Defense and Security - Audio

View Summary   The killing of Gen. Qassem Suleimani in January 2020 sent conflicting signals about the depth of U.S. engagement in the Gulf. The United States seems intent to diminish its presence while keeping an active hand in regional affairs. Meanwhile, Russia and China are exploring ways to reshape their own presence in the region. Please join the CSIS Middle East Program for a conference to examine the Gulf region in the wake of General Qassem Suleimani's death. Two expert panels will explore security threats and new opportunities for diplomacy in the region. General Joseph L. Votel will then deliver a keynote address on Great Power competition in the Gulf, followed by a Q&A moderated by Jon B. Alterman, senior vice president, Zbigniew Brzezinski chair in global security and geostrategy, and director of the Middle East Program. The Honorable John McLaughlin, Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and former Acting Director of Central Intelligence The Honorable Christine Wormuth, Director, International Security and Defense Policy Center, RAND Corporation, and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Ambassador Anne Patterson, Former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State    Ambassador Douglas Silliman,President, The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, and former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq  Dr. Ali Vaez,Iran Project Director, International Crisis Group  General Joseph L. Votel, President and CEO, Business Executives for National Security; Distinguished Senior Fellow on National Security, Middle East Institute; and former Commander of U.S. Central Command This event is made possible by generous support from the United Arab Emirates Embassy.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Colin Powell emerged on the national scene more than thirty years ago, and it is easy to forget that they were once allies. The two men collaborated closely in the successful American wars in Panama and Iraq during the presidency of George H. W. Bush. Returning to government service under George W. Bush in 2001, they (and their respective allies within the administration) fell into deep antagonism over the role America should play in a world defined by terrorism, the invasion of Iraq, and debates about unilateralism. Why did the rift between the two respected statesmen emerge? And what does the broken partnership suggest about U.S. foreign policy? Please join Seth Center and the Project on History and Strategy for a discussion with James Mann about his new book on the intertwined careers of Dick Cheney and Colin Powell. The Great Rift: Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, and the Broken Friendship that Defined an Era  is a sweeping history of two statesmen whose rivalry and conflicting views of U.S. national security color our political debate to this day. In a wide-ranging, deeply researched, and dramatic narrative, James Mann explores each man’s biography and philosophical predispositions to show how and why this deep and permanent rupture occurred. Through dozens of original interviews and surprising revelations from presidential archives, he brings to life the very human story of how this influential friendship turned so sour and how the enmity of these two powerful men colored the way America acts in the world. This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) invites you to attend the inaugural event in our Synthetic Biology: The Ongoing Technology Revolution Series. This initial event will introduce the science of synthetic biology, as well as the opportunities and risks it presents to both national security and the global economy. This event will serve as the first of four events, which will convene a diverse set of experts to discuss the security and economic policy implications of this critical emerging technology.  Synthetic Biology: The Ongoing Technology Revolution Series   Emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G, and synthetic biology—drive security and economic competition and are increasingly shaping national strategies. To develop an effective strategy for synthetic biology, policy makers and the general public need a better understanding of synthetic biology’s underlying capabilities, state of development, and diverse applications. Through a series of four symposia, CSIS will explore synthetic biology’s wide-ranging applications—from advanced microelectronics and materials to nutrition and cosmetics —and opportunities to shape its future development in support of U.S. security and economic interests. This series will include targeted discussions on synthetic biology’s: Present and future potential as a critical emerging technology; Economic, societal, and international implications; National security opportunities and risks; and Implications for emerging technology policy. CSIS hopes you will join us for our inaugural event on February 6and will continue the discussion in the events that follow.  This series of events is sponsored by Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.

At 11:00 PM on January 31st, the UK will formally withdraw from the European Union. How will the UK's foreign and security policy change? What security challenges will it prioritize? And will leaving the European Union bring the UK closer to the United States? Please join us for a conversation with former UK Secretary of State for Defense (2010-2011), former Secretary of State for International Trade (2016-2019), and Conservative MP from North Somerset Dr. Liam Fox. Dr. Fox will offer his reflections on the vitally important role NATO must play in the future, the role of values in national security, the security challenges that Russia and China pose to the UK, the impact of cyber warfare, and the role of non-state actors and proxy groups in fueling future conflicts. This event is made possible through generous support from the Stuart Family Foundation

