The Pentagon is weighing its biggest command shake-up in decades. But reorganizing combatant commands won’t be enough without deeper intelligence and interagency reform, writes Renee Novakoff.

2025: 10 Events That Changed the World

President Trump has launched a process to designate Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations. The move targets Hamas-linked funding networks — and could have major regional, diplomatic, and domestic impacts.

After Bondi Beach, Nick Fishwick, a former senior member of the British Foreign Office, argues countering anti-semitism must be a national security priority. "Not least, because assuredly if we give up on the security of Jewish people others will be next."

The Cipher Brief's Recommended Reads for the Holidays

As Ukraine fights an all-out, tech-driven war, the US is missing vital lessons from an ally on the front lines and must reverse this before the next conflict arrives. Read former CIA senior operations officer Sean Wiswesser's take in The Cipher Brief.

If the U.S. seeks to remove Maduro, could the best strategy be centered squarely on unmanned systems? Joey Gagnard and Nils Alstad offer a full unmanned game plan for Venezuela.

China’s Navy is growing fast, commissioning the Fujian carrier and Sichuan assault ship as part of a massive shipbuilding surge. Experts warn Beijing’s expanding fleet is narrowing the gap with the U.S. and reshaping the balance of power in Asia.

A new book — The Great Heist: China’s Epic Campaign to Steal America’s Secrets by David R. Shedd and Andrew Badger — argues Beijing’s rise is powered by industrial espionage and theft. Read the review exclusively in The Cipher Brief.

Global Intelligence Report for Friday, December 5, 2025

Putin Sees “Useful Meetings”, the U.S. Should See a Trap Set for Inexperienced Negotiators warns former Chief of CIA's Central Eurasia Division

Global Intelligence Report for Thursday, December 4, 2025

What does peace through strength mean in the AI era? @SuzanneKelly_ talks with RNDF CEO @DavidTrulio about deterrence, AI, China, and the future of U.S. power. 🎙️ Subscribe to the State Secrets Podcast for expert-driven national security insight:  https://t.co/INJfCC2chg

Europe is in a gray zone war—from drone incursions to sabotage to assassination attempts. NATO says Russia is behind the surge in hybrid attacks—and is weighing a stronger response. Join Cipher Brief experts for a high-stakes briefing on what happens next. 👉 Become a

Global Intelligence Report for Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Senior National Security Columnist Walter Pincus poses serious questions about the legal and political stakes surrounding the Pentagon's narco-boat killings

The Kremlin's Kill List: Inside a Culture of State-Sponsored Murder. Russian intelligence agencies have been executing defectors, dissidents, and rivals for more than a century. Under Putin, the practice has become strategic—and celebrated

Global Intelligence Report for Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Global Intelligence Report for Monday, December 1, 2025

‘Mind-Blowing’ Pentagon Overhaul Will Reshape Acquisition