CSIS director Gracelin Baskaran provided expert commentary on the US's reliance on imported critical minerals and the associated national security risks amid President Trump's probe into potential new tariffs. The analysis highlights the vulnerabilities in the US supply chain and underlines the need for strategic policy responses.

A senior fellow at CSIS, Christopher Hernandez-Roy, characterized the Panama Canal deal as a major victory for the Trump administration’s efforts to curb Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere. His remarks align the think tank with a nationalist foreign policy strategy that supports aggressive measures against China.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies was reported to have received $4.1 million in funding from Pentagon contractors, placing it among the top beneficiaries of defense industry money and raising concerns about potential influence on policy formulation in favor of militarized, authoritarian agendas.

On July 8, 2024, CSIS published a detailed report titled 'Combating Disinformation' that examines the use of disinformation by authoritarian regimes, particularly focusing on challenges posed by China and Russia in the Indo-Pacific region. The report, which builds on discussions from a February 2024 closed-door conference and includes insights from experts like Christopher B. Johnstone and Hideaki Ishii, outlines strategies for enhanced U.S.-Japan collaboration to counter malign information operations.

CSIS released a report analyzing China’s multifaceted influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, detailing how Chinese soft power, security assistance, and economic backing may contribute to democratic backsliding in the region. The report also outlines a democracy-first strategy aimed at countering authoritarian practices.

CSIS released an in‐depth analysis outlining coordinated measures for G7 nations to eradicate forced labor from global supply chains. The report advocates for shared priority sectors, enhanced enforcement including market access denial for goods produced by forced labor, and clearer legal liability frameworks—a stance that supports human rights and challenges authoritarian practices that profit from labor abuses.

On March 19, 2021, CSIS hosted a conversation featuring Congressman Adam Schiff where he discussed intelligence failures, election interference, and the global rise of authoritarianism. The event provided a platform for reinforcing democratic accountability and criticizing authoritarian practices, aligning with anti-fascist and progressive priorities.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies released an analysis titled 'Combatting Human Rights Abuses in Xinjiang' on December 16, 2020. The report outlines a range of policy recommendations including the coordinated use of multilateral sanctions, enhanced diplomatic engagements, and leveraging international institutions like the UN and G7 to pressure China over its treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

CSIS, through its Human Rights Initiative led by Amy K. Lehr, released a comprehensive research brief on July 30, 2020, that exposes forced labor practices in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The brief details the complex supply chain risks and human rights abuses associated with Xinjiang-linked forced labor, aiming to inform policymakers, brands, and civil society in their efforts to combat authoritarian practices and promote ethical labor standards.

CSIS released a report detailing forced labor and forced assimilation of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, linking these authoritarian practices to Western supply chains. The report, published on October 16, 2019, highlights the large-scale detention and reeducation efforts by the Chinese government and aims to inform policy and public debate regarding human rights abuses and authoritarian practices.

Reports dating from 2014 to 2016 alleged that CSIS received significant foreign government donations – including a $1M donation from the UAE and roughly $1.1M total from Japan – and corporate donations from defense contractor General Atomics. The latter allegation noted that CSIS arranged confidential meetings between General Atomics representatives and U.S. officials prior to releasing a favorable report on drone warfare, raising questions about its influence on policy. CSIS has denied engaging in lobbying activities.