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
The Latest
Frozen: Europe Struggles to Agree Ukraine Lifeline
The dispute over €210bn of Russia’s reserves frozen in Europe is entering a decisive phase.
Counting the Cost of Putin’s Assault on Ukraine’s Biosphere
Any peace settlement has to include compensation for Russian damage to Ukraine’s environment, alongside reparations for lost lives and property since 2014.
Émigrés in Putin’s Crosshairs
As 2026 nears, Russian authorities are preparing a new, large-scale attack on political emigrants.
Why Russia’s Shadow Fleet Sails Unhindered
Russia is developing a steadily more aggressive shadow war campaign against Baltic Sea countries, but there’s been little response.
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Comprehensive Report
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War Without End: 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
Event
Cybersecurity
Regional Security
Russia
Event
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December 18, 2025
Why Russia’s Shadow Fleet Sails Unhindered
Russia is developing a steadily more aggressive shadow war campaign against Baltic Sea countries, but there’s been little response.
December 18, 2025
Frozen: Europe Struggles to Agree Ukraine Lifeline
The dispute over €210bn of Russia’s reserves frozen in Europe is entering a decisive phase.
December 18, 2025
Counting the Cost of Putin’s Assault on Ukraine’s Biosphere
Any peace settlement has to include compensation for Russian damage to Ukraine’s environment, alongside reparations for lost lives and property since 2014.
December 16, 2025
Émigrés in Putin’s Crosshairs
As 2026 nears, Russian authorities are preparing a new, large-scale attack on political emigrants.
December 16, 2025
Russia and China’s Shadow War in Europe
China and Russia share common interests: weakening US leadership, fracturing Western unity, and creating strategic paralysis across the democratic world.
December 15, 2025
Japanese Chips: A Model for Countering China
While Tokyo no longer dominates global chipmaking, it has forged a path to reduce dependence on China and make itself indispensable.
December 15, 2025
Joy Division: Belarus
Good news on political prisoners masks alarming geopolitical shifts.
December 11, 2025
Why Russia is So Resilient
Outsiders have misread the Russian system and why it functions despite the pressures of wartime.
December 11, 2025
How Russian Drone Developers Outpace the West
Russia’s Geran attack drones have morphed from crude versions of Iranian Shahed UAVs into an affordable and flexible strike system, with deadly results.
December 11, 2025
2026 — Europe’s Year of Living Dangerously
Russia will step-up its shadow war on Europe in the New Year, attacking infrastructure and disrupting democracy in a bid to exploit Western disunity.
December 10, 2025
General Philippe Lavigne on the Future of NATO
General Philippe Lavigne and Kari Odermann discuss NATO’s role amidst shifting technological and geopolitical norms.
December 9, 2025
Sakharov — A Russian Hero for Our Time
Andrei Sakharov was one of the greatest Russians of all time and lived a life that stands as a contrast and rebuke to Vladimir Putin. His voice needs to be heard.
December 8, 2025
Macron, Pandas, and Ping Pong
The French leader’s visit to China produced little to proclaim but there were intriguing hints about off-the-record discussions.
December 5, 2025
Awake Now? The US and Europe
The new US National Security Strategy is surprising only for those determined to ignore reality.
December 5, 2025
The US Must Beware the Deepening China-Russia Axis
Beijing is constructing an ever-deepening technological alliance with Moscow. The US should be worried.
December 4, 2025
How Cheap is Too Cheap?
France’s crackdown on Shein for selling dangerous products casts a dark shadow over e-commerce throughout Europe.
December 4, 2025
Taiwan and Ukraine: Joined at the Hip
The two embattled democracies cannot be surrendered. They are simply too important to be sacrificed to global authoritarianism.
December 4, 2025
A Drone Wall Without Ukraine? A Barricade Lacking Bricks
To defend NATO’s airspace Europe must make Ukraine an integral part of its defenses from the outset.
December 3, 2025
Authoritarians Are Ramping Up Online Censorship
A new Freedom House report details a dramatic expansion of government control over the Internet.
December 3, 2025
A Strategic Trap? The Outline Ukraine Peace Deal
Europe and Ukraine must work hard to avoid a bad peace that puts the continent’s security at risk from Russia.
December 2, 2025
The Hybrid Threat Imperative: Deterring Russia Before it is Too Late
While Russia’s hybrid tactics are not new, their scale and sophistication in the digital age present unprecedented challenges.
