The Cipher Brief

The Cipher Brief is an online platform focused on security discussions, linking the private sector with top security professionals. We provide insightful analysis of current news and events, aiding readers in understanding and managing the complicated and often unpredictable global security landscape. Founded by former CNN Intelligence Correspondent Suzanne Kelly, The Cipher Brief operates on the principle that simply reporting on security incidents or global threats is not enough to address larger issues. By involving the private sector in constructive conversations about solutions, we aim to drive progress and foster better outcomes.

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Where are the Sage Advisors When You Need Them?

1 week ago | thecipherbrief.com | Walter Pincus

Posted: May 27th, 2025 OPINION — “There are few things you can do that are more gratifying and more satisfying, and when you look back, being able to say that maybe, you made a difference in keeping the nation [the U.S.] safer or the nation better off.”That was Robert M. Gates, who served as both U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director, speaking to CBS News’ Face the Nation on May 18.
Dead Drop: May 23

2 weeks ago | thecipherbrief.com | Suzanne Kelly

May 23rd, 2025 IN THIS WEEK’S DEAD DROP RUMINT FILE: The NSA may have a new Deputy Director very soon and that could be followed by a new NSA director being named with only one hat as the debate over splitting NSA from Cyber Command continues on the Hill; CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis could be on the move as well; Why doesn’t the president like the President’s Daily Brief; West Point honors former USSOCOM Commander General Joe Votel (Ret.); and if you think foreign espionage is bad in the...
Why Poland is Critical – For Ukraine and Europe’s Defense

2 weeks ago | thecipherbrief.com | Tom Nagorski

Poland has won praise for its military, and for “getting Russia right” Posted: May 21st, 2025 EXPERT INTERVIEWS – Sunday’s presidential election in Poland, and the country’s growing role in NATO, have put a fresh focus on Poland as a critical part of European efforts to defend the continent against Russian aggression.
The World of Threats – According to the Defense Intelligence Agency

2 weeks ago | thecipherbrief.com | Walter Pincus

OPINION – “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin almost certainly is committed to victory in Ukraine, and his objectives remain mostly unchanged since the beginning of the war: Ukrainian neutrality and a further partition of theUkrainian state.
How the U.S. is Tapping a Much Bigger Well in The Middle East

2 weeks ago | thecipherbrief.com | Suzanne Kelly

EXPERT DEEP DIVE – President Donald Trump’s first official trip to the Middle East during his current administration may have tapped a well that runs much deeper than the significant tech and partnership announcements that were made in Riyadh.
Trump’s Gulf Tour: The Money Deals, the Diplomacy and What Comes Next

3 weeks ago | thecipherbrief.com | Tom Nagorski

Cipher Brief experts assess the consequences of an unusual Mideast tour EXPERT ANALYSIS Posted: May 16th, 2025 BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT – President Trump headed home Friday after a whirlwind four-day tour of the Persian Gulf that featured multibillion-dollar deals, an unprecedented AI data partnership, and some unexpected diplomatic developments as well.
What Could Follow the U.S. Surprise in Syria?

3 weeks ago | thecipherbrief.com | Suzanne Kelly

A former CIA station chief has some thoughts Posted: May 15th, 2025 CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING – President Donald Trump made a number of headlines this week as he led an impressive delegation of government and private sector executives to the Middle East but it was a meeting with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and a U.S. announcement that it is lifting sanctions on Syria, that came as perhaps the biggest surprise and offered a strong indicator of how relationships in the Middle East are being...
Trump's Mideast Wish List: $1+ Trillion in Investments

3 weeks ago | thecipherbrief.com | Tom Nagorski

EXPERT INTERVIEWS – President Donald Trump embarks this week on the first scheduled overseas trip of his second term (the funeral for Pope Francis having obviously not been in the “scheduled” category), a four-day visit to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
Listening to a Top Army Officer - and the Secretary of Defense

3 weeks ago | thecipherbrief.com | Walter Pincus

Posted: May 13th, 2025 OPINION – “The Army is moving quickly to adapt, field new capabilities, and restructure its formations to outpace our adversaries. ‘Transforming in Contact’ (TiC) delivers results in cycles as short as 12 to 18 months, ensuring that forces are always evolving.
Assessing Putin and the 'Axis of Authoritarians'

3 weeks ago | thecipherbrief.com | Tom Nagorski

A former CIA leader and Ukrainian Prime Minister worry about Putin's ambitions beyond Ukraine Posted: May 11th, 2025 CIPHER BRIEF REPORTING – On Friday, as Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed more than a dozen world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, for a Victory Day parade in Moscow and a collective stand against the West, a global gathering in Kyiv heard a very different message: a high-level assessment and critique of Putin — from leaders who have observed him from different...