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: bephoto/Adobe Stock

Photo: bephoto/Adobe Stock

The Presidential Memo on Combating Transnational Cybercrime: Implications for Industry and Government

The Trump administration has directed the private sector to conduct offensive cyber operations in cyberspace. This move was long expected and sends an important signal to adversaries that the United States is hardening its posture against adversaries in cyberspace. But much will depend on its implementation and ensuring clear alignment with private sector risk appetites.

Commentary by Nikita Shah and Emily Harding — August 20, 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

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The Impossible State

Lips and Teeth? China, North Korea, and the Korean Peninsula

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Bonny Lin, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed recent developments in China–North Korea relations and the broader implications of the Trump–Xi summit for regional security and geopolitics in Northeast Asia.

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha, Bonny Lin, and Sydney Seiler — September 25, 2026

The Impossible State Podcast

The Melting Arctic Lifeline for Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Two floating storage vessels have handled an estimated 53 percent of Russia’s seaborne Arctic crude exports since February 2022. CSIS Futures Lab analysis shows how the United States and Europe can target these bottlenecks to constrain the Kremlin’s wartime revenue.

Commentary by Tobias Oestreich, Jose M. Macias III, and Benjamin Jensen — September 23, 2026

Mapping Iranian Cyberattacks on U.S. Water Systems

Recent Iranian cyberattacks on U.S. water systems were months in the making. These charts combine press reporting and CSIS expert analysis to provide a clearer picture of the attacks and their impact on the U.S. water sector.

Commentary by CSIS Scholars — August 18, 2026

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