Authoritarianism is a persistent threat to democracy and the transatlantic alliance. The Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine is only its latest effort to expand its influence, while it continues to spread disinformation abroad and crush dissent at home. The Chinese Communist Party has continued to seek influence across the transatlantic space through disinformation and strategic economic investment as it starts to flex newly found military power.
Authoritarian Threats
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Putin and Xi United by a Love of Corruption
Failure to address corruption has weakened democracies and enabled organized crime, but Russia and China use graft an instrument of state control.
Forging a Transatlantic Biotechnology Partnership to Confront the China Challenge
US and Europe cooperation on biotechnology talent, capital, scientific infrastructure, and research capacity will prevent China from establishing irreversible dominance in the field.
CEPA Launches Global Shadow War Initiative
CEPA launches new initiative to get ahead of adversarial hybrid attacks.
Readying the Nordics for War – Let’s Not Waste Time
The Nordic countries should plough ahead with joint preparations for war with Russia. It makes no sense to wait for allies, and there are immediate steps available.
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Comprehensive Report
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War Without End: Understanding Russia’s Shadow Warfare
To secure its grip on power, Russia adopts Soviet practices coupled with modern tactics of covert influence, violence, and manipulation.
Related Events
Discover the latest CEPA events on how the transatlantic alliance can respond to growing authoritarian threats.
January 17, 2023
Chinese Media Influence: Lessons Learned from Central and Eastern Europe
Event
China
Disinformation
January 12, 2023
Shaping a Transatlantic Response to Chinese Influence
Event
China
Disinformation
Regional Security
December 22, 2022
Melitopol: Life Under Russian Occupation
Event
Hybrid Threats
Regional Security
Russia
September 8, 2022
Russian Cyberwarfare: Unpacking the Kremlin’s Capabilities
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Cybersecurity
Regional Security
Russia
Event
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October 9, 2026
Readying the Nordics for War – Let’s Not Waste Time
The Nordic countries should plough ahead with joint preparations for war with Russia. It makes no sense to wait for allies, and there are immediate steps available.
October 9, 2026
Putin and Xi United by a Love of Corruption
Failure to address corruption has weakened democracies and enabled organized crime, but Russia and China use graft an instrument of state control.
October 8, 2026
CEPA Launches Global Shadow War Initiative
CEPA launches new initiative to get ahead of adversarial hybrid attacks.
October 8, 2026
Forging a Transatlantic Biotechnology Partnership to Confront the China Challenge
US and Europe cooperation on biotechnology talent, capital, scientific infrastructure, and research capacity will prevent China from establishing irreversible dominance in the field.
October 7, 2026
China Needs Russia in the Fight
Russia is increasingly dependent on China, but that does not make the relationship one-sided. Moscow still brings assets to the partnership that Beijing cannot afford to lose.
October 6, 2026
Key European Airports Need Permanent Drone Defenses
Europe is woefully unprepared for the realities of drone warfare, and a coordinated Russian attack would do very serious harm. It urgently needs a plan.
October 5, 2026
Russia Attacks – Would NATO Freeze?
The idea that NATO forces would hesitate if engaged by the Russians is misguided, says former alliance official and US Army Maj. Gen. (rtd.) Skip Davis.
October 5, 2026
Putin and His War Without End
The Russian leader has set out his demands: Europe must bend the knee, or the war will go on and on and on.
October 2, 2026
The US Bets Big on Eurasia
The US has strategic and economic reasons to be a key player in Eurasia, and the Trump administration is laying the groundwork to make it happen.
October 1, 2026
Russia: A Menu of Death in Ukraine’s Small Towns
Russia’s abuse of civilians in occupied Ukraine is in the news, but it’s far more widespread than realized.
September 30, 2026
Russia’s Rage Fixes on the British
Russia’s increasingly fiery rhetoric over British support for Ukraine is about more than war damage. The Kremlin sees the UK as a Western first mover inspiring other European states.
September 30, 2026
FSB Focuses Crosshairs on Russian Exiles
The Kremlin’s campaign to harass, intimidate, and murder opponents takes another major step back to the days of Stalin.
September 30, 2026
Kyiv: When Night Phantoms Arrive in Daytime
For years, air attacks in Kyiv came mostly came at night. That has changed and daily life has changed with it.
September 28, 2026
Russia’s 2027 Budget: Guns Now, Pay Later
Moscow’s new budget funds another year of war by squeezing everything else, and even that plan is unlikely to survive contact with reality.
