Council on Foreign Relations

"CFR State and local officials newsletter on The Future of War."

Views expressed in this geopolitical news and analysis are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 24 March 2026, 1932 UTC.

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State and Local Officials Newsletter March 2026

The Future of War REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi Conflicts from Iran to Ukraine are reshaping modern warfare, and state and local officials are becoming increasingly central to the nation’s defense. Decisions on manufacturing, economic development, and workforce preparation will help determine how effectively the United States can produce and sustain advanced military technologies. This State and Local Officials Newsletter highlights resources from CFR.org, ForeignAffairs.com, and ThinkGlobalHealth.org that examine the evolving dynamics of warfare and equip officials with the context they need to serve their states and communities.   We look forward to your continued participation in the CFR State and Local Officials Initiative and welcome your feedback on how we can better support the work you are doing. Please email us at stateandlocal@cfr.org.   Best regards, Irina A. Faskianos Vice President, National Program and Outreach

What’s Next for the War in Iran? CFR President Mike Froman analyzes U.S. involvement in the Middle East. He describes potential outcomes—and consequences—of the war, while examining the military innovations shaping operations in the region. Read more on CFR.org »

The Mirage of a New Middle East

REUTERS/Mahfouz Abu Turk The United States’ anticipated outcomes from the war with Iran may fall short of initial expectations, writes UCLA’s Dalia Dasa Kaye. There is no promise that new Iranian leadership will be more sympathetic to American interests, and ongoing multi-polar conflicts throughout the region will persist, potentially endangering U.S. allies. Read more on ForeignAffairs.com »

Military AI Adoption Is Outpacing Global Cooperation

CFR’s Michael C. Horowitz examines how the gap between the rapid adoption of military AI and the slower pace of responsible policy development has created a missed opportunity for militaries to identify best practices for the future. The lack of U.S. and Chinese engagement in multilateral convenings provides an opening for middle powers to lead the development of a responsible, international AI framework for military forces. Read more on CFR.org »

A Conversation with Elbridge Colby

Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby discusses the U.S. National Defense Strategy with CFR President Mike Froman. Watch on CFR.org »

Ukraine and the New Way of War

CFR’s Rebecca Lissner and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s John Kawika Warden examine lessons from the war in Ukraine, and how Washington can apply them going forward in respect to their allies, the threshold for nuclear escalation, and the theory of victory for wars involving great-power aggressors. Read more on ForeignAffairs.com »

The Trump Administration’s Cyber Strategy Fundamentally Misunderstands China’s Threat

CFR’s Matthew Ferren argues that the shift to an offensive-first cybersecurity strategy won’t deter China’s behavior, as China fields a highly modernized military and intelligence cyber apparatus. Read more on CFR.org » REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Autonomous Ukraine: We Are in a New Era of Warfare

In this episode of Why it Matters, CFR’s Michael C. Horowitz and Erin D. Dumbacher discuss how Ukraine has become a testing ground for warfare innovations. Silicon Valley has become a key partner, with private companies supplying modern technologies that the country can test and apply, accelerating defense innovation at an unprecedented pace. Listen on CFR.org »

Iran and Terrorism: What the U.S. Strikes Could Mean for Homeland Security A prolonged war with Iran, CFR’s Bruce Hoffman argues, would incentivize the Islamic Republic to employ a full range of asymmetric tactics, including potential retaliation against the U.S. homeland. Despite the renewed national focus on illegal immigration, he suggests the Department of Homeland Security direct greater resources toward counterterrorism to ensure public confidence in the agency’s preparedness. Read more on CFR.org »

The Constitution, the War Power, and the Ludlow Amendment

REUTERS/Caroline Brehman The Ludlow Amendment, proposed in the 1930s, would have required a national referendum before the United States could declare war. CFR’s James M. Lindsay explains why the idea gained support in the isolationist period before World War II and what the debate reveals about enduring tensions over who should decide when the United States goes to war. Read more on CFR.org »

Are you part of a delegation traveling abroad? CFR can provide briefings for state and local officials and their staff in advance of international trips. Email stateandlocal@cfr.org to request a dedicated session with a CFR expert on the region or country to which your group is traveling or on a topic of regional interest.

Are We Ready? | The New Weapons of War

In this video of The President’s Inbox, Host James M. Lindsay speaks with CFR’s Michael C. Horowitz about how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and inexpensive drones are rapidly transforming the nature of warfare. Watch on CFR.org »

Leapfrogging China’s Critical Minerals Dominance: How Innovation Can Secure U.S. Supply Chains

REUTERS/David Gray In this new report, CFR’s Heidi Crebo-Rediker examines how China’s dominance across critical minerals supply chains poses strategic and economic risks for the United States and its allies. She argues that rather than attempting to replicate China’s approach, the United States should focus on innovation, new processing technologies, and stronger partnerships with allies to build secure and resilient supply chains. Read the full report on CFR.org »

Reversing Ukraine’s Population Loss After Four Years of War

Following Russia’s invasion, Ukraine achieved the lowest birthrate in its history, far below the replacement-level fertility rate. Journalist Nataliia Bushkovska explores the potential strategies that could reverse the trend and entice the roughly 1.3 million Ukrainian refugees to return to a country devastated by the deadliest war in Europe since WWII. Read more on ThinkGlobalHealth.org » REUTERS/Alina Smutko

CFR Expert Spotlight

James M. Lindsay is CFR’s Mary and David Boies distinguished senior fellow in U.S. foreign policy. His work at the Council focuses on U.S. national security policy, the U.S. foreign policymaking process, the domestic politics of U.S. foreign policy. Rebecca Lissner CFR’s senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy. She is a leading scholar of American grand strategy who has served in senior national security and foreign policy roles in the White House. Michael C. Horowitz is CFR’s senior fellow for technology and innovation. He previously served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for force development and emerging capabilities and director of the Emerging Capabilities Policy Office.

The CFR State and Local Officials Newsletter is a monthly roundup of CFR resources and information tailored to support the work of U.S. officials, their staffs, and other policy professionals.  About CFR’s State and Local Officials Initiative The CFR State and Local Officials Initiative is a nonpartisan, independent resource on pressing international issues that affect the priorities and agendas of state and local governments, including the economy, trade and competitiveness, homeland security, public health, energy supply, and climate policy. For more information, email CFR’s State and Local Officials Initiative at stateandlocal@cfr.org. About CFR Founded in 1921, CFR is a nonpartisan, independent national membership organization, think tank, educator, and publisher, including of Foreign Affairs. It generates policy-relevant ideas and analysis, convenes experts and policymakers, and promotes informed public discussion—all to have impact on the most consequential issues facing the United States and the world.

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