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

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Recent Analysis

Photo: James/Adobe Stock. Image was generated with AI.

Photo: James/Adobe Stock. Image was generated with AI.

High-Altitude Nuclear Explosions: Myths and Reality

What would happen if a nuclear weapon detonated in the sky, not on the ground? Would there be survivors? Would your iPhone work? This briefing dispels common misconceptions about high-altitude nuclear explosions and summarizes the current state of research on the subject.

Brief by Scott Pence and Adam F. Reynolds — July 14, 2025

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Global Security Forum 2024

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Gathering Strength in a Gathering Storm

Join the CSIS International Security Program for its annual Global Security Forum on April 24, 2024, featuring keynote discussions with General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Honorable Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence.

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All International Security Program Content

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The Cyber Safety Review Board: Reflecting on the Past & Charting the Future

Please join the CSIS Defending Democratic Institutions Project on Monday, September 9 at 9:15 AM for a conversation on The Cyber Safety Review Board: Reflecting on the Past & Charting the Future with Robert Silvers, the Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Homeland Security. 

Event — September 9, 2024

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Take a Chance on Mentorship

Funmi Oludaiye, Managing Director (Global Head of Engineering) at Goldman Sachs, discusses how she advanced her career in STEM through hard work, mentorship, and relationship building.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — September 4, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power

Secrets and Sacrifices: CIA, Benghazi, and Motherhood

The Honorable Sue Gordon joins CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power for a conversation on her career in the CIA, including her time in the CIA during the 2012 Benghazi attacks, all while balancing it all as a mother of two.

Event — August 21, 2024

Smart Women, Smart Power Podcast

Secrets and Sacrifices: CIA, Benghazi, and Motherhood

Sue Gordon, a 25-year CIA veteran, joins Dr. Kathleen McInnis and Lauren Bedula to discuss balancing her career and motherhood, as well as her experience during the 2012 Benghazi attacks, where she realized the changing nature of secrecy.

Podcast Episode by Kathleen McInnis — August 21, 2024

CSIS Smart Women, Smart Power

Why Hasn’t Starliner Returned?

The first crewed Starliner mission to the space station was supposed to last for less than two weeks. To date, the mission has lasted over three months, with no end date yet set by NASA. Why is Starliner still in space?

Critical Questions by Clayton Swope — August 19, 2024

Defense Priorities in the Open-Source AI Debate

Open-source model regulation is the hottest debate in AI policy. Despite appeals made to national security, proposed constraints on open-source AI distribution might put defense supply chains at risk. This brief assesses those implications for the Joint Force.

Brief by Masao Dahlgren — August 19, 2024