Hudson Institute Events Podcast
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How to Transform the Japan Self-Defense Force for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence
16 juni 2026 · 1 uur 8 min
Please join Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology for the launch of a new report, Strengthening the Front Line: Transforming the Japan Self-Defense Force for Twenty-First-Century Deterrence. Lees meer
Japan’s government has committed to historic increases in defense spending—and is preparing to revise its National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program before the end of 2026. But larger budgets and updated strategy documents alone will not translate into deterrence. The Japan Self-Defense Forces need a fundamentally different force design: one built around adaptability, uncrewed systems, and hedge forces tailored to how future conflict in the Indo-Pacific is likely to unfold.
Join report authors Bryan Clark and David Byrd, in conversation with Masashi Murano, for a discussion of the report’s principal findings and their implications for how Japan should design and resource its future defense force.
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Saving Ukrainian Children: A Conversation with Maksym Maksymov
13 juni 2026 · 40 min
One of the most horrific consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been Moscow’s illegal abduction of Ukrainian children. These children have not only been taken from their homeland and dispersed across the Russian Federation, but they are also being raised to forget their Ukrainian identity and, in some cases, taught to hate their native land. Lees meer
Bring Kids Back UA is a Ukrainian humanitarian initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023 to locate and return Ukrainian children forcibly deported or displaced by Russia. It serves as an umbrella organization, bringing together domestic and international efforts to rescue, return, and reintegrate these children.
Please join Hudson Institute as it welcomes Maksym Maksymov, head of Bring Kids Back UA, to discuss his organization’s important work.
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Helping Ukraine Defend Europe’s Skies: The Urgent Need for PAC-3 Interceptors
12 juni 2026 · 38 min
This month, Russia launched the largest wave of airstrikes in its war against Ukraine, using hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles to strike targets, including civilian infrastructure. Lees meer
Russia first enacted this savage way of war against the people of Grozny in the 1990s and later refined it through its atrocities in Bucha.
While Ukraine has shown remarkable innovation and creativity in countering Russia’s drones, the bigger threat comes from Russia’s ballistic and hypersonic missiles. Against these weapons, there is only one combat-proven defense: the PAC-3 interceptor fired from the MIM-104 Patriot air defense system.
Ukraine is running out of these interceptors at the moment they are needed most.
What can the United States and its European partners do to help Ukraine mitigate the threat of Russian ballistic and hypersonic missiles, especially before winter begins? What is the nature of Russia’s ballistic and hypersonic missile threat? And how is Russia still able to produce so many missiles using Western component parts despite sanctions?
To discuss these issues and more, please join Hudson Institute for an event on Ukraine’s air defense.
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Growing the DIB: A Conversation with Deputy Assistant Secretary of War James Mismash
12 juni 2026 · 1 uur 9 min
Revitalizing and expanding the US defense industrial base (DIB) is a top priority for the Trump administration. The need for a robust domestic manufacturing base is critical to warfighting readiness, supply chain resilience, and the nation’s ability to rapidly scale defense production in response to emerging global threats. Lees meer
To advance these efforts, the Department of War’s Office of Industrial Base Growth is leading initiatives focused on strengthening and expanding the defense industrial base through vendor growth and supplier maturity. The office works to increase competition, build capacity, and create clearer pathways for businesses of all sizes to enter and succeed in the defense marketplace.
Please join Hudson Institute for a fireside chat between Hudson Senior Fellow Nadia Schadlow and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Industrial Base Growth and Director of the Office of Small Business Programs James Mismash. The discussion will explore current efforts to strengthen the defense industrial base, expand industrial capacity, and foster greater participation and competition across the national security ecosystem.
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Spain’s Latin American Reckoning
4 juni 2026 · 1 uur
Spain was once one of Latin America’s most consequential external partners. It served as a democratic model for the region’s transitions from authoritarianism, a major investor in its economies, and a self-styled bridge between the Americas and Europe. That era of influence has given way to strategic retreat and deepening contradictions. Lees meer
Under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Spain has aligned itself with the region’s leftist governments. But the corruption investigation now engulfing former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, whose mediation in Venezuela is now under legal scrutiny, has cast a shadow over a decade of Spanish diplomacy in that country. Meanwhile, Europe’s engagement with Latin America has entered a new and more urgent phase. The European Union has concluded or overhauled trade agreements with Mercosur and Mexico. So while Latin America’s strategic significance has never been higher, Spain is increasingly out of step with its European allies and with the direction of history in the region.
Join Hudson as Adjunct Fellow Daniel Batlle sits down with Julio Crespo MacLennan, a historian and one of the leading scholars on Spain’s democratic transition and on Europe’s relationship with the wider world. They will discuss Madrid’s influence in Latin America, as well as what Spain’s history can teach us about the prospects for change in Cuba and Venezuela.
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Authoritarian Persistence in Latin America: What Should the US Do?
3 juni 2026 · 58 min
The regimes of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua have proven to be more durable than expected. The Daniel Ortega–Rosario Murillo regime in Nicaragua has intensified repression and destroyed the institutions that might constrain it, and the Cuban regime is so far not making even modest concessions, even as its economy collapses. In Venezuela, the Maduro regime has reconstituted itself under Delcy Rodriguez. Lees meer
How have these regimes survived, even as socialism has manifestly failed and as their citizens have fled in historic numbers? What has been missing from United States strategy? Could the Trump administration’s transactional approach yield results where decades of democracy promotion have failed?