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) invites you to attend a conversation with SAIC’s Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Defense Systems Customer Group Jim Scanlon. Mr. Scanlon is responsible for leading strategy, business development, and program execution for approximately $2.9 billion in support to the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and Defense Logistics Agency. The discussion will explore the implications of the growing emphasis on technology competition with near peers and how the benefits of big data and artificial intelligence, highlighted in the Army Future Command data strategy, could be brought to the operating force. These overarching issues have important implications for technical services companies, whether they develop algorithms or balance system engineering tradeoffs. Jim Scanlon will discuss not only the role SAIC may play, but will also analyze the larger services market as it has been shaped by the complexity of multi-domain operations that are reliant on a diverse mix of interacting systems.   The purpose of the Main Street Defense event series is to highlight the unique opportunities and challenges faced by ‘Main Street’ companies in the defense industry. By broadening the conversation to include entities headquartered in America’s towns and cities beyond the top five defense contractors, and by providing a public platform for discussion, CSIS engage new voices and provides a setting for a dialogue on important factors affecting the entire defense and security sector today, different from those that we usually hear about.   Mr. Andrew Hunter will moderate the discussion with Mr. Scanlon. Please join us on Thursday, January 23 for this timely conversation. This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.  Featuring  

CSIS is hosting Air Force General John Hyten, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for a conversation on how the Joint Force is addressing the growing security challenges posed by U.S. strategic competitors. General Hyten will provide opening remarks which will be followed by a discussion moderated by Kathleen Hicks, Senior Vice President and Director of the International Security Program at CSIS. This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

With the demise of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) and an unclear future for New START, U.S.-Russian arms control is in dire condition. Some experts in both capitals question the feasibility or necessity of further bilateral arms control. However, any U.S. and Russian administration will face the task of managing its own arsenal and relations with a nuclear armed competitor, which requires some level of arms control—formal or informal. How do Moscow and Washington approach this task? What are most immediate concerns and what could be on the table in the future negotiations? How possible is trilateral arms control with China? What are the arms control mechanisms short of formal treaties? Andrey Baklitskiy, visiting fellow with the Russia and Eurasia Program, will present his analysis of the different options for U.S.-Russian arms control. The Russian Visiting Fellows Program at CSIS is made possible by the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. 

Agenda 11:30 - 12:00  Keynote Speech Introductory Remarks: Dr. Hamre, President and CEO, CSIS Keynote: H.E. Taro Kono, Minister of Defense, Government of Japan Discussion and Q&A, Moderator: Michael J. Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University  12:00 - 13:00  Panel Discussion Kenichiro Sasae, President, JIIA Satoru Mori, Professor, Hosei University Sheila Smith, Senior Fellow for Japan Studies, Council on Foreign Relations  Moderator: Michael J. Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University  13:00 - 14:00  Light Lunch Buffet/Reception CSIS, 2 Floor Foyer                    14:00  Adjourn

Please join the Center for Strategic and International Studies for a Smart Women, Smart Power and Aerospace Security Project conversation with former NASA Space Shuttle Commander Pam Melroy. She will discuss innovation and the role of government in commercial space and the importance of international partnerships and collaboration in space. Colonel Melroy (USAF, ret.) is currently Chief Executive Officer at Melroy & Hollett Technology Partners. She is a retired Air Force test pilot and served as Deputy Director of the Tactical Technology Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).  Colonel Melroy also served in the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation. She is one of only two women to command the Space Shuttle. After leaving NASA in August 2009, Colonel Melroy served as Deputy Program Manager for the Lockheed Martin Orion Space Exploration Initiatives program. She received a B.A. in physics and astronomy from Wellesley College and a M.S. in earth and planetary sciences from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.This event is made possible through support from Citi.

Please join us for this season's next installment of the Schieffer Series, "The Syria Withdrawal and Next Steps." The Wall Street Journal's Nancy Youssef will join CSIS's Melissa Dalton, Seth Jones and Brian Katz for a discussion on the U.S. withdrawal from Syria and the implications this decision will have on Syria and the greater Middle East. Additionally, the panelists will touch on next steps for U.S. strategy in the region.   Event - 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.Pre-Event Reception - 5:00 - 5:30 p.m.   Hosted by CBS News legend and CSIS Trustee Bob Schieffer, the Schieffer Series features thoughtful panel discussions with senior officials, lawmakers, journalists, and policy experts to discuss global challenges and critical issues of national security and foreign policy. Now in its 11th consecutive year, the Schieffer Series is produced by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in partnership with the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.This series is made possible with the generous support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. For information or inquiries contact externalrelations@csis.org.

