US Council on Foreign Relations survey: a disruptive cyber attack on critical infrastructure is the top concern for 2020

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The threat of a highly disruptive cyber attack on US critical infrastructure is the top-ranked concern for the second straight year, according to the Council on Foreign Relations’ (CFR) twelfth annual Preventive Priorities Survey (PPS). The survey identifies potential conflicts for the United States in the year ahead. A confrontation with Iran or an altercation with North Korea are the two highest-rated overseas threats.

The survey, conducted by CFR’s Center for Preventive Action (CPA), asked foreign policy experts to rank thirty ongoing or potential conflicts based on their likelihood of occurring or escalating in the next year and their potential impact on US national interests.

“Perhaps indicating rising anxiety about the state of the world, respondents had more fears for 2020 than in any PPS in the past decade. Of the thirty concerns, only two were judged as having a low likelihood of occurring next year. This is why the PPS is critical in helping to direct efforts by policymakers,” said Paul B. Stares, CPA director and General John W. Vessey senior fellow for conflict prevention.

This year, a mass-casualty terrorist attack on the US homeland replaced tensions on the Korean Peninsula as a top-three concern. In total, thirteen conflicts were considered significant risks:

Likelihood: Moderate 

A highly disruptive cyber attack on US critical infrastructure, including its electoral systems; 

A mass-casualty terrorist attack on the United States or a treaty ally directed or inspired by a foreign terrorist organization; 

An armed confrontation between Iran and the United States or one of its allies over Iran’s involvement in regional conflicts and support of militant proxy groups; 

A severe crisis on the Korean Peninsula following the collapse of the denuclearization negotiations and renewed long-range missile testing; 

An armed confrontation over disputed maritime areas in the South China Sea between China and one or more Southeast Asian claimants (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam); 

A severe crisis between Russia and Ukraine following increased fighting in eastern Ukraine and/or a major military clash in contested areas; 

Deteriorating economic and security conditions in the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras), resulting in increased migration outflows from the region. 

Intensification of organized crime–related violence in Mexico; 

Increasing political instability in Iraq exacerbated by underlying sectarian tensions and worsening economic conditions; 

Escalation of violence between Turkey and various Kurdish armed groups within Turkey and/or in Syria; 

Continued violent reimposition of government control in Syria leading to further civilian casualties and heightened tensions among external parties to the conflict; 

Increased violence and political instability in Afghanistan resulting in further advances by the Taliban insurgency and potential government collapse; 

Intensifying economic crisis and political instability in Venezuela leading to further violent unrest and increased refugee outflows.