Please join Adjunct Fellow Daniel Batlle for a conversation with Elliott Abrams, whose leadership on Latin America policy stretches from his service as assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs under President Ronald Reagan to his role as special representative for Venezuela in the first Trump administration.
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The Western Hemisphere’s Energy Moment
22 mei 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
Latin America is experiencing a historic energy boom. Brazil, Guyana, and Argentina are collectively positioned to supply nearly half of global crude production growth through 2030, Venezuela is reentering world markets following the fall of the Maduro regime, and Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale formation is on the verge of transforming the country into a major liquid natural gas exporter. The disruptions to Middle Eastern supply have focused new attention on Latin America’s potential as a stable, resource-rich alternative. Lees meer
At the same time, Latin America’s rise as an energy powerhouse is far from assured. National oil companies in the region are burdened by debt and political interference, and governments from Bogotá to Brasília are struggling to balance the fiscal imperative of oil revenues with their commitments to a green energy transition. Whether this boom translates into greater energy security and lasting prosperity for the hemisphere will depend on the choices being made by the current governments in the region.
Join Hudson Institute as Adjunct Fellow Daniel Batlle interviews Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin American Energy Program at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and one of the foremost authorities on energy and political economy in the region, for a wide-ranging conversation on Latin America's energy future and what it means for the hemisphere and for US interests.
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Georgia at a Geopolitical Crossroads: Iranian Influence and Strategic Competition
21 mei 2026 · 59 min
Not too long ago, Georgia was one of the United States’ most dependable strategic partners in the Black Sea region. Its commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration, substantial contributions to US-led missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and cooperation on counterterrorism and energy transit made Georgia central to Washington’s regional strategy. Lees meer
Today, however, Georgia is moving in a different direction. Led by the Georgian Dream party, the government has become more authoritarian while aligning more closely with US adversaries, particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the aftermath of Operation Epic Fury, growing ties between Tbilisi and Tehran should be of particular concern to US policymakers. This activity directly threatens US national security interests in the South Caucasus, undermines Western influence, and strengthens a regime committed to exporting the ideology of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
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A Conversation with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy of the United States Sarah B. Rogers
20 mei 2026 · 55 min
As US adversaries escalate their investment in information warfare, the global contest for ideas has become a primary theater of great-power competition. Countering this challenge demands a public diplomacy strategy built for the speed, scale, and sophistication of the modern information environment. Lees meer
Please join the Hudson Institute for a conversation with Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah B. Rogers and Hudson Research Fellow Zineb Riboua on how the United States is adapting its public diplomacy tools to advance its interests abroad, counter censorship, promote free speech, and leverage artificial intelligence to deliver more effective, targeted messaging. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee, will give opening remarks and introduce Under Secretary Rogers.
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Adapting to the Modern Media Landscape: A Conversation with Hugh Hewitt
19 mei 2026 · 1 uur
The American media landscape is undergoing rapid change. New technologies, shifting audience habits, and growing political polarization are reshaping how information is delivered, consumed, debated, and trusted. Journalists and commentators continually face renewed pressure to adapt to an increasingly fragmented environment. Lees meer
Join Hudson Institute Distinguished Fellow Mike Gallagher for a fireside chat with radio host and commentator Hugh Hewitt, whose career in media and politics has spanned more than four decades. The two will discuss Hewitt’s tenure in Washington and the evolution of the American media landscape.
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Environmental Agendas, Geopolitical Ends: Climate Policy and Great Power Competition
19 mei 2026 · 1 uur 12 min
Many formal climate change organizations operating in Western countries spend significant resources and policy time promoting broader anti-West narratives. While proclaiming themselves as champions of the environment, many function in practice as tools for America’s adversaries — above all the Chinese Communist Party. By coopting the climate agenda, Beijing works to weaken energy security in the West and raise productions costs, while their own country moves full steam ahead with cheaper and more reliable energy. Lees meer
Furthermore, climate organizations promoting anti-Western ideas and policies erode domestic cohesion, undermine energy independence, and weaken the United States diplomatically and economically. Some of the most radical have even called for eradication of the State of Israel.
To examine this emerging challenge, Senior Fellow Dr. Michael Doran will convene a conversation with Research Fellow Zineb Riboua, Professor Brenda Shaffer—Research Faculty Member at the US Naval Postgraduate School and Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council—and Sam Cooper, an award-winning investigative journalist focusing on China-Canada relations.
Together, they will explore how climate-linked institutions intersect with geopolitical competition with China and what this means for North American strategy moving forward.
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Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
18 mei 2026 · 1 uur
Taiwan stands at the center of intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China—a flashpoint where uneasy peace could give way to global crisis. Xi Jinping has made “reunification” a defining goal, while longstanding deterrence strategies are being tested by rapid shifts in military, economic, and technological capabilities. Beijing is increasingly pursuing methods of coercion designed to isolate and pressure Taiwan without triggering open conflict, raising urgent questions about how to preserve stability in the region. Lees meer
In Defending Taiwan, Eyck Freymann offers a comprehensive strategy to deter war and sustain peace. Drawing on Chinese-language sources, military analysis, and historical insight, Freymann argues that deterrence must extend beyond traditional military power. It requires a coordinated approach that integrates economic leverage, technological leadership, and diplomatic alliances. With Jason Hsu, Freymann will discuss how the United States and its partners can adapt to China’s evolving strategy and develop a coherent plan to prevent conflict while safeguarding Taiwan’s future.