December 2, 2025
The Fragility of the Deal: Why Details Matter in Ukraine’s Endgames
Peace deals are an endpoint, but they are also the starting point for what comes next. Ukraine must take great care in what it agrees to.
December 2, 2025
A Rebirth in Flame: Ukraine’s Beleaguered Energy System
Russia’s relentless assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and a crisis of governance promise a cold winter. But there is hope ahead.
December 1, 2025
Putin’s Sanctions Demands Doomed to Disappointment
The vast web of measures that ensnare the Russian economy will not easily be removed, even if the West acts in unison.
November 26, 2025
Seize Russia’s Money — Stop Dithering
The continent says Ukraine’s survival is an existential issue but then risks everything by failing to make swift decisions.
November 25, 2025
How Safe is Your Face?
Europe and US states impose tough restrictions on facial recognition, while the US federal government hesitates. China moves full steam ahead.
November 25, 2025
Blocked and Bypassed: Russians Evade Internet Censorship
Millions of Russians still use VPNs to see forbidden content — and the Kremlin struggles to respond.
November 25, 2025
Europe and the Lukewarm War
The consequences and costs of a hurried peace settlement in Ukraine would be enormous and era-defining.
November 25, 2025
China — The Real Winner From Russian Victory in Ukraine
Kremlin success would benefit the Beijing regime in a whole number of ways, including the theft of Ukrainian military technology.
November 24, 2025
Nexperia: China Puts Dutch in Check
The Netherlands moved to place Chinese-owned Nexperia chipmaker under state supervision. China retaliated, and the Dutch backed down.
November 24, 2025
Putin to End Hostilities? Think Again
Ukraine may be Russia’s primary military target but the regime has a much broader range of enemies.
November 24, 2025
Can Democracies Prevail?
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin believe their autocratic political and economic systems will gradually defeat the West’s democracies. How can they be stopped?
November 24, 2025
The 29th Point: Cognitive Control
Russia’s bogus peace plan wins it a round of psychological warfare.
November 21, 2025
Britain Hits Snooze as Russia’s Threat Intensifies
There is now clear evidence that despite an acknowledged threat, the UK is extending its holiday from history.
November 20, 2025
A Necessary Air of Venom: Hardening NATO’s Airspace
Russia’s recent air incursions into NATO airspace are part of a disruptive strategy.
November 20, 2025
Russia’s Shadow War Won’t Stay Hidden Forever
Poland’s Prime Minister has accused Russia of an “unprecedented act of sabotage” against its rail system, the latest in a wave of attacks attributed to the Kremlin’s shadow war.
November 20, 2025
Self-Harm: The EU’s Sustainability Rules
A new European Union directive is undermining the bloc’s economic security and failing to deliver on its social justice promises.
November 19, 2025
The New China Challenge: Gene Editing on the Farm
The US and Europe deem gene editing of crops a national security priority.
November 19, 2025
Awake But Groggy: Europe’s Shadow Warfare Guardians
The EU is doing well in some areas but as attacks rise, much more continent-wide cooperation is needed.
November 19, 2025
War Without End: Russia’s Shadow Warfare
To secure its grip on power, Russia adopts Soviet practices coupled with modern tactics of covert influence, violence, and manipulation.
November 18, 2025
The Hon. Jim Costa on Ukrainian Security & Resilience
Representative Jim Costa discusses his path to Congress and his support of Ukraine’s fight for freedom.
November 18, 2025
The Hon. Nathaniel Moran on US Support for Ukraine
Representative Nathaniel Moran discusses his career in public service and his efforts to strengthen transatlantic support for Ukraine.
November 18, 2025
Washington’s Eurasian Moment
The US has momentum, but Russia and China still limit Central Asia’s options.
November 17, 2025
Fogbound: Narrative Wars
Ukraine’s setbacks are troubling but only part of the story.
November 14, 2025
The Next Critical Mineral Battle: Potash and Phosphate
Concerns over critical minerals have focused on industrial inputs. That’s a mistake: the risks to our food supply are also significant.
November 14, 2025
The Fortune Teller’s Vision — A Russia Without End
The Kremlin has a vision for the future. It should make everyone very worried.