Please join CSIS’s Office of the Korea Chair and the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group on December 10th for a joint conference titled “CSIS-DAPA 2019: A New Generation of Partnership in the US-ROK Alliance” that aims to explore deeper and more extensive cooperation between defense-industrial firms in the two nations. The public session will feature a conversation with the Republic of Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Mr. Jung-hong Wang and the US Department of Defense’s Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Mr. Kevin Fahey.   Mr. Richard Armitage, President, Armitage International; Trustee, CSIS Mr. Andrew Hunter, Senior Fellow and Director, Defense- Industrial Initiatives Group, CSIS Mr. Jung-hong Wang, Minister, Defense Acquisition Program Administration Honorable Kevin Fahey, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Department of Defense Moderator: Dr. Victor D. Cha, Senior Adviser and Korea Chair, CSIS; D.S. Dong-KF Professor of Government, Georgetown University This event is co-hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Defense Acquisition Program (DAPA), and the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ). FEATURED

Against the backdrop of recent allegations leveled against Huawei and other Chinese entities, the nature and scope of the Communist Party of China’s (CCP) secret operations overseas, including traditional espionage, influence operations, industrial espionage, and intellectual property theft have never been more important, yet this topic remains widely misunderstood and understudied. In their new book, Chinese Communist Espionage: An Intelligence Primer, co-authors Peter Mattis and Matt Brazil focus on the world of Chinese espionage both past and present, enabling a better understanding of how important its influence is, both in China and abroad. Please join us at CSIS for a discussion of Chinese espionage with the two authors, as well as Aruna Viswanatha of The Wall Street Journal, in a discussion moderated by Jude Blanchette, CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies.  This event is made possible through CSIS general support funds.

In partnership with the Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding (CPRDU), CSIS is pleased to invite you to the eighth annual Transatlantic Forum on Russia. This year's conference will examine transatlantic policy towards Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova five years after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and military incursion into eastern Ukraine. The Transatlantic Forum on Russia is part of a broader effort to formulate an enduring transatlantic policy framework towards Russia, with an examination of regional security, political, and economic developments. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. AGENDA   8:30-8:50am Registration and Light Breakfast     9:00amWelcoming Remarks:          Ms. Heather A. Conley, Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic, CSIS Dr. Ernest Wyciszkiewicz, Director, Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding (CPRDU)   9:10-10:00am             Keynote Address: U.S. Policy toward Russia: A View from Congress Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) 10:00-11:30am           Panel One: Five Years After the Annexation of Crimea and Military Incursion into the Donbas: Where Does the Transatlantic Community Go from Here?   Panelists: Dr. Pawel Kowal, former Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland (2005-2007), Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences Dr. Maria Snegovaya, Adjunct Fellow, Center for European Policy (CEPA) Dr. Alina Polyakova, Director, Global Democracy and Emerging Technologies, Brookings Jonathan D. Katz, Senior Fellow, German Marshall Fund   Moderator: Dr. Ernest Wyciszkiewicz, Director, Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding (CPRDU)   11:30-11:45am           Coffee Break   11:45-1:15pm            Panel Two: Belarus, Moldova and Georgia: What Does the Future Hold?   Panelists: Dr. Adam Eberhardt, Director, Center for Eastern Studies, Warsaw Iulian Groza, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova (2013-2015) Executive Director, European Institute of Politics and Reforms, Chișinău Alex Johnson, Chief of Staff, U.S Helsinki CommissionDr. Mamuka Tsereteli, Senior Fellow, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at AFPC   Moderator: Ms. Heather A. Conley, Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic, CSIS   1:15pm                      Buffet Lunch                                     1:45pm                      Journalist Roundtable: The White House and the Evolution of U.S. Policy toward Russia   Panelists: Peter Baker, White House Correspondent, New York Times Susan Glasser, Staff Writer, The New Yorker Rene Pfister, Washington Bureau Chief, DER SPIEGEL   Moderator:  Ms. Heather A. Conley, Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic, CSIS This event is made possible through generous support from the Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) cordially invite you to "China’s Maritime Ambitions in the First Island Chain and Beyond" Agenda 1:00 - 1:15     Welcoming RemarksMichael J. Green Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University Yasunori Nakayama Director General (Acting), JIIA  1:15 - 2:00     East China SeaJeffrey Hornung Political Scientist, RAND Corporation   Masashi Murano Japan Chair Fellow, Hudson Institute   ModeratorBonnie Glaser Senior Adviser for Asia; Director, China Power Project, CSIS  2:00 - 2:45     South China SeaGreg Poling Director, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and Fellow, Southeast Asia Program, CSIS Collin Koh Swee Lean Research Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore ModeratorMichael J. Green Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University  2:45 - 3:00     Break  3:00 - 3:45     Pacific IslandsGreg Poling Director, Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and Fellow, Southeast Asia Program, CSIS Jonathan Pryke Director, Pacific Islands Program, Lowy Institute ModeratorPatrick Buchan Director, The U.S. Alliances Project, and Fellow for Indo-Pacific Security, CSIS  3:45 - 4:30     Implications for Regional Policy CoordinationAtsuko Kanehara Professor, Sophia University Jeff Benson Military Fellow, International Security Program, CSIS ModeratorMichael J. Green Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University  4:30   Adjourn This event is made possible with support from JIIA.

This bonus episode comes from CSIS's Beyond Parallel Living History video series. We invite former South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Song Min-soon to discuss global efforts to denuclearize North Korea during the six-party talks. Minister Song was the director general for North American affairs and chief delegate during the six-party talks in 2005. He played a key role in the September 2005 multilateral denuclearization agreement with North Korea, involving the U.S., Japan, South Korea, China and Russia.

