CSIS Economic Security and Technology Department

China is often portrayed as either unstoppable or failing to push tech frontiers. The U.S. is celebrated as the AI leader but criticized for dependence on rivals. CSIS EST experts argue the reality is more complex—and instructive: "The question is whether the United States will reassert scientific, engineering, and manufacturing prowess, especially where it has lost ground, or whether it will continue to cede leadership." Read more here: csis.org/analysis/tech-…

NEW: Thamar Harrigan joins the @CSIS Economic Security and Technology Department as Chief of Staff. Drawing on her extensive experience as Chief of Staff and White House Liaison at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, as well as her prior roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and in private practice as a trade lawyer advising clients on federal regulatory matters, she will strengthen the department’s operational capacity, sharpen its research outputs, and expand engagement across sectors—enhancing the department's ability to deliver timely insights and practical solutions to the most pressing economic and technological challenges facing the United States. Full Announcement: csis.org/news/csis-name…

Happening Tomorrow! Join @CSISEnergy on Wednesday, March 18th for a discussion and presentation of a new CSIS study, Energy Infrastructure and the Defense Industrial Base. The event will highlight key observations and policy recommendations on the energy implications of revitalizing the defense industrial base. Learn more here: csis.org/events/energy-…

Happening Tomorrow! Join us on Wednesday, March 18th for a discussion on the future of a dedicated U.S. Cyber Force. The program will then feature a fireside conversation moderated by @CSIS_Tech's @lauryndsw with Representative @RepPatFallon (TX-04) and Commission member Maj. Gen. Ryan Heritage, USMC (Ret.). Learn more here: csis.org/events/impleme…

Join CSIS and Rep. Pat Fallon on March 18 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm for a conversation on operationalizing the next generation of U.S. cyber power. The event will tackle the challenges and opportunities in building a dedicated cyber military capability: csis.org/events/impleme…

Join Us on March 25 for LeadershIP 2026! Please join CSIS for LeadershIP 2026, the premier conference on intellectual property (IP), innovation, and national security policy, including the geopolitical competition for technology leadership, innovation in critical and emerging technologies such as AI, biotechnologies, and integrated communication and networking technologies. More info here: csis.org/events/leaders…

Active cyber defense in the South Korean context reflects a larger strategic adjustment to an increasingly hostile environment. It will require significantly expanded military and intelligence capabilities— as highlighted by @CSIS_Tech's James Andrew Lewis. Read more here: csis.org/analysis/activ…

Happening March 18th! Join @CSISEnergy on Wednesday, March 18th for a discussion and presentation of a new CSIS study, Energy Infrastructure and the Defense Industrial Base. The event will highlight key observations and policy recommendations on the energy implications of revitalizing the defense industrial base. Learn more here: csis.org/events/energy-…

Nepal’s election signals more than a political upset. Balendra “Balen” Shah’s youth-driven victory marks a generational break in Kathmandu and could reshape how India, China, and the United States navigate a new strategic moment in the Himalayas— as analyzed by @CSISIndiaChair's Anjali Kaur. Read more here: csis.org/analysis/nepal…

Happening March 18th! Join us on Wednesday, March 18th for a discussion on the future of a dedicated U.S. Cyber Force.The program will then feature a fireside conversation moderated by @CSIS_Tech's @lauryndsw with Representative @RepPatFallon (TX-04) and Commission member Maj. Gen. Ryan Heritage, USMC (Ret.). Learn more here: csis.org/events/impleme…

Read "Iran’s Real War Is Against the Global Economy" here: csis.org/analysis/irans…

"Even as the Trump administration struggles to define its objectives—be it decapitating Iranian leadership, destroying Iran’s nuclear capability, or pursuing regime change—it must confront a new reality. The United States and Israel are fighting the Islamic Republic. Iran is fighting the global economy." In his latest commentary, EST President @NGirishankar argues that Iran may be losing the military contest with the United States, but it is fighting a different war—one aimed at the global economy. Link in the first comment!

NEW: The Strait of Hormuz has effectively closed, squeezing a critical chokepoint in global oil, natural gas, & fertilizer trade. How could the war impact global agriculture markets and food prices? @CSIS experts explain here: cs.is/40nANnU

Join Us on March 25 for LeadershIP 2026! Please join CSIS for LeadershIP 2026, the premier conference on intellectual property (IP), innovation, and national security policy, including the geopolitical competition for technology leadership, innovation in critical and emerging technologies such as AI, biotechnologies, and integrated communication and networking technologies. More info here: csis.org/events/leaders…

Today, CSIS announces retired Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, the 19th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been named our next CEO, succeeding John Hamre, who announced last year that he will retire after 26 years of transformational leadership. Read more: bit.ly/4b383Ha

Efforts to onshore GPU and server production are underway, but U.S. firms will remain reliant on Taiwan through at least 2028— as highlighted by @CSIS_Trade's Kate Koren in her latest analysis. Read more here: csis.org/analysis/us-da…

On this episode of the Trade Guys, William Reinsch and Scott Miller dive into the impacts of the Iran Conflict on world trade, especially for energy markets, along with an update on the Court of International Trade's efforts to implement the Supreme Court's IEEPA decision. Listen here: csis.org/podcasts/trade…

In a new commentary, EST president @NGirishankar argues that Iran may be losing the military contest with the United States, but it is fighting a different war—one aimed at the global economy. Read the full piece here: csis.org/analysis/irans…

"The United States has distinctive strengths, including in quantum computing hardware research and development, supercomputing infrastructure, and a robust open-source software culture," writes @CSISInnovation. More on U.S. leadership in the quantum era: csis.org/analysis/pione…

Please join CSIS LeadershIP on March 25 for LeadershIP 2026, the premier conference on intellectual property (IP), innovation, and national security policy. Date: March 25, 2026 • 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EDT Register here: csis.org/events/leaders… @CSISEST #LeadershIP2026 #IP

Can Stablecoins Serve as a Building Block for a Petrodollar Successor? Building on EST President @NGirishankar's “Turning the AI Revolution into Dollar Dominance,” this EST blog by Navin and Associate Fellow, @ALPalazzi shows that stablecoin issuers are buying U.S. debt at a faster pace than oil exporters did in the early days of the petrodollar system. Read more here: csis.org/blogs/economic…