November 13, 2025
Work Needed After NATO Floats Maritime Plan
NATO has finally published its updated maritime strategy, but it will need government and public support if it is to deliver.
November 12, 2025
A Sleeping Semiconductor Giant Awakes: India
Billions of investments are pouring into the country, creating a chip manufacturing alternative for the US and Europe.
November 12, 2025
Truth and Consequences: Russia’s Exiles Shudder at Spy Claims
Russia’s intensive intelligence operations against the exile community are having some success, with profound implications.
November 12, 2025
How Russian Weakness in the South Caucasus Can Reward the West
Developments in 2025 have highlighted the reordering of regional power relations in the South Caucasus. There is opportunity for the West, but peril too.
November 10, 2025
Aesthetics: Border Control
Art can deliver a powerful geopolitical message — so be careful.
November 6, 2025
Pokrovsk: Where Putin Shattered His Teeth
“Last November, I visited Pokrovsk and called it the farmhouse at Waterloo”, writes the former Ukrainian Marine, Shaun Pinner. Both places have mauled the army of an imperial aggressor.
November 6, 2025
Putin Seeks to Solve His Azerbaijan Problem
Russia and Azerbaijan are playing nice again, but the fundamentals have not changed.
November 5, 2025
Oil Turnaround Shows How US Can Win in Ukraine
When many US taxpayers hear about Ukraine, they ask: what’s in it for us? The story of Ukraine’s largest oil company shows why helping Kyiv can put America first.
November 5, 2025
Europe Can Feast on Cheap US Gas (and Roast Russia in the Process)
Abundant gas supply is now available for Central and East European countries. Will they seize the opportunity?
November 3, 2025
Punchlines: Wagner and Narva
Estonia responds to Russian trolling with ridicule.
October 31, 2025
China Trade Truce: Beijing Boosts Its Leverage
China decouples from American and European suppliers, while Western allies are divided on how to respond.
October 31, 2025
Needed: Robust Comms to Foil Russia’s Saboteurs
Communications systems are being targeted by NATO’s enemies. New technology is needed to ensure decision-makers are not blinded by attacks.
October 29, 2025
Digital Sovereignty: Can Europe Afford It?
The European Commission’s new work program prioritizes digital sovereignty. Spoiler alert: It will be expensive — an estimated €3.6 trillion.
October 28, 2025
Russia’s Spies Fear the Children
The FSB’s ever-expanding target list now includes a new category of Russians — teenagers.
October 28, 2025
US Oil Sanctions on Russia: Progress
The measures mark a significant step forward for Western pressure on the Kremlin, but more is needed.
October 27, 2025
Toy Story: Grounded
Balloons from Belarus close Lithuania’s airports—and set a dangerous precedent.
October 27, 2025
‘We’re Rabid Warmongers’ — Russia’s Propagandists Rage
The hardening of US measures against Russia has caused disappointment and rage among Putin’s mouthpieces.
October 24, 2025
The Specter of Stagflation Looms Over Russia
The country’s war of choice against Ukraine is steadily depressing economic activity.
October 24, 2025
Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan on Russia’s Past, Present, and Future
Tune in to hear veteran journalists discuss their personal experiences reporting on Kremlin repression and the heavy price paid for dissent.
October 23, 2025
Putin’s Favorite Analysts Promote ‘Dr Chaos’
Vladimir Putin’s think tank says the Kremlin will not stop at Ukraine, and sees aggression as the only means to “preserve world balance.”
October 22, 2025
A New US Tech Cocktail: Mixed for China
President Donald Trump’s return to the White House marks a pivot in US technology policy. China is watching and reacting.
October 22, 2025
A Squabble in Odesa Echoes Across Ukraine
Ukraine’s government has removed Odesa’s mayor amid claims he is too close to Moscow. Critics say it’s government over-reach.
October 21, 2025
What Putin Really Wants
Future talks between the US and Russia in Budapest may focus on territory, but Putin’s real ambitions lie elsewhere.
October 20, 2025
Unmuzzled: German Spies
Political meddling has long hampered German intelligence and security. Not any more.
October 20, 2025
Ukraine’s Journalists — Death and the Battle for Truth
Reporters working in Ukraine are being targeted by Russia because Vladimir Putin’s regime fears the truth, their editors say.
October 20, 2025
Buffett: West Must Learn from Ukraine
Philanthropist and businessman Howard G Buffett called on the world to step up its backing for Kyiv and urged Western leaders to make the case to voters more clearly.