Dr. Barbara Burger, president of Chevron Technology Ventures (CTV), joined guest host Melissa Dalton to discuss how CTV operates and how its work is impacting communities. They also discussed the importance of STEM education and finding allies.  

How is the Republican Party approaching key national security and defense issues heading into the 2020 U.S. Election? In this episode of Defense 2020, host Kathleen Hicks continues a discussion about this crucial question with Republican defense experts Mark Cancian (Center for Strategic and International Studies), Thomas Mahnken (Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments), and Jen Stewart (Minority Staff Director, House Armed Services Committee). Download the full transcript here.

The Egyptian government seems to be using horoscopes as a new avenue for disseminating pro-regime messages.

While countering terrorism financing may be prioritized by national governments, it is the rise of illicit finance and money laundering that constitutes a grave threat to national security and democratic institutions. As extensive research identified in the Kremlin Playbook and the Kremlin Playbook 2 demonstrated, illicit financial flows are increasingly used to influence policies and erode democratic systems. Anti-money laundering (AML) directives, Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) legislation as well as other transparency initiatives in the EU and U.S. can help safeguard democratic institutions.  Prior to the 2013 financial crisis, Cyprus and the Cypriot financial system was frequently cited as a main conduit of illicit financial flows, particularly from Russia. Cyprus responded by implementing important AML and banking reforms in recent years, such as a register for beneficial ownership for trusts and enhanced compliance and due diligence policies. We welcome the leaders of the two largest banks in Cyprus, as well as Eric Lorber, Director for the Center for Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, for a public discussion on what lessons were learned during this period as well as what more work needs to be done in the U.S. and the EU to prevent malign economic influence from penetrating Western financial systems. This event was made possible through ­­­­­­­­­­­general support to CSIS.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite back Seth Jones, CSIS's Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project. Seth discusses the U.S. raid on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and what it means for the future of the Islamic State as well as its implications on future relations between the U.S. and the Middle East. Download the full transcript here.

Mike is joined by Dr. Kath Hicks, Henry Kissinger Chair, Senior Vice President, and Director of the International Security Program at CSIS, for a discussion of how "gray zone" tactics factor into grand strategy in Asia. In unpacking the effect of gray zone tactics on strategy, Mike and Kath define the parameters of gray zone tactics and the domains in which they are most effective. With these assumptions in mind, what will the knock-on effects of gray zone tactics be on theories of coercion, victory, and defense planning in Asia? What parts of the U.S. government have historically been most effective at adapting to gray zone competition? Mike and Kath further discuss Kath's journey through the Department of Defense and her advice for young women hoping to become defense professionals. Download full transcript here.

How is the Democratic Party approaching key national security and defense issues heading into the 2020 U.S. Election? In this episode of Defense 2020, host Kathleen Hicks continues a discussion about this crucial question with Democratic defense experts Andrew Hunter (Center for Strategic and International Studies), Kelly Magsamen (Center for American Progress), and Adam Mount (Federation of American Scientists). Download the full transcript here.

What will the U.S. Air Force look like in 2030? What combination of aircraft will be needed to face the threats of the future? Three different organizations were tasked by Congress to figure out just that: the U.S. Air Force, the MITRE Corporation, and the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. These three studies vary in their approach, methodology, and detail. During this session, Todd Harrison will release his assessment of the three studies. Mr. Harrison will be joined by a stellar panel of airpower experts to lend their thoughts on the future construct of the U.S. Air Force.This report and public event are made possible by the generosity of General Atomics and Lockheed Martin Corporation.  

This episode explores the current dynamics between China and India in light of Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi’s second informal summit in October 2019. Our guest, Dr. Tanvi Madan, analyzes the outcomes of this meeting and the key issues impacting the bilateral relationship. Dr. Madan explains India’s views on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and use of detention facilities in Xinjiang, as well as how U.S. policy toward India factors in to China-India relations. She also addresses continued points of contention like the Kashmir region and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Dr. Tanvi Madan is director of The India Project and a senior fellow for the Project on International Order and Strategy in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Madan’s work explores Indian foreign policy, focusing particularly on India's relations with China and the United States. She also researches the intersection between Indian energy policies and its foreign and security policies.

Please join us at CSIS for a conversation with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Audun Halvorsen on Norway’s Arctic security strategy. For Arctic littoral states such as Norway, changing dynamics in the Arctic as a result of climate change and increased commercial activity will bring new challenges in the future. Deputy Foreign Minister Halvorsen will offer his perspectives on the effects of a shifting geopolitical climate on the Arctic and the implications for Norwegian foreign and security policy, for NATO efforts to enhance deterrence and defense in the High North and North Atlantic, and for Arctic governance.  Mr. Halvorsen previously served as a Political Advisor to the Minister of Defense and a Political Advisor to the Conservative Party Parliamentary Group.This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.  