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China’s Persecution: Assault on All Faiths
18 mei 2026 · 1 uur 32 min
China is waging genocide against the Uyghur and other Turkic Muslims. It subjugates Falun Gong practitioners and Tibetan Buddhists and continues its decades-long campaign to suppress and control Christians, turning their churches into state propaganda organs under the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department. The CCP views religion as the last and greatest impediment to its total domination of Chinese cultural and civic life. Lees meer
To address these concerns, former senator Sam Brownback, who served as ambassador at large for international religious freedom in the first Trump administration, will join Senior Fellow Nina Shea to propose new policies for the US government and actions for the American public. He will draw from his book, China’s War on Faith, which is scheduled for release on May 12.
Brownback and Shea will interview several survivors of CCP religious oppression, each of whom are profiled in the book, including a Buddhist high lama who was forced to flee Tibet and a Uyghur mother whose newborn son was killed by the CCP. Former congressman Frank Wolf, who introduced the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, will also present. The legislation was key to institutionalizing religious freedom as a pillar of US foreign policy.
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Cuba: Prospects for Transition
12 mei 2026 · 1 uur 5 min
Six decades after the Cuban revolution, despite a generational leadership transition, Cuba remains one of the most enduring challenges for US foreign policy. In a country where one of the few things that work is the state’s repressive machinery, the regime is keeping the Cuban people impoverished and deprived of basic freedoms. Lees meer
The Trump administration has been turning up the pressure on Cuba, predicting the regime's imminent collapse and imposing a sweeping blockade on oil shipments. Earlier this month, Washington sent a senior delegation to Havana for talks, warning that the regime has limited time to comply with US demands for political and economic reform. Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel has been defiant, insisting Cuba will not negotiate over its political system and urging Cubans to prepare to defend the country.
Join Hudson Institute for a conversation with Frank Calzon, a veteran human rights advocate and one of the foremost authorities on Cuban civil society, as we examine the state of the island, lessons from democratic transitions elsewhere, and prospects for the Trump administration’s Cuba strategy.
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A Conversation with Former METI Minister Nishimura on Prime Minister Takaichi’s Policy Outlook and Solutions
8 mei 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
After a landslide electoral victory in February and a successful trip to Washington in March, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised to introduce an energetic economic and security policy agenda. Recent developments, such as the conflict with Iran, have created new energy and security challenges, yet the strong US-Japan relationship remains constant. Lees meer
On May 6, Hudson Japan Chair Kenneth R. Weinstein will welcome Yasutoshi Nishimura, former head of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to Hudson. Minister Nishimura will give remarks concerning the prime minister's successful March visit to Washington, her economic and diplomatic policies, and how Japan is responding to energy security challenges stemming from the Middle East. After a fireside chat between Minister Nishimura and Dr. Weinstein, the event will conclude with an audience Q&A.
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Building the Future in Romania and Southeast Europe: A Conversation with Minister Dragoș Pîslaru Past Event Hudson Institute April 17, 2026
29 april 2026 · 1 uur 7 min
Romania is intimately connected to the major infrastructure corridors shaping Southeast Europe and the Black Sea region, including the Three Seas Initiative, Vertical Gas Corridor, Middle Corridor, and Neptun Deep. These initiatives are indicative of the scale of investment underway as countries in this critical region build their future in the shadow of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Lees meer
Join Senior Fellow Matt Boyse and Minister of European Investments Dragoș Nicolae Pîslaru for a fireside conversation about how infrastructure investments are enhancing security and economic resilience in Romania and Southeast Europe.
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The Future of the Gulf: Commerce and Security in the Middle East After Operation Epic Fury
29 april 2026 · 57 min
The conflict between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is not over, but it is already shaping a new future for the Middle East. From commercial flows and energy exports to shifting diplomacy, the region is adjusting to Operation Epic Fury in ways that will open up new diplomatic and economic relations, enable alternative trade routes, and shuffle political relationships. What might these changes look like, and how lasting will they be? Lees meer
Join Hudson Institute Distinguished Fellow Mike Gallagher for a fireside chat with Jared Cohen, president of global affairs at Goldman Sachs and co-head of the Goldman Sachs Global Institute, for a discussion on the future of the Persian Gulf.
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New Evidence of China’s Forced Organ Harvesting and a Proposed US Response
15 april 2026 · 1 min
In 2020, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo officially determined that China was committing genocide against the Uyghur and other Turkic Muslim communities. A new book, The Xinjiang Procedure, reports that, in addition to torture, gang rape, and involuntary sterilization and abortion, forced organ harvesting on an industrial scale is a heinous feature of this genocide. For these reports about forced organ harvesting, its author Ethan Gutmann drove under cover to the Central Asian border region with China where he secretly interviewed former detainees of Xinjiang’s notorious concentration camps, where over a million, mostly Uyghurs, were detained. Lees meer
China’s organ transplant sector surged over the past twenty-five years, with the critical support of Western medical transplant training, joint research, technology, grants, and fellowships. Hundreds of Chinese transplant surgeons have been trained in American medical schools despite mounting reports of China’s forced organ harvesting and a failure to verify Beijing’s claims of a solely voluntary organ donor supply. To curb this, last year the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed HR 1503, the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act, which is now awaiting Senate consideration.