September 28, 2026
The Russia-North Korea Partnership: Transactional Only
Ties between the two countries are based on self-interest. That opens a small window of opportunity for Ukraine and its allies.
September 25, 2026
How to Fight Putin’s War on Reality
If the West wants change in Moscow, it needs to stop undermining Russia’s opposition media as it reports the truth about the Kremlin’s disastrous war.
September 24, 2026
Dispersal: Saving Ukraine From Russia’s Winter Blitz
Russia plans to freeze Ukraine into submission this winter. There are ways to thwart it and protect the population.
September 22, 2026
Narrative Failure: Russia and the West have a Storytelling Problem
Persuasion is most effective when there’s a compelling story, but after four and a half years of full-scale war, neither Moscow nor the West has produced a clear narrative of the conflict or how it might end.
September 22, 2026
Russian Fertilizer: Nourishing the Roots of War
A lack of sanctions means the Russian fertilizer industry has had a very good war. That needs to change.
September 18, 2026
Russia’s Rigged Elections Still Serve a Purpose
Putin’s regime fixes election outcomes, but relies on the real numbers to assess resistance.
September 18, 2026
Russia’s Election Campaign Puts Governors on the Hook
The Kremlin devolves vote fixing and coerced turnout to the leaders of its regions. Expectations are high and failure is punished.
September 18, 2026
The Big Day Looms for Putin’s Election Fixers
Why does the Russian regime bother with elections? In part because it has become an imperative for a bureaucracy to maintain its influence and wealth.
September 18, 2026
Kremlin Vote-Fakers Crush the Liberals
The Yabloko party seemed suddenly popular as Duma elections approached. This rattled the Kremlin and brought a familiar despotic response.
September 18, 2026
How to Defeat Russia’s Shadow War
The Kremlin-directed attacks on Europe are a sign of weakness. Europe must craft a robust new response to raise the pressure on Russia.
September 16, 2026
Russia’s Neighbors Battle Oil Addiction
Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s oil refineries have triggered shortages across neighboring countries which have depended on Moscow for decades.
September 15, 2026
On a Train Under Russian Attack
I was on a train heading for Poland when Russian drones attacked, writes CEPA Fellow Mitzi Perdue. The strikes came shortly after a Kremlin threat to target railroads carrying foreign visitors.
September 14, 2026
Germany: Russia’s Enemy No. 1
Russia’s latest assault on Europe is targeted at its most determined opponents. Governments are still unsure how to respond.
September 14, 2026
Armenia Battles to Buy Time
Putin is pressuring Armenia to make difficult decisions before it loses the ability to pressure a pro-Western government.
September 14, 2026
Kremlin Prepares to Cross the Final Red Line
The majority of Russians oppose forced mobilization to the war in Ukraine, but the Kremlin has been preparing the ground to make it happen.
September 14, 2026
Frontline Arctic: The Evolution of Russia’s Military Posture in a Changing Arctic
Russia is turning the Arctic into a fortress, a frontline, and a contested space. US and NATO allies must understand the risks.
September 11, 2026
Armenia’s Relations With Russia? Worsening
No compromise between the sides is expected and Russian ultimatums remain in place.
September 11, 2026
CEPA Podcast: General (Ret.) Daniel Petrescu on What is Next for the NATO Alliance
Alliance spending, defense innovation, the Black Sea, and more.
September 10, 2026
Dangerous Partners: The Russia-China Military Embrace
Russo-Chinese missile and space cooperation is deeply concerning for Western militaries, and may involve secret protocols that we can only guess at.
September 8, 2026
No Magic Bullet to End Russian Sabotage
Western countries still hope for a simple response to the Kremlin’s rising wave of destruction. Instead, the answer lies in the lessons of the Cold War.
September 8, 2026
The Quiet Battle Against Russia’s Shadow Fleet
Ukraine’s dramatic attacks on Black Sea shipping have grabbed headlines, but a more subtle campaign against Russia’s shadow fleet is underway.
September 4, 2026
Europe and US Need a Plan for Economic Friendly Fire
New US sanctions legislation is on a collision course with the European Union’s anti-coercion rules. Sensitivity is needed on both sides to avoid a damaging clash of allies.
September 4, 2026
Can Russian Meddling Swing France’s Presidential Election?
Russian-linked information manipulation has targeted three of France’s most pro-Ukrainian candidates ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Will it work?
September 3, 2026
Strengthening Signals of Imminent Russian Mobilization
Russia cannot recruit sufficient soldiers for its war in Ukraine. Despite official denials, there is growing evidence another round of forced mobilization is on the way.
