Hudson Institute Events Podcast
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599 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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A Foreign Policy Conversation with State Secretary Thomas Bagger
28 juni 2024 · 1 uur
In the quarter century after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, reunified Germany grew steadily more confident and powerful as the preeminent country in Europe. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shattered much of that confidence, forcing the country to undertake a pivot as expressed in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s announcement of a zeitenwende, or watershed moment. Lees meer
But what, exactly, has changed in Germany’s foreign policy outlook? Is the change in Berlin’s attitude toward Russia specifically, or in its stance on economic interdependence and dialogue as a pacifying force more generally? How applicable is zeitenwende to Germany’s attitude toward the Middle East, particularly Iran, or East Asia, particularly China? What about the military rearmament of the Bundeswehr?
There are few Germans better placed to answer these and other questions than Ambassador Thomas Bagger, the state secretary of the German Foreign Ministry. Ambassador Bagger is the author of a much-discussed 2019 essay in the Washington Quarterly, “The World According to Germany: Reassessing 1989,” and is considered one of the country’s leading public intellectuals and foreign policy professionals.
Please join Senior Fellow Peter Rough as he welcomes Ambassador Bagger to Hudson for a discussion on Germany’s foreign and security outlook today.
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Driving Investment in the US and Strengthening Bilateral Ties
28 juni 2024 · 1 uur 1 min
Building upon significant Japanese foreign direct investment across the United States, the US-Japan economic relationship is stronger and more consequential than ever. As affirmed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s official visit this spring, the private sector has a significant role in deepening bilateral economic ties and strengthening America’s competitiveness. The automotive industry is critical to this dynamic. This event will focus on Japanese automakers’ commitment to innovation and progress, contributions to workforce development, and the development of community partnerships in the US. Lees meer
Hudson’s Japan Chair will welcome Hideaki Fujisawa, economic minister (METI) at the Embassy of Japan, for a keynote address on the state of the US-Japan economic relationship and the role that the private sector plays in deepening ties. The address will be followed by a fireside chat with Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) USA General Director Anita Rajan and Hudson Japan Chair Fellow William Chou on the importance of the Japanese automotive industry’s investments in the US and the launch of JAMA USA’s latest Impact Report.
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The Next Pivot to Asia
24 juni 2024 · 1 uur 2 min
Join Hudson for a conversation with Robert D. Blackwill and Richard Fontaine, who will discuss their new book Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power. The book argues that the United States should undergo a renewed pivot to Asia while maintaining commitments to Europe and the Middle East. As the international order becomes more unstable, Blackwill and Fontaine stress that the US has far less margin for foreign policy error today than a decade ago. They also say policymakers need to understand what the pivot aimed to achieve―and where it fell short―to muster the resources, alliances, and resolve to preserve an open order in Asia and elsewhere. Crafting an effective policy for the region, they contend, is crucial for preserving American security, prosperity, and democratic values. Lees meer
Ambassador Robert D. Blackwill is the Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow for US Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations and a senior fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. He served as deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for strategic planning under President George W. Bush, presidential envoy to Iraq, and US ambassador to India from 2001 to 2003.
Richard Fontaine is the chief executive officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Previously, he was foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain and worked at the State Department, the National Security Council, and on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Dr. Patrick M. Cronin, Asia-Pacific security chair and senior fellow at Hudson, will moderate the discussion. Ambassador Blackwill will join the conversation remotely.
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The Agendas of Jew Hatred
24 juni 2024 · 1 uur 11 min
Soon after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, the Jewish state found itself under attack on seven fronts: in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Yemen. Meanwhile, its enemies came out of the woodwork in Europe and North America as antisemitic and anti-Zionist demonstrations exploded on college campuses and city streets. From Houthi attacks on international shipping to “tentifadas” on American campuses, it is not hard to see that something more than just support for Gaza is at work here. Many different groups are hitching a ride on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Lees meer
What are the hidden agendas of antisemites and anti-Zionists? What are the implications of this agenda for national security? And what is to be done? To discuss these questions, Hudson’s Michael Doran hosts Daniel Schwammenthal, the director of the American Jewish Committee’s Transatlantic Institute; Ilan Berman, the vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council; Professor Paul Caresse of Arizona State University; and Senior Fellow Liel Leibovitz.
