Intelligence

CSIS scholars explain and interpret developments in the intelligence community and provide recommendations for how it can work more securely and efficiently to protect the U.S. homeland.

Photo: CSIS

Photo: CSIS

Red Kraken: The Coming Age of Agentic Cyber Strategy

In a tabletop exercise, members of Congress faced Red Kraken, an AI agent trained to emulate Beijing. Benjamin Jensen and Emily Harding examine how China could target ports and logistics to delay U.S. mobilization and argue for AI-enabled gaming to strengthen cyber defenses.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen and Emily Harding — July 28, 2026

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Emily Harding

Emily Harding

Vice President, Defense and Security Department; Director, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program

Nikita Shah

Senior Fellow, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program
Kate Koren

Kate Koren

Deputy Director, Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business
Andrew Faulhaber

Andrew Faulhaber

Visiting Fellow, Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program

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How Tehran’s Use of Cyber Operations in the U.S.-Iran Conflict Has Evolved

Iran’s cyber apparatus has firmly regeared in direct support and alignment with Iran’s war effort against the United States, Israel, and regional rivals, and is using cyber operations to shape the operating environment in a way that is favorable to its interests.

Commentary by Nikita Shah — August 6, 2026

Beyond Tracing: Anticipatory Technical Exploitation and Smart Friction

Tracing how adversaries acquired yesterday’s technology should be the beginning, not the end, of technical exploitation. Anticipatory analysis can reveal likely substitutions and help policymakers shape adaptation through targeted smart friction.

Commentary by Damien Spleeters — August 6, 2026

Red Kraken: The Coming Age of Agentic Cyber Strategy

In a tabletop exercise, members of Congress faced Red Kraken, an AI agent trained to emulate Beijing. Benjamin Jensen and Emily Harding examine how China could target ports and logistics to delay U.S. mobilization and argue for AI-enabled gaming to strengthen cyber defenses.

Commentary by Benjamin Jensen and Emily Harding — July 28, 2026

How the U.S. Can Survive a Large-Scale AI Cyberattack

Advances in offensive AI cyber capabilities are threatening U.S. cybersecurity. The U.S. must improve its whole-of-society cyber readiness through enhancing its partnerships and communication before a major AI cyber-attack occurs. 

Commentary by Andrew Faulhaber — July 23, 2026

Russian Blood and Treasure: The Ballooning Costs of Putin’s War

Russia has suffered approximately 1.4 million casualties and 450,000 fatalities in Ukraine for only marginal territorial gains, according to new CSIS data. In addition, Ukraine has conducted deep strikes into Russian territory, including with AI-enabled drones.

Brief by Seth G. Jones and Riley McCabe — July 1, 2026

Entity List Additions Cool to Their Slowest Pace Since 2008

The lack of additions to the Entity List since October 2025 marks a sharp break from years of U.S. geoeconomic strategy. Due to the continually shifting nature of procurement networks, a list that stops expanding tracks fewer relevant actors, eroding its value as a control. 

Analysis by Kate Koren and Brad Spicher — June 29, 2026