October 20, 2025
Ukraine Can Prevail, Says Former NATO Supreme Commander
General Christopher Cavoli, who stepped down as Supreme Allied Commander Europe in July, said the war in Ukraine must be won to secure future peace and prosperity.
October 20, 2025
Ukraine Shows Opportunities of Technology, Says Bank of America’s Moynihan
Ukraine’s rapid drone development illustrates how technology can be harnessed for humanity, Bank of America CEO says.
October 20, 2025
CEPA at 20: Two Decades of Focus on Europe
From “stable and boring” to the frontline in a global struggle for freedom and security, Europe’s importance has been clear to CEPA for 20 years.
October 16, 2025
Putin — Disagreement Is Terrorism
The Kremlin’s neurosis about exiled dissident thinkers is extreme and has extremely serious consequences.
October 16, 2025
Russia’s New Gulag
Russia is holding and torturing Ukrainian civilians, though they are not charged, have had no due process and no release date.
October 16, 2025
Portugal: Europe’s Best-Kept Digital Secret
Not long ago, Portugal was a digital backwater. Today, it is challenging digital frontrunners. Will it keep up the momentum?
October 15, 2025
Europe’s Troubled Bet on AI Factories
Europe is pouring billions into artificial intelligence “factories” – but the projects risk repeating past industrial mistakes.
October 15, 2025
Ukraine’s War of Fact and Fiction
Getting accurate information and news is harder than ever in the social media age, but close to existential in a country at war.
October 14, 2025
How to Loosen China’s Stranglehold on Rare Earths
Beijing has imposed sweeping curbs on rare earth exports. The US and Europe must diversify supplies.
October 14, 2025
Learning Polish Lessons From Russian Attacks
Poland’s battle against cyberattacks should be a warning and an example for the West as governments seek to counter their enemies’ hybrid tactics.
October 14, 2025
Putin — Losing Control of Events?
The Kremlin has an established playbook for war and its consequences, but developments beyond its control threaten the regime’s grasp.
October 12, 2025
Boot Camp: Scare Stories
A Kremlin stunt near the Estonian border highlights a much bigger problem: frayed nerves.
October 9, 2025
Ancient Wisdom: Europe Cannot Hide Behind its Walls
What should be Europe’s strategy as aggressive imperial powers seek to conquer territory? Ancient Greece offers some guidance.
October 8, 2025
H.R. McMaster – 2025 CEPA Leadership Awards Dinner
H.R. McMaster, former National Security Advisor, presents Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli with the Lifetime Achievement Award during CEPA Forum 2025.
October 8, 2025
Howard G. Buffett – 2025 CEPA Leadership Awards Dinner
Howard G. Buffett, Chairman and CEO of The Howard G. Buffet Foundation, receives the Impact Award during the CEPA Leadership Awards Dinner in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to peace, recovery, and long-term global security.
October 8, 2025
General (Ret.) Christopher G. Cavoli – 2025 CEPA Leadership Awards Dinner
Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award during CEPA Forum 2025 in recognition of his efforts to ensure a more resilient NATO, support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom, and his visionary leadership to ensure collective defense and deterrence for the transatlantic alliance.
October 8, 2025
Sevgil Musaieva and Olga Rudenko – 2025 CEPA Leadership Awards Dinner
Sevgil Musaieva and Olga Rudenko receive the CEPA’s 2025 Freedom Fighter Award in recognition of their outstanding commitment to journalistic integrity in documenting the realities of war and advocating for justice in Ukraine.
October 7, 2025
Five Ways to Punish Russia
With a bit of imagination and courage, NATO can impose immediate costs for Russia’s hybrid war operations.
October 7, 2025
A Desperate Race for Drone Defenses
Defense industries have tended to focus on the quality of military output, but the Ukraine war shows the importance of mass.
October 7, 2025
NATO Must Learn from Ukraine’s Frontline Drone Labs
Russian drone incursions mark an acceleration in the Kremlin’s hybrid war on the West. NATO members should study Ukraine’s frontline labs to prepare for what comes next.
October 6, 2025
Mapping a Europe ‘No Longer at Peace’
Europe has registered dozens of military and civil drone incursions during the past month. CEPA’s Heine Sandvik Brekke tracks them.