In this episode, Jude invites Professor Victoria Hui, associate professor in the department of political science at the University of Notre Dame. Drawing on her academic work on global protest movements, Professor Hui analyzes the forces that are shaping Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, as well as the causes and consequences of the cycles of violence between protesters and the Hong Kong police.

Please join the Center for Strategic and International Studies for a Smart Women, Smart Power conversation with House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Ranking Member Kay Granger (R-TX). They will discuss U.S. foreign aid and international affairs spending.   Chairwoman Lowey is currently serving her sixteenth term in Congress. She was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1988 and served in the Democratic leadership in 2001 and 2002 as the first woman and the first New Yorker to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. She is also the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, where she is also the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations.   Ranking Member Kay Granger is serving her twelfth term in Congress. Granger is the first and only Republican woman to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Granger currently serves with Chairwoman Lowey as ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. Prior to this role, Granger was the first woman mayor of Fort Worth, Texas as well as the first female chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. She also served as chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee.   

In this episode, Bob and Andrew sit down with Melissa Dalton, deputy director of the CSIS International Security Program and director of the Cooperative Defense Project. Melissa discusses the current situation of the ongoing conflict in Syria and the sudden withdrawal of U.S. forces there, while analyzing Russia's role, potential U.S. strategy, and the state of Turkey's relationship with the U.S. Download the full transcript here.

Please join CSIS and the United States Naval Institute (USNI) for a Maritime Security Dialogue event featuring a discussion with Admiral Karl L. Schultz, the 26th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. This event is made possible by support from Huntington Ingalls Industries.

NatSecGirlSquad Founder Maggie Feldman-Piltch explains how the group’s commitment to women in security and defense extends beyond career advice and networking and why “competent diversity” is key to inclusion in the defense and security sector.

Bob and Andrew talk with Bulent Aliriza, director of the CSIS Turkey Project, about the escalating situation along the Syrian border with Turkey after President Trump ordered U.S. troops out of the region. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Mike sits down with Eric Sayers, adjunct senior fellow for the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, and Zack Cooper, research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, two rising conservative Asia strategic thinkers. Building on the previous episodes on the Democrats’ Asia strategy, the three discuss the nature of the U.S. strategic competition with China, growing isolationism among some Republican thinkers, and the roles of government, values, and principles for future Republican administration’s Asia grand strategy. Download full transcript here.

In this bonus episode of The Truth of the Matter, listen in on Bob Schieffer’s green room conversation with CSIS’ Jon Alterman, Seth Jones and the New York Times’ David Sanger, prior to the CSIS Schieffer Series event on the Iran situation, September 24. Download the full transcript here.

CSIS is pleased to host a discussion on the trade challenges, opportunities, and future paths of the European Economic Area (EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and the European Free Trade Association (a trade bloc consisting of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) featuring H.S.H. Prince Alois von und zu Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein's acting head of state since 2004. Recent discussions in the United Kingdom have highlighted the EFTA as a possible path for a future UK-EU relationship (known as "Norway Plus") which makes this a particularly timely discussion with Prince Alois, who will offer opening reflections about Liechtenstein's experience with the EEA and EFTA over the past 25 years and the implications of a potential no-deal Brexit. Following Prince Alois’ remarks, a distinguished panel will describe their own experiences with the EEA and EFTA, the future of these entities at a moment of change for the EU’s single market in anticipation of Brexit, and the implications for transatlantic trade relations with EEA and EFTA in light of potential US-UK and US-EU free trade agreements.This event was made possible through the generous support of the Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

In this episode of Russian Roulette, Jeff sits down with Hilary Appel, the Podlich Family Professor of Government and George R. Roberts Fellow at Claremont McKenna College in California. They discuss her memo “Are Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin Partners? Interpreting The Russia-China Rapprochement,” as well as the reinterpretation of Chinese investment as a ‘debt trap.’ You can find Hilary Appel’s bio here: https://www.cmc.edu/academic/faculty/profile/hilary-appel Her memo is here: http://www.ponarseurasia.org/memo/are-xi-jinping-and-vladimir-putin-partners-interpreting-russia-china-rapprochement The “China’s Rise in Eurasia” event where Dr. Appel discusses her memo is on our website: https://www.csis.org/events/chinas-rise-eurasia Keep an eye out on the PONARS website to read Dr. Elizabeth Wishnick’s memo on the two leaders as well here: http://www.ponarseurasia.org/ We want more mail! If you would like to have your question answered on the podcast, send it to us! Email rep@csis.org and put “Russian Roulette” in the subject line. And, if you have one, include your Twitter handle, so we can notify you publicly when we answer your question (or, if you don’t want us to, tell us that). We look forward to hearing from you.  

