"The leadership in Beijing has achieved the best of both worlds: it invests in intrusive activities the world over that have the effect of spreading authoritarian standards and behaviors such as secrecy, censorship, surveillance, and corruption." Christopher Walker

China’s Global ‘Concierge Services’ for Fellow Authoritarians

China's intrusive aid to Russia, Iran and others spreads autocratic practices such as secrecy, censorship, surveillance, and corruption.

justsecurity.org

Russia is Far from Defeated | "Despite Ukraine’s multiple successes in recent months, Moscow is increasing pressure on Ukraine’s front lines, cities, and logistics." Sofia Slonovska https://cepa.org/article/russia-is-far-from-defeated/

Russia Is Far from Defeated

Despite Ukraine’s multiple successes in recent months, Moscow is increasing pressure on Ukraine’s front lines, cities, and logistics.

cepa.org

Generation Flee: Luring Home Ukraine’s Young | "War made Ukrainians seek new lives abroad. How can Kyiv tempt them back? Sofia Slonovska talks to the Gen-Z diaspora." Sofia Slonovska https://cepa.org/article/generation-flee-luring-home-ukraines-young/

Generation Flee: Luring Home Ukraine’s Young

War made Ukrainians seek new lives abroad as refugees. How can Kyiv tempt them back? Sofia Slonovska talks to the Gen-Z diaspora.

cepa.org

Russia’s Shadow War Surges Southward | "The Kremlin’s on-again-off-again campaign to intimidate and disorientate European allies is picking up once more." Alison Mutler https://cepa.org/article/russias-shadow-war-surges-southward/

Russia’s Shadow War Surges Southward

The Kremlin’s on-again-off-again campaign of hybrid attacks to intimidate and disorientate European allies is picking up once more.

cepa.org

The EU has now fined US tech companies €1.59 billion under the Digital Markets Act. Meanwhile, China is moving fast in the tech race. Europe will be better served by scaling its own tech champions and investing in its capacity to innovate.

“In reality, the two conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have been intertwined from the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022." @apolyakova.bsky.social https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/us/politics/iran-ukraine-war.html?eafs_enabled=false

Ukraine’s Strike on Iranian Ship Shows How Two Wars Could Spiral

Iran sent military aid to Russia for its war against Ukraine. Now the question is whether that conflict and the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran are converging.

nytimes.com

Ukraine-Poland: Testing History to Destruction | "The two neighbors are mutually dependent in fighting the Russian menace. They should remember this when historical disputes erupt." Alexander Motyl https://cepa.org/article/ukraine-poland-testing-history-to-destruction/

Ukraine-Poland: Testing History to Destruction

The two neighbors are mutually dependent in fighting the Russian menace. They should remember this when historical disputes erupt.

cepa.org

A Russian missile flew 95 km into Poland on Thursday. For much of Europe, it was one item in a busy news day. Sam Greene warns that for Moscow, disruption is success and even exposure proves relevance. Read the full report below. 👇

War Without End: Deterring Russia's Shadow War

Either Europe will continue allowing Russia's shadow war to set the terms of escalation, or it will act now to prevent a larger war.

cepa.org

We Need More than a Ceasefire in Ukraine | "As news from the front makes Vladimir Putin’s demands for peace with Kyiv look more absurd, Ukraine and its allies must push for justice." Walter Clemens https://cepa.org/article/we-need-more-than-a-ceasefire-in-ukraine/

We Need More Than a Ceasefire in Ukraine

As news from the front makes Vladimir Putin’s demands for peace with Kyiv look more absurd, Ukraine and its allies must push for justice.

cepa.org

Russian Independent Media in Exile | “The Kremlin’s repressive strategy targets not only the journalists and outlets themselves but also the audience’s ability to reach them.” Mikhail Komin and Evgeny Roshchin

An Ecosystem of Truth: Russian Independent Media in Exile

Russian independent media is a strategic asset in the struggle against the Russian dictatorship and its influence on the audience abroad.

cepa.org

We're excited to welcome Matthew Palmer as a Senior Fellow. Matt spent more than three decades as a US diplomat and is now Director for International Strategic Engagement at Shield AI. We look forward to Matt's contributions to CEPA's work on European security and transatlantic defense.

China Won the 5G Battle. Will it win the 6G War? | "US pressure failed to stop Huawei from dominating global 5G telephone networks. It could do better with the next generation." Alexis Serfaty https://cepa.org/article/china-won-the-5g-battle-will-it-win-the-6g-war/

China Won the 5G Battle. Will it win the 6G War?

US pressure failed to stop Huawei from dominating global 5G telephone networks. It could do better with the next generation, 6G

cepa.org

Iran is set to receive up to 400 Chinese air defense launchers within weeks. Beijing's support for fellow autocrats is calibrated by design: enough to keep Russia's war economy running, never enough to trigger serious Western sanctions. Read the full report below.

The China-Russia Meta-Threat: The Architecture of Authoritarian Power

China and Russia are steadily developing a growing partnership, despite obvious friction and structural military and economic asymmetries.

cepa.org

The US depends on China for 44% of its pharmaceutical imports by weight, and ~100 ingredients it can source nowhere else. @apolyakova.bsky.social and Kiana Aran warn that dependence could become a weapon, just as Beijing weaponized critical minerals last spring.