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What China’s Middle East Policy Means for the US and Israel
24 juni 2024 · 59 min
Last year, Chinese diplomats brokered an Iran–Saudi Arabia deal that elevated Beijing’s status as a mediator in the Middle East. China hoped the deal would induce a greater “wave of reconciliation” in the region and strengthen its position. But Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel changed Beijing’s calculations. Lees meer
To discuss China’s ambitions in the Middle East, Beijing’s position in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and what this all means for American interests in the region, Hudson’s Zineb Riboua hosts a discussion with Senior Fellow John Lee and Atlantic Council Nonresident Fellow Tuvia Gering.
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Accelerating Latin America’s Economic Growth
21 juni 2024 · 55 min
Although Latin America’s economies have stabilized since the COVID-19 pandemic, economic growth in most of the region has stalled, and its forecasted growth rates are the lowest of any region in the world. Such low growth will mean greater poverty and inequality, leaving citizens’ expectations for greater economic opportunity unfulfilled. Lees meer
While a slowing global economy, high investment costs, and many other factors play a role, persistently low productivity in the region is an important constraint on growth. The World Bank has pointed to the need for greater competition in Latin America’s economies, which would improve productivity by accelerating innovation and technological improvements, delivering important benefits to consumers. The World Bank has also highlighted the geography of productivity and outlined promising ideas for how Latin American cities can once again drive economic growth.
Join Hudson for a conversation with World Bank economists William Maloney and Elena Ianchovichina on how productivity gains could help accelerate economic growth in Latin America.
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The Black Sea Region as a Global Inflection Point
21 juni 2024 · 56 min
Long a crossroads between East and West, the Black Sea region today occupies a crucial geography from which the future security and prosperity of the transatlantic community will radiate. Russia’s unrelenting, unprovoked war against Ukraine has focused the world on the Black Sea. In the process, the world has grown to appreciate the role of Romania as a shoreline of stability. Lees meer
Twenty years after joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Romania is one of America’s strongest and closest allies, with an ambitious and ongoing defense modernization program centered on American-made capabilities. The strategic partnership between the United States and Romania has further manifested itself through economic and security agreements, joint exercises, and a US presence at key bases in Romania.
Join Hudson for a discussion with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminiţa-Teodora Odobescu on why Russia’s war against Ukraine and the broader contest for the future of the Black Sea region is a global inflection point with far-reaching ramifications. The West today faces a stark choice: disengage and watch the Black Sea radiate instability and embolden autocrats, or seize the opportunity to transform the region into a driver of future transatlantic prosperity and security.
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What China’s Middle East Policy Means for the US and Israel
21 juni 2024 · 59 min
Last year, Chinese diplomats brokered an Iran–Saudi Arabia deal that elevated Beijing’s status as a mediator in the Middle East. China hoped the deal would induce a greater “wave of reconciliation” in the region and strengthen its position. But Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel changed Beijing’s calculations. Lees meer
To discuss China’s ambitions in the Middle East, Beijing’s position in the Israel-Hamas conflict, and what this all means for American interests in the region, Hudson’s Zineb Riboua hosts a discussion with Senior Fellow John Lee and Atlantic Council Nonresident Fellow Tuvia Gering.
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Transatlantic Relations ahead of the Washington Summit with NATO Observer Group Cochairs Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis
20 juni 2024 · 49 min
United States Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) have served as cochairs of the bipartisan Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization Observer Group since its reestablishment in 2018. The two senators have been outspoken in their support for the alliance, including NATO’s recent round of enlargement to Sweden and Finland. Lees meer
Both have also been stalwart in their support of Ukraine. As they wrote to President Joe Biden in April, “We believe Ukraine should be offered a realistic path to NATO membership once all NATO Alliance members agree that Ukraine has met the conditions and requirements for membership.”