Join Nina Shea in a discussion with Ethan Gutmannand Congressman Chris Smith, the author of the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting bill.
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Protecting US Communications: Strengthening Supply Chains and Countering Foreign Risk
15 april 2026 · 1 uur 52 min
Foreign-controlled telecommunications infrastructure and vulnerable global supply chains pose growing risks to the integrity and security of US communications networks. The Federal Communications Commission has taken steps to address these challenges over the past year. Efforts have focused on rooting out non-compliant overseas “bad labs” from the FCC’s equipment authorization program, accelerating the buildout of submarine cable systems, and mitigating risk from high-risk foreign components. Lees meer
Marking the one-year anniversary of this initiative, this event will highlight the FCC’s progress and examine next steps to secure communications supply chains and mitigate emerging risks. Experts and policymakers will discuss how to close regulatory gaps, improve compliance, and build more resilient and trusted infrastructure.
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The US Economic Outlook: A Conversation with Pierre Yared
14 april 2026 · 46 min
Policymakers and business leaders are looking for signals about where the broader economy is headed as the US economy navigates rapid technological change, geopolitical risks, and a monetary outlook shaped by tensions between inflation and a cooling labor market. From the Trump administration’s efforts to reindustrialize key sectors of the American economy and reshape trade relationships to persistent pressures in housing and stubborn mortgage rates, the current outlook is also underscored by an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment. Lees meer
Please join Acting Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Pierre Yared for a conversation with Senior Fellow Tom Duesterberg on the first year of the Trump administration’s economic agenda and the key factors shaping the US economy’s outlook.
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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the Future of Trade Policy
8 april 2026 · 39 min
“The year 2025 will be remembered as the year of the tariff,” wrote Ambassador Jamieson Greer, the United States trade representative, in a Financial Times op-ed at the end of last year. Lees meer
In its first year back in office, the Trump administration wielded tariffs to strike new trade deals at negotiating tables around the world. Representatives from the White House made stops in Geneva, Madrid, London, Kuala Lumpur, and Busan—and that was just for talks with the People’s Republic of China.
The US also sought new terms with numerous friendly nations, culminating in the Turnberry Agreement between the United States and the European Union and including framework deals with key allies Japan, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Korea.
In the new year, trade remains at or near the top of the White House’s international agenda, from ongoing regulatory disputes with Europe to the impending review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) and negotiations between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The Supreme Court’s ruling on the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act has injected yet another complicating dynamic into trade discussions. If 2025 was the year of the tariff, what will 2026 be known as?
The National Security Strategy argues that rebalancing global trade relationships also means “consolidating our alliance system into an economic group.” How does the administration intend to pursue this objective? Please join Ambassador Greer for a fireside chat with Senior Fellow Peter Rough on what’s next for US trade policy.
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After Maduro: Venezuela Three Months On
7 april 2026 · 40 min
Nearly three months after Nicolás Maduro's capture, Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez is consolidating her grip on power. In a sweeping shakeup, she replaced nearly half of her cabinet and all senior military commanders, including replacing defense minister Vladimir Padrino López with Gustavo González López, who has been sanctioned by the US for his past role in repression. Of Maduro's original inner circle, only three remain in the regime. Lees meer
Over 500 political prisoners are still behind bars, and a new amnesty law has proven to be very selective. Yet Rodríguez faces a potential new source of internal pressure, with labor groups protesting frozen wages and pensions.
In the meantime, as the Trump administration pursues its phased transition strategy, it is deepening its partnership with the Rodríguez government. In recent weeks, the US formally recognized Rodríguez as Venezuela's sole leader, expanded sanctions relief beyond oil and gas to include the mining sector, and downgraded the State Department's travel advisory.
Join Hudson Institute for a discussion with former US Ambassador to Venezuela James Story to examine developments in Venezuela and prospects for Washington’s strategy.
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China’s Economic Slowdown: Risks, Realities, and Strategic Implications
6 april 2026 · 59 min
After years of subsidized, debt-driven growth and centrally directed economic policy, China is now mired in a slowing economy relying on massive exports to sustain stability. The nation faces growing debt problems, a faltering social safety net, failing productivity growth, and increasing foreign resistance to its heavily subsidized mercantilist model. Lees meer
Will China lapse into a Japan-like spiral of stagnation and financial instability? Does the United States now have an opportunity to push back against Chinese efforts to win the global technology race and undermine its economic and political leadership?
Join Hudson Institute for a panel that will discuss Dr. Duesterberg’s new report on the Chinese economic model and how policymakers should consider its vulnerabilities when formulating strategy to counter Beijing’s practices.
