Center for a New American Security - CNAS

04/29/2025

The Framework for AI Diffusion is an ambitious proposal to shape the global distribution of critical AI capabilities, maintain U.S. AI leadership, and prevent sensitive technologies from reaching the PRC and other adversaries. We endorse the Framework’s core national security objectives to protect advanced AI capabilities and prevent proliferation that goes against U.S. interests.

The coming years will be critical for determining which country will lead the global AI transformation. The AI Diffusion Rule, despite its risks, could help preserve U.S. leadership at this critical juncture and manage unwanted technology transfer to adversaries.

Read more from CNAS experts Janet Egan and Spencer Michaels 👇

The Framework for AI Diffusion is a proposal to shape the global distribution of AI, maintain U.S. AI leadership, and prevent tech from reaching the PRC

03/19/2025

In 2024, the United States issued an unprecedented number of financial and entity-based export controls. Washington’s economic statecraft has expanded in recent years, largely in response to ’s war in Ukraine, competition with the People’s Republic of , and tensions in the Middle East. These geopolitical developments, along with escalating concerns about deepening ties among U.S. adversaries, shaped how the United States deployed its coercive economic toolkit last year. This installment of Sanctions by the Numbers examines the United States’ use of financial sanctions—through the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List—and entity-based export controls—via the Commerce Department’s Entity List—in 2024.

Read the full analysis 👇

Washington’s economic statecraft has expanded in recent years, largely in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, competition with China

03/12/2025

Geopolitical developments, along with escalating concerns about deepening ties among U.S. adversaries, shaped how the United States deployed its coercive economic toolkit last year, and reveals a growing focus on using technology controls in tandem with traditional financial sanctions.

The latest Sanctions by the Numbers examines how this shift impacts U.S. economic statecraft. Read more

Washington’s economic statecraft has expanded in recent years, largely in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, competition with China

03/11/2025

“The Pentagon will still need more affordable aircraft and missiles. But it must build a well-rounded fleet, not go all in on cheap drones.” Read more from on why Washington must upgrade its fleet of planes, drones, and missiles.

Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.

01/07/2025

As the benefits of a stronger military and diplomatic relationship between Iran and Russia trickle down to Tehran’s proxies across the Middle East, more frequent exchanges of technical military-industrial knowledge and personnel could equip all parties involved with an arsenal of lethal technical expertise, allowing them to use one another’s weapons more effectively on the battlefield.

Read a new op-ed from Delaney Soliday and Shivane Anand in Breaking Defense.

Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.

01/07/2025

As the Biden administration introduced a series of new trade and investment controls to curtail China’s acquisition of advanced technologies, it has repeatedly turned to a familiar metaphor: a small yard with a high fence.

In a new Guest Essay for the New York Times, Geoffrey Gertz assesses the contradictions and limitations of this strategy to limit access to certain sensitive technologies without upending the broader U.S-China economic relationship. With the Trump administration preparing to return to power, it is likely to abandon the constraints of a “small yard” and deploy the toolkit the Biden team developed at full force, resulting in significant economic disruption.

Read the full article 👇

Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.

12/21/2024

"While the United States has countered other nefarious Chinese trade practices like IP theft and forced technology transfers, it largely overlooks China’s weaponization of antitrust, risking both U.S. tech leadership and the stability of global semiconductor supply chains."

Read more from Ruby Scanlon in Foreign Policy:

Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.

12/19/2024

"Antitrust law in the United States is guided by two foundational principles: protecting consumer welfare and promoting competition. China has a much different approach. While American antitrust doctrine is rooted in a strong rule-of-law tradition, China’s approach is driven by geopolitics. Under the pretense of fostering market competition, Beijing has increasingly weaponized antitrust policy to retaliate against U.S. trade actions."

Read more from Ruby Scanlon in Foreign Policy:

Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving, from all of us at CNAS 🍂

11/25/2024

More than 1000 days into the War in Ukraine, questions about continued support for the Ukrainian effort and the prospect of a negotiated settlement in the months to come have become all the more important. Trump has refused to say that he wants Ukraine to win the war and has pledged to end the war immediately.

Rob Lee and Michael Kofman join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss this and more on Brussels Sprouts.

Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.