CSIS Strategic Technologies Program

A new CSIS analysis argues cyber threats are less about fully autonomous attacks and more about the acceleration, scaling, and democratization of existing tactics, reshaping both the pace of operations and the range of actors capable of executing them. csis.org/blogs/strategi…

Ahead of the FCC's vote this week on low-Earth orbit satellite constellation power limits, our affiliate Steve Lang wrote a piece for the Washington Examiner on the importance of removing EPDF limits to bolster internet connectivity: washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/454692…

#TechNews from India India arrested a kingpin of a syndicate trafficking Indian citizens to cyber scam compounds. Victims were lured with fake jobs, then forced to run digital scams, highlighting the link between human trafficking and cybercrime: deccanherald.com/amp/story/indi…

NEW | CSIS Cyber Force Commissioners Erica Lonergan and Mark Montgomery argue that Cybercom 2.0 and a Cyber Force are not competing solutions. Instead, they are both needed to fix talent, readiness, and force generation in the cyber domain. Read here: lawfaremedia.org/article/implem…

#TechNews from Europe Nokia's CEO says Europe lacks enough investment, connectivity, and power access to keep pace with the U.S. and China in AI data-center buildout, even with EU "AI gigafactory" initiatives underway: reuters.com/business/media…

#TechNews from Taiwan Taiwan's TSMC unveiled a path to smaller, faster chips without relying on ASML's new and much more expensive lithography tools. This innovation could reshape the semiconductor cost curve and bolster Taiwan's manufacturing advantage: reuters.com/world/asia-pac…

#TechNews from the UK Britain's NCSC reports China-linked groups are using compromised home routers and smart devices as covert infrastructure for intrusion campaigns. Strategically, this points to a more durable and deniable model for cyber access: reuters.com/technology/cyb…

Today, the MFA hosted the first EU 🇪🇺‑US 🇺🇸 Emerging Leaders delegation dedicated to cybersecurity cooperation in Tallinn. Secretary‑General @vseviov commenced the visit with a briefing on Estonia’s security and foreign policy priorities. Ambassador‑at‑large for cyber diplomacy @H_Popp followed with an overview on Estonia’s cyber and digital foreign policy. Against the backdrop of rapid technological and cyber developments, Estonia and the United States remain steadfast partners, working together to strengthen resilience and uphold a secure and reliable cyber space.

NEW COMMENTARY | The AI economy remains immature. This new analysis argues the next phase will depend less on embedding AI in existing processes and more on using it to catalyze new products, industries, and business models. Read here: csis.org/analysis/towar…

#TechNews from China China's Tencent and Alibaba are reportedly discussing investing in DeepSeek at a valuation above $20 billion, signaling consolidation of Chinese AI capability and an intensification of China's AI financing race: reuters.com/world/asia-pac…

#TechNews from the UK Britain's cybersecurity agency says that the country should brace for a rise in cyberattacks linked to hostile states. Simultaneously, Britain announced $122 million of additional investment over 3 years to bolster cybersecurity: reuters.com/legal/governme…

NEW PODCAST | The trajectories of SpaceX and Huawei are increasingly converging. A new episode of Cache Me if You Can explores what their operations in space, telecom, and data ecosystems reveal about U.S.-China tech competition. Listen here: csis.org/podcasts/cache…

A vote on EPFD rules is approaching at the FCC—and could reshape how LEO constellations share spectrum. This video breaks down why modernizing spectrum policy is critical for scaling satellite connectivity and managing interference in a crowded orbit: youtube.com/watch?v=LdBq_y…

#TechNews from the UK Britain's Financial Conduct Authority issued cease and desist letters to eight London addresses suspected of illegal peer-to-peer crypto trading, working with other agencies to crack down on money laundering: reuters.com/world/uk/uk-ta…

Artemis II marks a return to the Moon—but not a unilateral one. The first crewed lunar mission in 50 years underscores a key shift: multinational partnerships increasingly shape the future of U.S. lunar strategy and space diplomacy. Read more here: csis.org/analysis/inter…

#TechNews from China Volkswagen plans to incorporate agentic AI into vehicles built on its China-only architecture, beginning in the second half of 2026. The shift shows how foreign firms are increasingly adapting product stacks specifically for China: reuters.com/business/retai…

#TechNews from France and Poland France and Poland launched a military telecommunications-satellite project, advancing bilateral cooperation and demonstrating Europe's push toward defense-industrial resilience and greater indigenous strategic capability: reuters.com/business/aeros…

#TechNews from Japan Tokyo unveiled its biggest overhaul of defense-export rules in decades, removing most restrictions on overseas arms sales. The decision shows Japan's efforts to scale its defense-industrial base and become a more meaningful supplier: reuters.com/world/china/ja…

#TechNews from the EU The European Commission awarded four European providers a $212 million tender for six years of sovereign cloud services, expanding efforts to reduce the bloc's dependence on non-European technology and reinforce strategic control: reuters.com/business/media…

#TechNews from China Beijing is set to launch Satellite Town, a hub for satellite manufacturers and operators, in the second half of 2026. Commercial launches account for over 60% of all Chinese space launches, incentivizing this development: reuters.com/business/media…