Additionally, the senators have underscored the importance of burden sharing, which they reinforced in a letter last month urging Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to increase his country’s defense spending. They have supported the idea, acknowledged at the NATO summit in Vilnius last year, that spending 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense should be the floor—not the ceiling—for members.
Please join Senior Fellow Peter Rough for a discussion with the senators on NATO, Ukraine, the Black Sea region, and transatlantic relations just weeks before the Washington summit.
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Exploring Ethiopia’s Tumultuous Transformation: A Discussion with Tom Gardner
20 juni 2024 · 1 uur
When Abiy Ahmed unexpectedly became Ethiopia’s prime minister in April 2018, he rapidly unleashed a wave of liberal political and economic reforms and shocked the world by making peace with longtime foe Eritrea. This earned him international adoration that culminated in the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. Lees meer
Just a year later, however, Africa’s second largest state descended into a horrific civil war that left hundreds of thousands dead and tarnished Abiy’s reformist image. Though his regime nearly collapsed during the war, Abiy ultimately emerged victorious and now rules over a country that is at once internally unstable and regionally ambitious.
The Economist’s Africa correspondent, Tom Gardner, joins Hudson Research Fellow James Barnett to discuss Gardner’s new book, The Abiy Project: God, Power and War in the New Ethiopia, and Ethiopia’s future in the volatile and strategically vital Red Sea region.
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IMT-2030: The Coming 6G Revolution
14 juni 2024 · 56 min
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies, is developing 6G specifications through the International Mobile Telecommunications 2030 (IMT-2030) program, aiming to release them by 2030. This program, introduced in the 6G framework document, outlines the vision, timelines, and candidate technologies for next generation telecommunications. Lees meer
IMT-2030 aims to connect humans, machines, and software to enable various applications and services. The framework promises immersive experiences for humans through advanced human-machine interfaces like extended reality (XR) displays, haptic sensors, and multisensory interfaces. Machines are expected to become intelligent, autonomous, and precise as they benefit from advancements in machine perception and interaction and artificial intelligence management.
In this vision, advanced sensors and AI facilitate seamless interaction between humans and machines in the physical and digital worlds. IMT-2030 integrates sensing and AI capabilities into communication, serving as a fundamental infrastructure for emerging user and application trends. The program also supports diverse use cases, including direct voice communication.
Moreover, IMT-2030 technology is anticipated to promote economic growth, societal change, digital equality, and ubiquitous connectivity while also enhancing security and resilience.
In a Hudson event, Professor Kiran Kuchi of the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad will discuss technology trends, network evolution, AI-driven devices for 6G, and the integration and interoperability of terrestrial and non-terrestrial systems.
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Strategic Energy 2024: A Dialogue on Challenges and Solutions
14 juni 2024 · 2 uur 42 min
In an era of rising geopolitical instability, energy is an increasingly valuable tool to promote peace and economic stability as authoritarian regimes seek to undermine freedom and the United States–led world order. Lees meer
Join Hudson Institute for a two-part event on how the US can effectively wield its natural resources to achieve energy independence and aid its allies.
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The New Iron Triangle Achieving Adaptability and Scale in Defense Acquisition
14 juni 2024 · 2 uur 28 min
The war in Ukraine offers numerous lessons regarding the future of military operations. One of the most important—and most underreported—is the value of adaptation. Ukrainian troops, previously on the offensive thanks to Western precision weapons, are now on the defensive as their rockets and bombs miss targets due to Russian electronic warfare. In the Black Sea, Ukraine’s early naval losses suggested Russian dominance. But lethal new naval drones have restored Ukraine’s access to the open ocean and constrained Russia’s fleet to its own coastline. Lees meer
The United States and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization militaries will likely face a similar challenge in future confrontations against Russia, China, or their proxies. Merely stockpiling today’s weapons or expanding their production capacity could lock in obsolescence against technologically sophisticated sophisticated opponents. US and allied militaries will need an industrial base that can both modify today’s weapons or combat systems and produce them in volume—then be prepared to repeat the cycle in response to enemy countermeasures.