September 2, 2026
Tech Alliances Fit for the Future
It’s true that allies won’t be able to have their cake and eat it too: the choice between partnership with the US vs. China when it comes to critical technologies is one that allies will have to make.
August 27, 2026
Lukashenka’s ‘Capitulation’ to Zelenskyy’s Ultimatum
There was more to the Belarusian autocrat’s climbdown to Ukraine than met the eye. And repeating the trick would be extremely unwise.
August 27, 2026
Trump’s Route Begins to Re-Make the South Caucasus
The project unites the common interest of the participating states.
August 27, 2026
Data Centers Move Center Stage
Strong majorities on both sides of the Atlantic oppose the construction of AI data centers. China could benefit.
August 26, 2026
Ukrainians Embrace God but Shun Moscow Orthodoxy
Russia’s full-scale invasion has transformed almost every aspect of Ukrainian life, including people’s faith.
August 26, 2026
Panicked Putin Reaches for Nationalization Button
The Kremlin has followed a long and tortuous road to get back to where Lenin started.
August 25, 2026
NATO’s Missing Link: Shielding Vulnerable Infrastructure
Infrastructure within the alliance must be resilient. Major projects should be assessed with this in mind.
August 25, 2026
European NATO: How to Attack Russia
The continent is rethinking its reliance on the US, while spending much more money on defense. Now it must sharpen its combat power.
August 25, 2026
Digital Silk Road Builds Big Balkan Shadow
Despite US and European efforts, Chinese telecom suppliers remain entrenched in Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania and North Macedonia.
August 24, 2026
How AI-Driven Influence Operations Attack Ukraine
It’s not just missiles that are hitting Kyiv. Russia is leveraging Chinese artificial intelligence to spread lies about the conflict.
August 21, 2026
Wind Blows Strong – Amid Political Turbulence
Modern windmills generate much-needed electricity. Consistent regulations and subsidies are required to reach their full potential.
August 19, 2026
The Coded Resistance of Russian Youth
Gen Z shuns Putin’s war and quietly mourns lost freedoms and vanished opportunities.
August 19, 2026
Ukraine’s War After the War
Russia won’t stop its campaign even after the fighting stops, but Ukraine is battle-hardened in more than one way.
August 18, 2026
Whisper Music to Our Weary Spirits
An Alpine classical music festival was a reminder that art can still unify across borders, despite the challenges.
August 17, 2026
Russia’s Nuclear Weapons: Sanctified by God?
The Russian Orthodox Church is an outlier among religious groups in its embrace of, and enthusiasm for, weapons of mass destruction.
August 13, 2026
Romania’s Gas Surplus? Bury it in Ukraine
Pairing Romania’s Black Sea gas with Ukraine’s vast storage network can boost the continent’s energy security.
August 13, 2026
From Guns to Gulags: The FSB’s Empire Builders
The days when the KGB’s successors were content with plain clothes and concealed weapons are gone — they are much more ambitious these days.
August 13, 2026
Tracking My Son to His Grave: Nina’s Story
There is more evidence of war crimes now than ever before, courtesy of devices in the hands of combatants. What it reveals is heartbreaking.
August 12, 2026
Ukrainian Justice Struggles to Keep Pace with Russia’s Crimes
Ukraine has investigated almost a quarter million atrocities by Russian forces, but its judicial system struggles to meet prosecution demand.
August 10, 2026
America’s AI Advantage Depends on Competition and Compute
Bans on Chinese open-source models will backfire.
August 4, 2026
Who Is Winning the AI Race?
From cyber “breakouts” to new Chinese AI models catching up and a fresh European AI regulation coming into force, the global AI race is accelerating. But who is winning?
August 3, 2026
No Drone Unturned: Ukraine’s Tech Scouts
Ukrainian and foreign fighters with experience of the front are scouring the globe to find the best technology to see off Moscow’s forces.
August 3, 2026
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.
July 31, 2026
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.
July 31, 2026
The West Must Confront China’s Biotech Offensive
Western engagement with Chinese biotech is accelerating. It’s dangerous.
July 28, 2026
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.
July 28, 2026
No Road Back to Putin, the Shakespearean Villain
Ill-considered European statements about talks with Russia demonstrate confusion and lessons still unlearned.
July 27, 2026
Spoofing and Spillover: Russia Targets NATO
Russia is using electronic warfare as another technique in its shadow war against NATO.