In this episode, hosts Bob Schieffer and Andrew Schwartz interview CSIS Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project Seth Jones about the recent attack on Saudi Arabia's oil production facilities. They also discuss Jones's prescient and relevant report, "Iran’s Threat to Saudi Critical Infrastructure." Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Professor Ho-Fung Hung describes his experience on the ground in Hong Kong from when he visited in August. Professor Hung also highlights the differences between old and new generations of protesters and looks ahead at what Hong Kong could look like in year 2047, when the “one country, two systems” arrangement is set to expire. Professor Ho-Fung Hung is the Henry M. and Elizabeth P. Wiesenfeld Professor in Political Economy at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University.

CSIS non-resident Senior Associate Monica Medina joined Beverly Kirk to discuss progress being made regarding women in military combat roles. She also talked about a court ruling from earlier this year that said excluding women from Selective Service registration is unconstitutional. That court decision is being appealed.

The situation in Mali and the Sahel continues to deteriorate. Despite significant international engagement and investment, violent extremism is increasing. The number of reported violent events linked to militant Islamic group activity in the Sahel has doubled every year since 2016, reaching 465 incidents in 2018. Violence also spread and then rapidly escalated in Niger and Burkina Faso in the past two years. As the head of United Nations peacekeeping operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, told the Security Council, the Sahel region needs support from the international community “now more than ever.” On September 11, 2019, the CSIS Africa Program will host a half-day conference examining the escalating violence in the Sahel. The conference will feature a keynote address by the Republican Leader of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Michael McCaul, who will share his views of U.S. policy toward the Sahel. Two expert panels, consisting of academics and policymakers from Europe, the Sahel, and the United States, will also discuss the state of play and response efforts. The opening and closing plenary and all panels will be live webcast from the CSIS website. Agenda: 9:00 AM - Panel 1: The State of Play Corinne Dufka (Human Rights Watch), Andrew Lebovich (Columbia University), Susanna Wing (Haverford College), and Doussouba Konate (Accountability Lab Mali) will examine the political incentives and disincentives underlying the regional responses to the escalating violence in the Sahel. 10:30 AM - Keynote address delivered by Representative Michael McCaul (Republican Leader, House Foreign Affairs Committee) 10:45 AM - Break  11:00 AM - Panel 2: The Way Forward U.S. and European officials will discuss the international architecture of the response efforts in the Sahel, including mechanisms to increase coordination and bridge gaps. Panelists will include Whitney Baird (U.S. State Department), Heike Thiele (German Directorate‑General for Humanitarian Assistance, Crisis Prevention Stabilisation and Post‑Conflict Reconstruction), Rigmor Elianne Koti (Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Section for the Horn of Africa and West Africa), Robert Jan Siegert (Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Ambassador Antonio Torres-Dulce (Spanish Special Envoy to the Sahel, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation). This event is made possible by the support of the European Union, the Embassy of Germany, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and the Embassy of Spain.

In this episode of Russian Roulette, Jeff sits down with Rachel Ellehuus, deputy director and senior fellow with the Europe Program at CSIS. They discuss the European reaction to the lapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, the effect of the demise on NATO’s strategy, and the prospects for the new START agreement. You can find Rachel Ellehuus’s bio here: https://www.csis.org/people/rachel-ellehuus Her recent piece “A NATO Strategy for a Post-INF World” is here: https://www.csis.org/analysis/nato-strategy-post-inf-world We want more mail! If you would like to have your question answered on the podcast, send it to us! Email rep@csis.org and put “Russian Roulette” in the subject line. And, if you have one, include your Twitter handle, so we can notify you publicly when we answer your question (or, if you don’t want us to, tell us that). We look forward to hearing from you.  

In this episode, Jude welcomes Joel Wuthnow. They discuss the history of China’s People’s Armed Police and what part the force might play in the expanding conflict. Joel is a research fellow at the Center of the Study for Chinese Military Affairs at National Defense University, as well as an adjunct professor at NDU and Georgetown University. Additionally, Joel authored the report, “China’s Other Army: The People’s Armed Police in an Era of Reform.”

Formed in 2014 by the Asia Pacific Initiative in Tokyo, the Military Statesmen Forum (MSF) brings together former leaders in the US and Japanese militaries to discuss the US-Japan Alliance and regional and global security challenges. The representatives from the MSF join us at CSIS for a discussion on these critical issues.   Agenda   2:30-2:40 Introductory RemarksMichael J. Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University 2:40-2:50 Opening Remarks Yoichi Funabashi, Chairman, Asia Pacific Initiative 2:50-4:30 Panel Discussion Moderator: Michael J. GreenSpeakers:  The United StatesAdmiral Michael Mullen (Ret.), 17th Chairman, Joint Chiefs of StaffAdmiral Dennis Blair (Ret.), Former Director of National IntelligenceGeneral Vincent Brooks (Ret.), Former Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U.S. Forces Korea Japan General Ryoichi Oriki (Ret.), 3rd Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of JapanGeneral Shigeru Iwasaki (Ret.), 4th Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of JapanAdmiral Katsutoshi Kawano (Ret.), 5th Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of Japan 4:30 Adjourn  Reception to Follow. This event is made possible with support to CSIS.