Opinion | The U.S. could become dependent on China for life-saving drugs

Despite a lead in AI, America is falling behind in the biotech race.

washingtonpost.com

Europe's Tech Regulation Regime Enters a New Phase | "Big fines are now coming thick and fast from Brussels. Washington is watching." Ronan Murphy https://cepa.org/article/europes-tech-regulation-regime-enters-a-new-phase/

Europe’s Tech Regulation Regime Enters A New Phase

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) means big fines are now coming thick and fast from Brussels. Washington is watching.

cepa.org

Russian Mass Mobilization? A Non-Denial Denial | "When Putin’s mouthpieces talk about something, there’s always a reason. Russians have renewed cause to worry." Julia Davis https://cepa.org/article/russian-mass-mobilization-a-non-denial-denial/

Russian Mass Mobilization? A Non-Denial Denial

When Putin’s mouthpieces talk about something, there’s always a reason. Russians have renewed cause to worry about mobilization.

cepa.org

No Road Back to Putin, the Shakespearean Villain | "Ill-considered European statements about talks with Russia demonstrate confusion and lessons still unlearned." Stephen Blank https://cepa.org/article/no-road-back-to-putin-the-shakespearean-villain/

CEPA is pleased to welcome Mitzi Perdue as a Senior Fellow with the Democratic Resilience Program. A writer, speaker, and advocate, she has covered Ukraine as a war correspondent with more than 300 published articles and brings experience in public service, journalism, and civic engagement.

How is the evolving China-Russia partnership reshaping transatlantic security, and how should allies respond to their cooperation? CEPA convened leading experts and practitioners to examine the evolving cooperation and its implications for the transatlantic community.

Spoofing and Spillover: Russia Targets NATO | "Russia is using electronic warfare as another technique in its shadow war against NATO." Erin Bailey and Benjamin Schmitt https://cepa.org/article/spoofing-and-spillover-russia-targets-nato/

Spoofing and Spillover: Russia Targets NATO

Russia is using electronic warfare as another technique in its shadow war against NATO military and civilian targets.

cepa.org

Ukraine’s Defense Crisis Isn’t Over Yet | "For years, Ukraine’s reformers have diagnosed the army’s structural flaws from the sidelines. Now, they own the battle space." William Dixon and Maksym Beznosiuk https://cepa.org/article/ukraines-defense-crisis-isnt-over-yet/

Ukraine’s Defense Crisis Isn’t Over Yet

For years, Ukraine’s reformers have diagnosed the army’s structural flaws from the sidelines. Now, they own the battle space.

cepa.org

Ukraine Embraces the New Warmakers and Casts Off the Old | "Ukraine has reached a crossroads in its wartime history as a new generation of soldiers takes command. There are risks in the decision." Mykyta Vorobiov https://cepa.org/article/ukraine-embraces-the-new-warmakers-and-casts-off-the-old/

Ukraine Embraces the New Warmakers and Casts Off the Old

Ukraine has reached a crossroads in its wartime history as a new generation of soldiers takes command. There are risks in the decision.

cepa.org

Kremlin Throttles the Internet | "The Kremlin’s incessant, restrictive attack on the Internet has apparently scored some successes in limiting the population’s usage." @andreisoldatov.bsky.social and Irina Borogan https://cepa.org/article/kremlin-throttles-the-internet/

Kremlin Throttles the Internet

The Kremlin’s incessant, restrictive attack on the Internet has apparently scored some successes in limiting the population's usage.

cepa.org

Use Technology to Manage Risk from Chinese Drones | "Building a supply chain independent from China is impractical. For now, leverage data, connectivity, and automation to reduce risk." James Lewis https://cepa.org/article/use-technology-to-manage-risk-from-chinese-drones/

Use Technology to Manage Risk from Chinese Drones

Building a supply chain independent from China is impractical. For now, leverage data, connectivity, and automation to reduce risk.

cepa.org

NATO and the EU: A Depressing Failure to Align | "Disputes over sourcing weapons for European defense are being complicated by crossover between the procurement policies of the EU and NATO." Miro Sedlák https://cepa.org/article/nato-and-the-eu-a-depressing-failure-to-align/

NATO and the EU: A Depressing Failure to Align

Disputes over sourcing weapons for European defense are being complicated by crossover between the procurement policies of the EU and NATO.

cepa.org

Britain Sets AI Safety Standards | "The UK’s AI Security Institute is winning plaudits — even though its powers are limited." Marta Granados Hernández https://cepa.org/article/britain-sets-ai-safety-standards/

Russian Higher Education in Exile | “Against the backdrop of intensifying repression, Russian higher education institutions, including those that once represented the liberal academy, are being actively harnessed for the state’s war objectives.” Evgeny Roshchin and Alexandra Yatsyk

“Russia no longer has a safe rear, and distance is no longer protection.” Sergiy Makogon

Putin is running out of time and money

Russia is fast losing the energy war with Ukraine. Even Donald Trump is bored by Vladimir Putin’s antics.

smh.com.au

Congress: The Age of Exquisite Defense Is Ending | “The age of the exquisite is coming to an end; the age of adaptation is underway.” Daniel Gaffin

Congress: The Age of Exquisite Defense Is Ending

Congress has understood that lessons from Ukraine must be incorporated into US defense planning and programs.

cepa.org

AI Has a Language Problem | “Current AI systems are less accessible, less useful, and less safe for users of so-called ‘low-resource languages.’” Christian Schlaepfer

AI Has a Language Problem

Most artificial intelligence systems are trained in English. Small languages that have less digitized data suffer.

cepa.org