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The Three Seas Initiative: Ambassador Romana Vlahutin on Europe’s New Geography of Power
6 april 2026 · 41 min
For decades, Europe developed along an east-west axis while the north-south spine of the continent remained underleveraged, its energy networks fragmented and its transit corridors incomplete. Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed the calculus. In the aftermath, Europe can no longer treat connectivity as a secondary concern. The Three Seas Initiative, linking twelve European Union member states from the Baltic to the Adriatic to the Black Sea, has emerged as one of the most serious efforts to close that gap through targeted investment in energy, transport, and digital infrastructure across Central and Eastern Europe. Lees meer
Whether the initiative can fulfill its promise depends on political will, sustained capital, and transatlantic coordination at a moment when American engagement with Europe is being questioned.
Please join Ambassador Romana Vlahutin and Research Fellow Zineb Riboua for a conversation on the Three Seas Initiative and its role in shaping Europe's new geography of power.
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Congressman Michael Baumgartner on Operation Epic Fury and US Strategy
3 april 2026 · 1 uur 7 min
Congressman Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) will join Michael Doran, Director of Hudson’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, for a timely discussion about the evolving situation in Iran. Congressman Baumgartner brings a distinctive perspective shaped by his professional experience in the Middle East, where he worked on economic development and governance initiatives in complex and often volatile environments. His firsthand insight into the region’s political and security dynamics will inform a grounded assessment of current U.S. strategy. Lees meer
Together, Congressman Baumgartner, member of the Republican Policy Committee, and Doran will examine the objectives and risks of Operation Epic Fury, the broader regional implications, and the policy choices facing Washington in the weeks ahead.
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Operation Epic Fury and the Future of Warfare: A Conversation with Senator Joni Ernst
3 april 2026 · 49 min
The United States and Israel’s campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran marks a pivotal moment for the Middle East, with consequences that will shape the region’s future security landscape. As Washington counters Iran’s asymmetric missile and drone capabilities, Senator Joni Ernst (R‑IA)—Chairwoman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities and Co‑Chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus—has advanced key legislation, including the DEFEND and MARITIME Acts, to strengthen US and partner defenses against exactly these threats. Lees meer
Hudson Institute invites you to join Senator Ernst for a conversation with Senior Fellow Peter Rough, Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia, on Operation Epic Fury, the trajectory of US policy in the Middle East, and how today’s conflict is reshaping modern warfare and strategy.
This event is co‑sponsored with The Bastion Institute, where Senator Ernst serves as honorary chair and Peter Rough serves on the board.
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Zimbabwe’s Land Seizures and the Road to Resolution
3 april 2026 · 1 uur 12 min
The United States–Zimbabwe relationship has been strained for decades, in part due to the government’s violent farm invasion campaign that began in earnest in 2000. Harare’s refusal to compensate most of the farmers whose land was taken is still a significant barrier to improving the bilateral relationship. Lees meer
Join Senior Fellow Joshua Meservey as he hosts a panel of experts to discuss the history of land expropriation in Zimbabwe, the status of the land compensation agenda, and how policymakers can rectify an issue that bedevils US-Zimbabwe relations.
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Europe and the Iran War: A Conversation with Tomáš Pojar
2 april 2026 · 1 uur 1 min
Since the onset of Operation Epic Fury, Europe’s response has been cautious and divided, revealing real strain within the transatlantic alliance. While leaders in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Southern Europe have ruled out direct military participation—insisting this is “not our war”—others, including Spain and Greece, have declined to support U.S. operations altogether. The result is a Europe aligned with Washington’s concerns about Iran, but hesitant to fully commit. Lees meer
Is this a temporary divergence, or the beginning of a deeper realignment?
To explore this question, former Czech Ambassador to Israel and national security advisor, now a nonresident senior fellow with Hudson Institute's Center on Europe and Eurasia Tomáš Pojar joins Michael Doran, Director of Hudson’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, for a timely conversation on Europe’s strategic posture, alliance cohesion, and the future of Western coordination in the region.
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Moldova’s Economic Future: Reform, Resilience, and Regional Connectivity
2 april 2026 · 45 min
For over a year, the Republic of Moldova has advanced economic reforms to improve the country’s business environment and attract investment. The government prioritized deregulation and digitalized public services, while also helping businesses access finance. Key sectors, such as electrical equipment manufacturing and agriculture, received government support, and service exports, particularly in information technology, expanded rapidly. Meanwhile, Moldova is cooperating with international partners to diversify supply chains and position itself as a reliable hub for logistics, energy, and digital infrastructure. These efforts will allow the country to support regional stability and assist with Ukraine’s future reconstruction. Lees meer
Join Hudson as Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Eugen Osmochescu speaks on these and other issues.
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Prioritizing Political Prisoner Advocacy Across China
2 april 2026 · 3 uur 1 min
As President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping prepare to meet in April, striking a favorable trade deal is top of mind. But trade shouldn’t be the only priority. China currently imprisons several political prisoners who are important to the United States government—including Chinese Christian Pastor Ezra Jin, Uyghur doctor Gulshan Abbas, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, and many others. Several of these prisoners have family members who are American citizens and want to be reunited. Ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting, Washington needs to call for the unequivocal release and safe return of political prisoners. Lees meer
Join us at Hudson Institute to discuss how advocates, lawmakers, and the US government can prioritize the release of political prisoners across China.