The CSIS Japan Chair cordially invites you to "Japan's Current Security Environment and the Direction of Further Strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance" Featuring remarks by Gen. Koji Yamazaki, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan Self-Defense Forces Followed by a discussion moderated byMichael J. Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair, CSIS; Director of Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown UniversityThis event is made possible by general support to CSIS.

Please join us on Tuesday, July 30 for a Global Leaders Forum conversation with His Excellency Khaltmaa Battulga, President of Mongolia, on "The Future of U.S.-Mongolia Relations." Welcoming remarks will be given by John Hamre, President and CEO of CSIS, and the conversation will be moderated by Michael J. Green, Senior Vice President for Asia and Japan Chair at CSIS and Director of Asian Studies, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.

In this episode, Mike and Andrew sit down with Dr. Kurt Campbell, president and CEO of The Asia Group, co-founder of the Center for a New American Security, and former assistant Secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs. In part one of a two-part discussion, Mike, Kurt, and Andrew give an inside look at the establishment of the Nye Initiative, the post-Cold War drive to restructure the U.S.-Japan alliance for the present era. They also grade the Trump and Obama administrations' records against combating strategic drift. Download the full transcript here.

Please join the CSIS International Security Program for a conversation with John F. Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). Inspector General Sopko will discuss findings from the SIGAR's latest report on U.S. security sector assistance efforts in Afghanistan, his first public remarks on the report since its publication in June 2019. This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.

The Smart Women, Smart Power Speaker Series hosted three Washington-based journalists for a conversation on how security and foreign policy issues will influence the upcoming campaign cycle. Moderated by Beverly Kirk, the panelists were Susan Glasser of The New Yorker, Jennifer Griffin of FOX News, and Lara Seligman of Foreign Policy.

When the United States invaded Afghanistan after the attacks on September 11, 2001, and then overthrew the Taliban regime, senior military officers were not predicting that the United States would be militarily involved 18 years later. Yet, after expending nearly $800 billion and suffering 2,400 killed, the United States is still there, having achieved at best a stalemate. The CSIS report seeks to understand how this happened. Our panel discussion will consider the nature of military advice in Afghanistan, its strengths and weaknesses, and what we have learned for future conflicts. This event is made possible through the support from the Koch Foundation.

Please join us for an in-depth conversation with Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support on the Senate Armed Services Committee, to discuss the recent release of the June 2019 Department of Defense Arctic Strategy. Is the United States appropriately resourced and positioned for Russia’s increased military presence in the Arctic as well as a growing Chinese economic and scientific presence? Or has the United States accepted that it will be limited in its future options to access the Arctic, in an era when U.S. forces and readiness are stretched and future defense budgets are uncertain? Current U.S. strategies suggest that the Arctic region does not make the geopolitical cut for the U.S., despite compelling arguments to the contrary. If correct, what are the long-term implications for U.S. national security? What hard budget and capability choices must be made for the U.S. to remain a relevant security actor in the Arctic?

