Futures Lab

3 weeks ago | csis.org | Benjamin Jensen |Mark Montgomery |Futures Lab

After Ukraine and Russia’s agreement to a Black Sea ceasefire as part of broader talks being brokered by the United States in Saudi Arabia, the next step is to design a coalition maritime force to secure the peace. This force will need multiple layers of defense, intelligence sharing, and the ability to counter hostile acts—particularly those aimed at grain corridors, critical infrastructure, or coastal regions.

1 month ago | csis.org | Benjamin Jensen |Mark Montgomery |Futures Lab

The scale of Russian aggression against NATO airspace after its initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014 has led the alliance to increase its aerial policing missions, adding efforts in Romania (Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base) and Bulgaria (Graf Ignatievo Airforce Base). Each of these missions consists of the persistent presence of a squadron minus fighter aircraft (i.e., 4–6 aircraft) and 100–200 support personnel that operate alongside a similar number of host nation platforms.

Jan 7, 2025 | csis.org | Benjamin Jensen |Futures Lab

Recent revelations that Moscow’s “ghost fleet” of oil tankers is loaded with spy gear and prone to undersea cable cutting indicate a pressing need to counter the Kremlin’s sabotage campaign in a manner that further undermines Russia’s wartime economy. For too long, the United States and Europe have turned a blind eye, relying on often late and feckless sanctions to counter Moscow’s illicit economic lifeline.

Nov 19, 2024 | csis.org | Benjamin Jensen |Futures Lab

With talks of negotiations emerging, the United States needs a clear military strategy that supports the process and ensures Kyiv negotiates from a position of strength.  This strategy should build on the recent, partial removal of long-range strike restrictions and drop outdated restrictions that limit weapons transfers that could actually save the U.S. taxpayer money and support continued economic growth.

Nov 13, 2024 | csis.org | Benjamin Jensen |Futures Lab

Foreign policy in the United States relies on a mix of policy analysis, staffing processes, and bureaucratic procedures that have not changed for decades. The National Security Council (NSC), chartered to guide strategy formation and implementation, has proved impervious to advances in data science and artificial intelligence (AI). Instead, it relies on old-fashioned Microsoft Word documents and PowerPoint attachments to shape critical national security policy debates.