July 24, 2026
Kremlin Throttles the Internet
The Kremlin’s incessant, restrictive attack on the Internet has apparently scored some successes in limiting the population’s usage.
July 23, 2026
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.
July 21, 2026
The False Choice Between Europe and Asia
Simple geographic binaries cannot address the threats the US faces, especially as its enemies pursue a broad alliance across the globe.
July 17, 2026
How to Pile the Pain on Putin
Ukraine’s audacious long-range strike campaign has exposed Russian vulnerabilities. Western allies can make these worse.
July 16, 2026
Russia’s Raddled Stock Market
Vladimir Putin hoped to double the size of the stock market. He has comprehensively failed, and there’s no obvious fix to be found.
July 15, 2026
The Kremlin Smiles on Russia’s Rock’n’Roll Renaissance
KINO, a rock band that provided the soundtrack to the fall of the Soviet empire, is back in fashion, and the Kremlin is happy to play along.
July 15, 2026
The Black Sea Needs a NATO Sentry
The alliance must ensure that the Black Sea doesn’t become a blind spot in its efforts to track and deter Russian aggression.
July 15, 2026
Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Central Nervous System
Only pain can convince Russia to reconsider its war of aggression. Ukraine may have found a way.
July 14, 2026
Russia’s Spies: Smear Recycling
Intelligence agency obsessions can seem eccentric from a distance, but they map the mind and the game theory of the Kremlin’s security elite.
July 13, 2026
Where the Air Raids Never End
Ukraine has learned to live under constant aerial terror. The danger is that the rest of the world mistakes adaptation for normality.
July 10, 2026
Kremlin Mouthpieces Raise the Specter of 1917
Putin’s propagandists are battling to bridge the gap between a supposedly victorious war against Ukraine and worsening fuel shortages.
July 10, 2026
Russia Must Remain the Pariah of World Sports
Russia has proved time and again it doesn’t believe in fair play, preferring to cheat at every turn. Vladimir Putin’s sportswashing cannot be allowed.
July 10, 2026
The End of Pretense: War Comes Home to Russians
It is hard to gauge public opinion where dissent is outlawed, but Russians’ growing concern about the war in Ukraine suggests discontent.
July 10, 2026
A Burning Russia Warms Ukrainian Hearts
It’s momentum that gives Ukrainians hope. Every attack on the infrastructure facilitating Russia’s war is greeted as a step forward.
July 8, 2026
Frontline Felons Have Changed the Way Putin Promotes His War
Fighting in Ukraine has become the only way out of jail for many criminals, but Moscow is using it to paint the war as a path to redemption.
July 7, 2026
Why Peace Would Destroy Putin
The Kremlin’s dependence on an alternative reality makes peace psychologically lethal for Russia’s leader.
July 7, 2026
Russia’s Losing Hand in the South Caucasus
The Kremlin is struggling to reassert its dominance in the South Caucasus as Azerbaijan and Armenia bury the hatchet.
July 7, 2026
Britain’s Dangerous Defense Illusion
For an island nation such as the UK, maritime power is not a luxury, it is essential. Defense spending plans fail to recognize that reality.
July 6, 2026
What’s at Stake at the NATO Summit
The politics and optics among leaders are sure to dominate the “hot takes” from the Summit, but the most important part of this Summit is the renewed focus on the private sector.
July 2, 2026
Time for Drone Traffic Control
Drones are dangerous. France and Canada offer models to keep them safe.
July 2, 2026
Russia Forces Sick Ukrainians Into Fratricide
Compelling Ukrainians from occupied territories to fight against their compatriots is illegal, but Russia has gone one step further.
July 2, 2026
Running on Empty: Russia’s Fuel Crisis
Ukrainian drone attacks are now causing severe problems for the Kremlin, and it has no quick or easy answers.
July 2, 2026
Ireland and the Trade in Death
Four years after the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the role of business in neutral Ireland is coming under scrutiny.
June 30, 2026
Putin Orders Russian Women to Retreat
Vladimir Putin likes to portray his war on Ukraine as a continuation of World War II, but not for Russian women.
June 30, 2026
CEPA Podcast: What is Next for Putin’s Russia?
Can Putin’s regime hold?
June 30, 2026
Death and the Kremlin
The sudden death of Sergey Ivanov, one of Putin’s closest allies and his former KGB colleague, has revived discussion about the post-Putin Kremlin.
June 30, 2026
Europe Should Buy Ukrainian Flamingos
Any idea that Tomahawk missiles can be deployed at scale across Europe are now dead. But there is an alternative.