Please join us for our annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2019. A timely discussion with current and former government officials, scholars, experts, and opinion leaders from the United States and Korea who will participate in a series of panel discussions to address the state of the U.S.-ROK alliance, the prospects for the peace building process on the Korean Peninsula, and the changing regional dynamics in East Asia and beyond. This event will be co-hosted with the Korea Foundation, a leading organization of Korea's international exchange and public policy initiative. You are also invited to join us after the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2019 for a special 10 anniversary celebration of the CSIS Korea Chair, starting at 5:00 PM. For more information and to register for the celebration, please visit this page: https://www.csis.org/events/csis-korea-chair-10-year-anniversary-celebration  10:30 – 10:45 AM WELCOMING REMARKS Ambassador Richard Armitage President, Armitage International; Trustee, CSIS Ambassador Lee Sihyung, President, The Korea Foundation 10:45 – 11:30 AM KEYNOTE ADDRESS & CONVERSATION Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA), Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Foreign Affairs Committee; Co-Chair of Congressional Study Group on Korea Moderated by: Ambassador Mark Lippert, Senior Advisor, CSIS Korea Chair; Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea 11:30 – 12:30 PM LUNCHEON 12:30 – 1:45 PM The ROK-U.S. Alliance for Peace and DenuclearizationSESSION I: Moderator: Mr. David Nakamura, White House Correspondent, The Washington Post Panelists: Ms. Joy Yamamoto, Director, Office of Korean Affairs, U.S. Department of State Dr. Victor Cha, Senior Adviser and Korea Chair, CSIS; D.S. Song-KF Professor of Government, Georgetown University; Former National Security Council Dr. Joon Hyung Kim, Professor, Handong Global University Dr. Sang Hyun Lee, Senior Research Fellow, Sejong Institute Ambassador Joseph Yun, Senior Advisor to the Asia Center, United States Institute of Peace; Former Special Representative for North Korea Policy and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan, U.S. Department of State 1:45 – 2:00 PM COFFEE BREAK 2:00 – 3:15 PM Recasting and Forecasting of the Peace Building Process on the Korean PeninsulaSESSION II: Moderator: Ambassador Byungjae Cho, Former Chancellor, Korea National Diplomatic Academy, Former ROK Ambassador to Myanmar and Malaysia Panelists: Dr. Haksoon Paik, President, Sejong Institute Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, KF-VUB Korea Chair, Institute for European Studies (IES-VUB); Reader (Associate Professor) in International Relations, King's College London Dr. Jiyoung Park, Director and Senior Fellow, Center for Science and Technology Policy, the Asan Institute for Policy Studies Dr. Sue Mi Terry, Senior Fellow, CSIS Korea Chair; Former Senior Analyst, Central Intelligence Agency; Former National Security Council 3:15 – 3:30 PM COFFEE BREAK 3:30 – 4:45 PM The Regional Dynamics: East-Asia and BeyondSESSION III: Moderator: Dr. Sue Mi Terry, Senior Fellow, CSIS Korea Chair; Former Senior Analyst, Central Intelligence Agency; Former National Security Council ...

Please join us for our annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2019. A timely discussion with current and former government officials, scholars, experts, and opinion leaders from the United States and Korea who will participate in a series of panel discussions to address the state of the U.S.-ROK alliance, the prospects for the peace building process on the Korean Peninsula, and the changing regional dynamics in East Asia and beyond. This event will be co-hosted with the Korea Foundation, a leading organization of Korea's international exchange and public policy initiative. You are also invited to join us after the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2019 for a special 10 anniversary celebration of the CSIS Korea Chair, starting at 5:00 PM. For more information and to register for the celebration, please visit this page: https://www.csis.org/events/csis-korea-chair-10-year-anniversary-celebration  10:30 – 10:45 AM WELCOMING REMARKS Ambassador Richard ArmitagePresident, Armitage International; Trustee, CSIS Ambassador Lee Sihyung, President, The Korea Foundation 10:45 – 11:30 AM KEYNOTE ADDRESS & CONVERSATION Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA), Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, House Foreign Affairs Committee; Co-Chair of Congressional Study Group on Korea Moderated by: Ambassador Mark Lippert, Senior Advisor, CSIS Korea Chair; Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea 11:30 – 12:30 PM LUNCHEON 12:30 – 1:45 PM The ROK-U.S. Alliance for Peace and DenuclearizationSESSION I: Moderator: Mr. David Nakamura, White House Correspondent, The Washington Post Panelists: Ms. Joy Yamamoto, Director, Office of Korean Affairs, U.S. Department of State Dr. Victor Cha, Senior Adviser and Korea Chair, CSIS; D.S. Song-KF Professor of Government, Georgetown University; Former National Security Council Dr. Joon Hyung Kim, Professor, Handong Global University Dr. Sang Hyun Lee, Senior Research Fellow, Sejong Institute Ambassador Joseph Yun, Senior Advisor to the Asia Center, United States Institute of Peace; Former Special Representative for North Korea Policy and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan, U.S. Department of State 1:45 – 2:00 PM COFFEE BREAK 2:00 – 3:15 PM Recasting and Forecasting of the Peace Building Process on the Korean PeninsulaSESSION II: Moderator: Ambassador Byungjae Cho, Former Chancellor, Korea National Diplomatic Academy, Former ROK Ambassador to Myanmar and Malaysia Panelists: Dr. Haksoon Paik, President, Sejong Institute Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, KF-VUB Korea Chair, Institute for European Studies (IES-VUB); Reader (Associate Professor) in International Relations, King's College London Dr. Jiyoung Park, Director and Senior Fellow, Center for Science and Technology Policy, the Asan Institute for Policy Studies Dr. Sue Mi Terry, Senior Fellow, CSIS Korea Chair; Former Senior Analyst, Central Intelligence Agency; Former National Security Council 3:15 – 3:30 PM COFFEE BREAK 3:30 – 4:45 PM The Regional Dynamics: East-Asia and BeyondSESSION III: Moderator: Dr. Sue Mi Terry, Senior Fellow, CSIS Korea Chair; Former Senior Analyst, Central Intelligence Agency; Former National Security Council Panelists...