Join Hudson and the Apex Conference Series for a three-part event discussing the challenges and opportunities facing Western militaries and defense industries as they attempt to achieve relevant capability at scale.
Agenda
12:00 p.m. | Remarks and Fireside Chat
Rob Wittman, United States Representative, First District of Virginia
Moderators
Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute
Dan Patt, Senior Fellow, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute
12:45 p.m. | Lunch
1:15 p.m. | Panel 1: The DoD’s Efforts to Achieve Relevant Capability at Scale
Aditi Kumar, Deputy Director, Strategy, Policy, National Security Partnerships, Defense Innovation Unit
Lt. Gen. Robert M. Collins, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
Mitch Skile…
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The Evidence and Significance of Predatory Infringement of Patents
14 juni 2024 · 46 min
The United States’ patent system has been a driver of economic growth and a primary reason for American global technological leadership in the twenty-first century. A weakened patent system, however, has led to the rise of predatory infringement, a deliberate decision by a company to engage in patent theft because it is cheaper than obtaining permission (licensing) and paying for the use of someone else’s technological innovation. Lees meer
What has caused the weakening of the US patent system? What is the evidence of predatory infringement? And what is the policy significance of predatory actors’ theft of other companies’ innovative technologies? A panel of experts will explain the legal developments in patent law, the economic impact of predatory infringement, and the evidence-based reforms that could restore the US patent system’s historical status as the global gold standard.
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Tackling the Uyghur Forced Labor Challenge
14 juni 2024 · 1 uur 30 min
The Chinese Communist Party operates the largest state-run forced labor program in the world, enslaving an estimated 3 million Uyghurs. Exploitation of that scale and scope cannot continue without robust condemnation and a swift response. That’s why Congress passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) in December 2021. This landmark legislation aims to stop goods produced with Uyghur forced labor from entering the United States and ultimately stop Uyghur forced labor from happening in the first place. Lees meer
More than two years after the law’s passage, enough time has passed to evaluate the UFLPA’s strengths and weaknesses. Join Hudson for a discussion on how the US and its partners can best strengthen efforts to tackle and combat Uyghur forced labor.
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NATO in the New Era of Collective Defense audio
7 juni 2024 · 54 min
Please join NATO Public Forum think tank consortium members Hudson Institute, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and GLOBSEC for a conversation with NATO Chair of the Military Committee(CMC) Admiral Rob Bauer, the alliance’s highest-ranking military official. Lees meer
Admiral Bauer is visiting the United States in the lead-up to the Washington summit to talk about the alliance’s strengths and speak frankly about its challenges. As he told the Wall Street Journal in April, “Politicians always talk about cooperation, but in practical terms they don’t have a clue.”
The CMC has also made it a point to regularly meet with key private sector figures to improve NATO’s industrial base. As the Journal described his thinking, “the West needs not only to boost military production; it must fundamentally rethink what defense means, starting with the private sector.”
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The Possible Implications of South Africa’s Coalition Government
6 juni 2024 · 1 uur 38 min
On May 29, for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC)’s vote share fell below the 50 percent threshold necessary for unilaterally forming a government. Urgent coalition negotiations are ongoing to meet the constitutionally mandated 14-day deadline for parliament to select a president, but there is immense uncertainty about the outcome. The stakes are high for one of Africa’s most important countries: the outcomes for South Africa’s economy, society, and foreign policy could vary radically depending on the coalition’s composition. Lees meer
Senior Fellow Joshua Meservey will moderate a discussion to examine the likelihood of different coalition scenarios and their possible impact on South Africa’s economy, society, and foreign policy. Discussants will provide a granular breakdown of the electoral results and the ongoing coalition negotiations and offer insights about South Africa’s political and economic trajectory, gleaned from decades living, working, and investing in South Africa.
