Russia has deployed up to 190,000 conventional and irregular ground forces, in addition to naval and air forces and approximately 50,000 Belarussian soldiers—which could conduct operations in Ukraine. However the crisis is resolved—through diplomacy, military conflict, or a combination of the two—Russia’s military buildup and threat to Ukraine is deeply concerning.

SOURCE: "Russia’s Losing Hand in Ukraine" by CSIS's Seth G. Jones and Joseph S. Bermudez Jr. and Philip G. Wasielewski.

For years, China has conducted a systematic cyber and cognitive warfare campaign including espionage, misinformation, and subversive efforts to signal its ability to digitally sabotage Taiwan during a crisis. In 2020 alone, cyberattacks targeting the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs increased by 40 times the level seen in 2018 and averaged over 2,000 intrusions a day.

SOURCE: "Shadow Risk: What Crisis Simulations Reveal about the Dangers of Deferring U.S. Responses to China’s Gray Zone Campaign against Taiwan" by CSIS's Benjamin Jensen, Bonny Lin, and Carolina Ramos.

About 196 missions are planned for cislunar space in the next 10 years. While many missions are focused on the discovery of water and ice on the lunar surface, others are building sustainable long-term transportation and habitation services for future human stay in space and on the Moon.

SOURCE: "Fly Me to the Moon: Worldwide Cislunar and Lunar Missions" by CSIS's Kaitlyn Johnson.

International aid to Syria is at an inflection point. More than 10 years into the Syrian conflict, the majority of Syria’s population is displaced and lacks adequate food. While Western donor governments have contributed nearly $2.5 billion a year in humanitarian aid, needs continue to rise as the Assad regime manipulates aids to withhold it from opponents and channel it to allies.

SOURCE: "Rescuing Aid in Syria" by CSIS's Natasha Hall.