., USN (Ret.)

CSIS and the U.S. Naval Institute welcomed former Admiral Harry Harris Jr. (Ret.), former Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet and U.S. Pacific Command, for a Maritime Security Dialogue discussion on the latest developments on the Australia-United Kingdom-United States security partnership, or AUKUS.

Transcript — March 30, 2023

Photo: Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

Innovation for Resilience

Report by Suzanne Spaulding , Emily Harding , Hadeil Ali , Joseph Majkut , Harshana Ghoorhoo , Morgan Higman , Devi Nair , Naz Subah , and Sophia Barkoff — March 23, 2023

See all anaylsis by the International Security Program
Photo: Yuri Gripas/AFP/GettyImages, Alex Schmidt/AFP/GettyImages, Justin Sullivan/GettyImages, Tim Sloan/AFP/GettyImages, National Archives, Mikhail Svetlov/GettyImages, Adam Schultz/White House, Mike Sargent/AFP/GettyImages, David McNew/GettyImages

Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is proud to launch the inaugural year of its Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship. This exclusive, world-class program will convene a cohort of emerging leaders to build a group of leaders capable of forging new strategic insights that connect across traditional fields of expertise.

Learn about the Fellowship

Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship

Photo: CSIS

U.S.-China Competition in a Fractured World

In a year-long program, Strategy and Statecraft Seminar Fellows will engage with world-leading experts and policy practitioners to understand more deeply the changes taking place in today’s world and the way policymakers in Washington and other foreign capitals perceive the situation.

Learn More

All content by International Security Program

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Ukrainian Innovation in a War of Attrition

Russia suffered more combat deaths in Ukraine in the first year of the war than in all of its wars combined since World War II. The average rate of Russian soldiers killed per month in Ukraine is 35 times greater than the number of Soviet soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Brief by Seth G. Jones , Riley McCabe , and Alexander Palmer — February 27, 2023

Baltic Conflict: Russia’s Goal to Distract NATO?

This paper outlines how NATO needs a clear strategy to respond to a Russian Baltic playbook: full spectrum gray zone operations, economic coercion, disinformation and propaganda, cyber disruption, and cover military incursions.

Report by Courtney Stiles Herdt and Matthew "BINCS" Zublic — November 14, 2022

Russia’s Ill-Fated Invasion of Ukraine: Lessons in Modern Warfare

Russia failed to achieve its main political and military objectives in Ukraine because of poor military planning, significant logistical problems, low combat readiness, and other deficiencies. These challenges will be difficult for the Russian military to fix quickly.

Brief by Seth G. Jones — June 1, 2022

Winning the Interdiction Fight in Ukraine

The next phase of the war will be decided in western Ukraine along the roads, airports, and rail lines connecting the nation to Europe. If Ukraine can protect these lines of communication, Kyiv has a chance to deny Russian military gains and force a political settlement.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen — April 28, 2022

How to Win the Battle in Eastern Ukraine

Russian forces are preparing for a large battle in eastern Ukraine to defeat the Ukrainian army and use terrain as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table. Kyiv should transition from a defensive war and conduct localized counterattacks to limit Russia’s advance.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen — April 14, 2022

Send In the Swarm

The announcement that the United States will send switchblade drones into Ukraine reflects the changing character of war and the importance of swarming. Expanding arms transfers to include more swarming systems can help Kyiv break the Russian sieges on Ukrainian cities.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen — March 24, 2022

Preparing for the Next Phase of the Russian War

The United States and its partners should prepare for the next phase of the Russian war in Ukraine and ultimately reduce Russia's advantages in future competition.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen — March 16, 2022

Send Missiles Not Planes

The United States and its allies should support Ukraine by expanding on existing weapons transfer programs—specifically by sending missiles instead of planes.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen — March 9, 2022