Alexander Palmer

Fellow, Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program
Alexander Palmer

Alexander Palmer is a fellow in the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Prior to joining CSIS, he worked in Afghanistan, where he provided security analysis to humanitarian and UN staff before and after the withdrawal of international military forces in August 2021. He holds a master in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

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Energy Infrastructure and the Defense Industrial Base

This paper recommends extending defense-critical electric infrastructure designations to industrial nodes, creating dedicated permitting and finance pathways to facilitate energy production, and integrating energy resilience into supply chain risk assessments.

Brief by Joseph Majkut, Alexander Palmer, and Raj Sawhney — March 17, 2026

Why Did Pakistan Announce “Open War” Against the Taliban?

Early in the morning of February 27, Pakistan’s defense minister announced “open war” between Pakistan and the Taliban, a group that Islamabad frequently backed in its 30-year quest to rule Afghanistan.

Critical Questions by Alexander Palmer and Alexander Margolis — February 27, 2026

What Is Next After the Suicide Attack in Pakistan?

This morning, a suicide bomber attacked a Shia mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan. The most likely perpetrator is the Islamic State–Khorasan Province, which operates both in Afghanistan and Pakistan but has a significant interest in mass-casualty international attacks. 

Critical Questions by Alexander Palmer and Alexander Margolis — February 6, 2026

Audio Briefs

What Is Next After the Suicide Attack in Pakistan?

An audio version of “⁠What Is Next After the Suicide Attack in Pakistan?⁠,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Alexander Palmer and Alexander Margolis. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Alexander Palmer and Alexander Margolis — February 6, 2026

Audio Briefs

Why Did the United States Conduct Strikes in Nigeria?

Isolated strikes like the ones carried out by the United States are unlikely to significantly reduce the terrorist threat in the region or reverse Nigeria’s growing insecurity.

Critical Questions by Alexander Palmer and Erin Oppel — December 26, 2025

Audio Briefs

Why Did the United States Conduct Strikes in Nigeria?

An audio version of "⁠Why Did the United States Conduct Strikes in Nigeria?⁠," a new Critical Questions by Alexander Palmer and Erin Oppel. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Alexander Palmer and Erin Oppel — December 26, 2025

Audio Briefs

Improving U.S. Cooperation with Allies and Partners

To make the most of its vast network of allies and partners, the United States must understand the barriers inhibiting U.S.-allied cooperation and devise ways to overcome them.

Report by CSIS Scholars — October 14, 2025