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Killed to Order: China’s Organ Harvesting Industry
2 april 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
Starting 20 years ago, the religious group Falun Gong began exposing how China harvests organs from persecuted groups. Today evidence shows that the Chinese Communist Party has harvested organs from living prisoners of conscience through a state-run system that includes the security services, military hospitals, and civilian transplant centers. Lees meer
Join Nina Shea for a discussion with Jan Jekielek, author of the new book Killed to Order, about this modern atrocity. They will focus on how and why China has allowed the horror of forced organ harvesting to flourish, and what decades of rigorous research have uncovered. The conversation will also address how global supply chains and medical institutions have been complicit. Shea and Jekielek will then offer policy recommendations.
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The Military Balance with Iran: A Strategic Assessment
13 maart 2026 · 58 min
As the United States and Israel continue to strike Iran, the strategic landscape in the Middle East is shifting rapidly. In this conversation, Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East Senior Fellows Michael Doran and Can Kasapoğlu will discuss the evolving military situation in Iran and the wider region. Kasapoğlu will assess how Iranian forces are responding to the strikes, the role of the IRGC in a potential post-Khamenei order, and what indicators analysts should watch in the coming weeks. Lees meer
The discussion will also explore the sustainability of Iran’s missile and drone campaigns, the limits of air-defense systems, and the strategic choices facing the United States and its allies as the conflict unfolds.
Join us for a timely military briefing on one of the most consequential crises shaping the future of the Middle East
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Mobilize: How to Reboot the American Industrial Base and Stop World War III
12 maart 2026 · 1 uur 2 min
The American industrial base once underwrote the nation's victory. Builders and workers rallied to win World War II. For most of the twentieth century, great American companies from General Mills to Chrysler had defense businesses that sent mankind into space and won the Cold War. Lees meer
But the forges fell silent, and the furnaces went dark. China took the lead in manufacturing. And the relationship between America’s innovators and its warfighters deteriorated—until now.
Hudson Trustee and Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar’s new book, Mobilize, spotlights this undeclared state of emergency and the bold reformers in government and industry who are taking action to respond. With Walter Russell Mead, Sankar will discuss his strategy to resurrect the American industrial base, win the twenty-first-century defense technology race, and prevent World War III.
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US-Japan Cooperation on Naval Maintenance, Commercial Shipbuilding, and Shipping
11 maart 2026 · 1 uur 1 min
Naval and commercial shipbuilding, maintenance, and shipping are crucial to the national security and economic prosperity of the United States and Japan. Both countries have rich naval and commercial maritime traditions, but such legacies have faced challenges in recent years. In response, Washington and Tokyo have established initiatives to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation. Lees meer
On March 10, Hudson Japan Chair will host a public discussion bringing together experts and practitioners to address US-Japan cooperation on these maritime issues. Experts will focus on how the two countries can strengthen their naval maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activities; scale shipbuilding capacity; and address the needs of shipping companies and end-users.
Join Hudson for a discussion highlighting each nation's approach to these common challenges, as well as how US-Japan collaboration should best proceed.
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Securing America’s Critical Mineral Supply Chain: A Conversation with Congressman Rob Wittman
5 maart 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
Supply chains have been central to the second Trump administration’s foreign and national security policy platforms. As global security deteriorates, policymakers need to act quickly to ensure American manufacturers can access materials that are vital for national defense and economic resilience. Lees meer
At the heart of this effort is the United States government’s drive, in collaboration with private industry, to develop domestic critical mineral supply chains. China’s near monopoly on critical mineral processing gives Beijing the ability to influence trade negotiations and exercise economic coercion. Through these unfair trade practices, China seeks to further weaken America’s vital industries and security interests.
Join Distinguished Fellow Mike Gallagher and Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) for a discussion on the congressman’s recently introduced Securing Essential and Critical US Resources and Elements (SECURE Minerals) Actand Congress’s role in securing America’s economic security.
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Securing Venezuela’s Freedom after Maduro
4 maart 2026 · 49 min
The end of Nicolás Maduro’s rule marked a historic turning point for Venezuela. But transitions do not secure themselves. Authoritarian systems often attempt to survive through controlled reform and partial concessions. Lees meer
Venezuela’s interim authorities have introduced initial measures, including an amnesty law and economic adjustments. Yet a genuine democratic transition requires structural guarantees: the full release of political prisoners, the dismantling of repression, the reopening of civic space, the safe return of political exiles, and the establishment of a new, independent electoral authority capable of organizing free and fair general elections.
Please join Leopoldo López, who will outline the strategic roadmap for consolidating democratic change and explain why sustained clarity, leverage, and principled leadership from the United States remain essential to preventing backsliding and securing a stable, sovereign, and democratic Venezuela.
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A Strategic Response to Sino-Russian Cooperation: Perspectives from Europe and the Indo-Pacific
4 maart 2026 · 1 uur 6 min
More than three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has sought to offset Western sanctions and isolation by deepening ties with China and expanding relationships with partners such as North Korea and Iran. Beijing, meanwhile, views cooperation with Russia as a strategic asset in its competition with the United States and its allies across Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Though the Sino-Russian partnership is asymmetric, increasingly coordinated military, energy, economic, and information cooperation is reshaping the security environment. Lees meer
Hudson will host an event featuring representatives from the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) and the Alliance Futures Initiative (TAFI) to assess the scope and implications of Sino-Russian cooperation across military and nonmilitary domains, examine shared and diverging threat perceptions, and discuss how these trends should inform national and collective defense planning. The discussion will also identify practical policy options for allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, including closer coordination between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Indo-Pacific security frameworks.