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Strategic Corruption, State Capture, and Sanctions Enforcement in Europe
6 juni 2024 · 58 min
Russia continues to export vast amounts of gas and oil to Europe while importing military goods and mission critical hardware to fuel its war against Ukraine. Some of Moscow’s most notorious strategic corruption projects, NordStream and TurkStream, and their related state capture networks continue to operate despite more than a dozen rounds of sanctions imposed by the European Union and Group of Seven. Lees meer
Russia’s “no-limits” partnership with China, Europe’s lack of robust common sanctions enforcement, the patchwork of improperly integrated anti–money laundering and criminal prosecution frameworks, and governments and other stakeholders that continue to enable Russia by seeking gains from transactional diplomacy have all emboldened Moscow’s strategic corruption efforts. This has negatively affected the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s geopolitical and geoeconomic standing, particularly in frontier regions like the Black Sea and the Balkans.
Much like it relies on the American defense sector, Europe still relies on the United States to implement effective economic security policies. The EU should accelerate the development of its common institutions for sanctions enforcement and other economic security measures, prioritizing decoupling from Russia’s oil and gas networks. The US can aid this process by continuing to intervene more assertively in high-profile cases and by providing capacity-building support and cooperation.
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The Crisis in Georgia and Its Implications for the Black Sea Region
5 juni 2024 · 1 uur 9 min
For weeks, hundreds of thousands of Georgians have peacefully demonstrated across the country against the “Russian Law,” a bill designed by the Georgian Dream party to stifle and restrict civil society and political opposition. Georgia’s Western friends have warned that the law is not compatible with Euro-Atlantic integration. But the Kremlin has supported Georgian Dream’s measures. In addition to the harm the law will do to Georgia’s democracy and Euro-Atlantic path, there are serious implications for the Black Sea region if Tbilisi fully falls under the influence of Moscow. Lees meer
Join Hudson for an expert panel on the regional implications of this crisis.
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Facing the Future: A Discussion on Niger and West African Security Cooperation
4 juni 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
Niger’s 2023 military coup led to swift changes, and many now wonder what’s next for West African security cooperation. As American troops move out and Russian troops move in, will United States counterterrorism operations continue in Niger and the Sahel region? Lees meer
West African security experts Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim of International Crisis Group, Malik Samuel of the Institute for Security Studies, and Aneliese Bernard of Strategic Stabilization Advisors join Hudson Research Fellow James Barnett for a discussion moderated by Media Fellow Jeremy Hunt.
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Supreme Allied Commanders on the Past, Present, and Future of NATO
4 juni 2024 · 59 min
On July 10, President Joe Biden will gather fellow North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders in Washington to celebrate 75 years of the alliance and chart a direction for the way ahead. Over the course of NATO’s existence, warfare has changed in dramatic ways, punctuated by offset strategies and revolutions in military affairs. Today, the large-scale war in Ukraine is spawning battlefield innovations, which the alliance is attempting to process and understand. Lees meer
To discuss the evolution of NATO warfighting capabilities and the state of the alliance, please join NATO Public Forum think tank consortium members Hudson Institute, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and GLOBSEC for a conversation with four supreme allied commanders Europe (SACEURs): Generals Wes Clark (1997–2000), Phil Breedlove (2013–2016), Curtis Scaparrotti (2016–2019), and Tod Wolters (2019–2022).
Peter Rough, senior fellow and director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia, will moderate the discussion.
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Facing the Future: A Discussion on Niger and West African Security Cooperation
28 mei 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
Niger’s 2023 military coup led to swift changes, and many now wonder what’s next for West African security cooperation. As American troops move out and Russian troops move in, will United States counterterrorism operations continue in Niger and the Sahel region? Lees meer
West African security experts Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim of International Crisis Group, Malik Samuel of the Institute for Security Studies, and Aneliese Bernard of Strategic Stabilization Advisors join Hudson Research Fellow James Barnett for a discussion moderated by Media Fellow Jeremy Hunt.
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Motwani Jadeja US-India Dialogue Series | Strategic Synergies: India-US Technology Cooperation
23 mei 2024 · 1 uur 49 min
This event is part of the Motwani Jadeja US-India Dialogue series funded by the Motwani Jadeja Family Foundation. Lees meer
Amid a shifting and increasingly competitive global landscape, technology cooperation has emerged as a vital component of the United States–India strategic partnership. In May 2022, the two countries announced the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), which was launched in January 2023. Over the last year and a half, governments, businesses, and academic institutions have expanded cooperation in both the civilian and defense arenas.