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Security, Normalization, and International Cooperation in the Middle East with Sir Liam Fox
27 februari 2026 · 37 min
Hudson Institute’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East will host Sir Liam Fox for a conversation on the evolving geopolitical landscape in the Middle East. Drawing on his experience as the United Kingdom’s secretary of state for defense and international trade and his leadership in advancing regional normalization efforts, Sir Liam will offer insights into the future of regional security, the strategic implications of the Abraham Accords, and the expanding diplomatic and economic ties between Morocco and Israel. The discussion will also explore how trade, diplomacy, and strategic cooperation can shape a more stable and integrated Middle East. Lees meer
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Nigeria: Country of Particular Concern or Counterterrorism Partner?
26 februari 2026 · 1 uur 2 min
Africa’s most populous country unexpectedly found itself in President Donald Trump’s sights this past autumn. The president designated Nigeria a country of particular concern for alleged religious freedom violations and warned of possible United States military intervention to protect Nigerian Christians. Lees meer
But what appeared to be a tense diplomatic standoff quickly led to discussions of a new security partnership that has so far seen a US airstrike on jihadists and now the deployment of US military trainers to Nigeria.
Will this security cooperation be the new normal for US-Nigeria relations, or will Trump escalate his diplomatic and economic pressure? If cooperation continues, what risks will US and Nigerian policymakers need to navigate? And will this partnership help ordinary Nigerians?
Join Hudson for a panel discussion on these questions and more.
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“Iron Curtain” at 80: Why the Special Relationship Is Essential to Defeating the New Authoritarians
26 februari 2026 · 54 min
The alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States remains the cornerstone of transatlantic security. But regulatory and trade frictions, differing approaches to China, and divergent views on migration have strained this vital relationship. Lees meer
In his “Iron Curtain” address 80 years ago, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill warned of the threat that Soviet domination of Eastern Europe posed to the rest of the world. Today, the world’s free nations once again face a profound danger, this time from a coalescing authoritarian axis. The United Kingdom and United States need to stand firmly together to meet this joint challenge.
UK Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs the Rt. Hon. Priti Patel, MP, will join Hudson for a speech and conversation on the future of the special relationship and what the adoption of a Conservative foreign policy would mean for Britain and the transatlantic alliance.
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The Road to Lasting Peace: US Leadership in the South Caucasus
23 februari 2026 · 1 uur
On August 8, 2025, President Donald Trump hosted Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House for a historic peace summit, the first trilateral meeting of its kind since the end of the Cold War. The two leaders initialed a peace agreement, signed a joint declaration affirming their commitment to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, and announced the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a United States–developed transit corridor that will connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave through Armenia while anchoring American investment and presence in the region for decades to come. Lees meer
Vice President JD Vance’s recent visit to both countries underscores what the White House values in this new chapter: deepening its strategic partnership with Azerbaijan, advancing peaceful nuclear and semiconductor cooperation with Armenia, and ensuring that this hard-won peace endures.
Join Hudson for a conversation with officials who have been at the center of these efforts, financial experts, and leading regional analysts on what the deal achieved, what comes next, and why sustained US engagement in the South Caucasus matters.
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Toward a Stronger US-Taiwan Partnership: Unpacking the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade
20 februari 2026 · 51 min
On February 12, officials from the United States and Taiwan signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), a trade deal that “reflects both sides’ ambition to increase bilateral investment and commercial opportunities.” Lees meer
The deal removes significant tariff and non-tariff barriers, accelerates bilateral trade through an increase of sales of US goods to Taiwan, and expands on an investment deal announced a month ago in which Taipei committed to funding and financing up to $500 billion in new investment in the United States.
Join Hudson for an expert panel on why these deals are so important for both nations, what they mean for the future of US supply chains, and what potential challenges remain for implementing these deals.
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The Economic Case for the US-Israel Partnership with Minister of Economic Affairs Noach Hacker
19 februari 2026 · 58 min
The Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East will host a fireside chat between Israeli Minister of Economic Affairs Noach Hacker and Dr. Michael Doran. They will examine the economic foundations of the United States–Israel partnership and its growing importance to American prosperity and competitiveness. Lees meer
Expanding on Hudson’s recent policy memo on US-Israel economic cooperation, the discussion will also explore Israel’s technical edge and how collaboration in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies delivers tangible returns for the United States.
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Opportunity and Uncertainty in the Middle East: Next Steps for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
18 februari 2026 · 1 uur 1 min
For decades the United States’ partnership with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) has been a crucial component of American policy in the Middle East. Today the Middle East holds unprecedented economic opportunities for the US and its regional allies. But the region is also wracked by potential conflicts—especially tensions between the United States and Iran and a fragile truce in eastern Syria. Against this uncertain backdrop, Iraqis are immersed in a complicated, high-stakes government formation process in both Baghdad and Erbil. How will these dynamics shape the future of the US-KRI partnership? What are the most significant opportunities for this partnership? And what do policymakers need to do to mitigate risks to US-KRI mutual interests? Lees meer
Join Hudson for a deep dive into these topics with Interior Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government His Excellency Rebar Ahmed, one of the region’s most experienced and respected statesmen. Senior Fellow Joel Rayburn will host Minister Ahmed for a fireside chat followed by audience Q&A.
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Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Yeaw on the End of the New START Treaty
18 februari 2026 · 46 min
On February 5, 2026, the United States’ last bilateral nuclear arms control agreement with Russia, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), expired after 14 years. Russia had been violating the terms of the agreement since 2023. Lees meer
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s commitment that “future arms control must address not one, but both nuclear peer arsenals.” Rubio also said that even as the United States remains open to diplomacy, it will maintain a “robust, credible, and modernized nuclear deterrent.”
Join Senior Fellow Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs and Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and Nonproliferation Dr. Christopher Yeaw for a discussion on the administration’s priorities for arms control, nonproliferation, and strategic deterrence in an era of complex nuclear threats.
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The National and Economic Security Implications of Fusion Energy
13 februari 2026 · 1 uur 48 min
Nuclear fusion has held the secret to nearly limitless clean energy since its discovery almost a century ago. Yet scientists around the world, particularly in the United States and China, are only now getting close to making this method of energy generation a reality. Rising US-China competition has further accelerated research and development in this now-critical economic and security technology. Lees meer
To examine the future of fusion and its geopolitical implications, Hudson will host a two-part event. The first expert panel will focus on fusion and its relationship to the US nuclear deterrent. The second panel will examine how supply chains and the US industrial base can best facilitate fusion deployment.
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Assistant Secretary of War Michael Cadenazzi on Rebooting America’s Defense Industrial Base
12 februari 2026 · 1 uur 5 min
The first Trump administration warned Americans that depending on foreign manufacturing had eroded the United States’ industrial base over the previous 30 years. Both parties now recognize the danger of US supply chains relying on China—a dependence that includes common consumer goods and extends to critical inputs for US military systems. Fortunately, the second Trump administration is continuing to rebuild the US defense industrial base and restore American manufacturing. The Department of War is a primary driver of this effort. Lees meer
Join Hudson for a conversation with Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi, who leads the DoW’s efforts to develop and maintain the US defense industrial base to secure critical national security supply chains. Assistant Secretary Cadenazzi will give remarks on the department’s new initiatives and priorities, then sit down for a fireside chat with Senior Fellow Nadia Schadlow. The event will conclude with audience Q&A.
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Gen. Pierre Schill on France’s Strategic Vision and Adapting Land Forces for High-Intensity Conflict
11 februari 2026 · 58 min
Hudson welcomes French Army Chief of Staff General Pierre Schill, one of Europe’s most senior military leaders, for a discussion on the evolving strategic environment and the French Army’s transformation in a rapidly changing world. Lees meer
General Schill will discuss:
How new dynamics are shaping France’s evolving strategic concept and defense posture
The French Army’s role as a global military force, deployed in support of national interests, allied commitments, and international security
How operational experience feeds directly into force adaptation and readiness
The ongoing transformation of land forces, including the integration of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence
The human dimensions of military effectiveness—recruitment, training, leadership development, and cohesion
Additionally, drawing on his most recent book Command : Insight from the French Army, General Schill will reflect on the future of land warfare and commanding by intent, with an emphasis on the importance of trust, initiative, and decentralized decision-making in modern warfare.
This event will conclude with a Q&A session, offering the audience an opportunity to engage with a European and French perspective on the strategic, operational, and human challenges shaping the future of land warfare.
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Year One of Trump’s Foreign Policy: A Discussion with Congressman Pat Fallon
11 februari 2026 · 1 uur
President Donald Trump has opened his second term with several major foreign policy moves: targeted strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, sweeping trade negotiations and tariff regimes, a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Busan, and a landmark North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in The Hague. All these underscore the president’s emphasis on proactive diplomacy, peace talks, and conflict resolution—exemplified by his achievement of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire framework. Lees meer
The National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy both outline the administration’s approach of “flexible realism” and prioritize the Western Hemisphere and Indo-Pacific.
In January 2026 alone, the Trump administration has continued its rapid pace of foreign policy with the removal of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, a major trade and investment deal with Taiwan, and renewed focus on the emerging Arctic security competition.
Join Senior Fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs and Congressman Pat Fallon (R-TX) for a discussion on the Trump administration’s first year of foreign policy and the risks and opportunities ahead.
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Davos, the Arctic, and Forging Transatlantic Unity: The Romanian View with Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu
6 februari 2026 · 48 min
Transatlantic relations are seemingly going through a period of recalibration following the World Economic Forum in Davos and amid ongoing talks about the future of Greenlandic security. Across North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) capitals, debates are swirling about the future of Europe’s relationship with the United States. Lees meer
Yet it remains as true today as it has for decades that a strong Europe is America’s best partner. Now, steadfast allies like Romania have a chance to chart Europe’s course toward a new economic, diplomatic, and military relationship with the US.
To that end, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu will visit Washington to participate in the first critical minerals ministerial, convened by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Please join her as she returns to Hudson for a fireside chat with Center on Europe and Eurasia Director Peter Rough to take stock of the past year and anticipate what might lie ahead.