Join Hudson for a discussion on what role technology will play in deepening the US-India relationship with Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, Carnegie India Director Rudra Chaudhuri, Carnegie India Fellow Konark Bhandari, United States Institute of Peace Senior Fellow Daniel Markey, United States India Strategic Partnership Forum Senior Advisor Vikram Singh, and Center for New American Security Senior Fellow Lisa Curtis. Hudson Institute’s Aparna Pande will moderate the conversation.
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Nikki Haley on the Dangers of National Security Weakness
23 mei 2024 · 48 min
Join Hudson in welcoming Ambassador Nikki R. Haley for her inaugural event as the Walter P. Stern Chair. She will deliver a special address on United States foreign policy amid wars in the Middle East and Europe and growing tensions in Asia. Following her remarks, she will sit down with Hudson’s Peter Rough for a fireside chat. Lees meer
Hudson Board of Trustees Chair Sarah May Stern will deliver introductory remarks.
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Foreshocks in the Black Sea and Western Balkans: Repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine War
17 mei 2024 · 2 uur 42 min
Over two years on, the consequences of the Russia-Ukraine War continue to reverberate throughout the Black Sea and Western Balkan regions. Lees meer
Russia’s latest push threatens to break Ukraine’s front lines. Georgia’s free and open society hangs in the balance as a pro-Moscow government debates a restrictive new “Russian law.” North Atlantic Treaty Organization member Montenegro’s leadership is falling under the Kremlin’s influence. Under Milorad Dodik, Republika Srpska relentlessly seeks to secede from Bosnia and Herzegovina. And the European Union is losing its allure in Belgrade and Tbilisi as Serbian and Georgian elites kowtow to Vladimir Putin.
Hudson, in partnership with the US-Europe Alliance, will host two panel discussions to examine the futures of these critical regions.
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South Africa’s Historic Election: A Conversation with Freedom Front Plus Deputy Leader and Chief Whip Dr. Corné Mulder
17 mei 2024 · 53 min
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Flipping the Cube: Transforming the Defense Budget Structure
16 mei 2024 · 57 min
The Pentagon’s $820 billion budget is the United States government’s biggest expense other than Social Security and health care. However, despite its obvious importance, the Defense Department’s budgeting process is notoriously inflexible and slow. As a result, current operational and security needs often do not match spending priorities established two or more years ago. Lees meer
Congress recently established an independent Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Reform to identify ways to improve the defense budgeting process. A key recommendation in the commission’s final report is to transform the structure of the defense budget itself—realigning it to better connect funding to desired outcomes. Rather than organizing spending by inputs in a “cube” with categories of activity such as research, procurement, or operations on one side and military services and programs on the other sides, the proposed new structure would divide the budget primarily in terms of missions and capabilities.
Proponents argue that this approach would foster greater transparency, agility, and innovation by allowing the Pentagon to move money where it is needed to address challenges and opportunities. Skeptics raise concerns about ensuring adequate oversight when funding is not tied to specific inputs.
Join Hudson Senior Fellow Dan Patt for a discussion on restructuring the defense budget with two commissioners who shaped this proposal—Jamie Morin, former Pentagon director of cost assessment and program evaluation, and David Norquist, former deputy secretary of defense and under secretary of defense (comptroller). The panel will explore the problems this reform aims to solve, alternative approaches the panel considered, how increased flexibility could reshape incentives and decision-making, and potential downsides and implementation obstacles.
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Mexico after AMLO
15 mei 2024 · 1 uur 15 min
On June 2, Mexicans will head to the polls to elect over 20,000 national, state, and local officials, including the president, members of Congress, and numerous governors. The two leading contenders for the presidency, Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez, offer starkly contrasting visions for Mexico’s future. Sheinbaum, of the ruling MORENA party, seeks to continue the nationalist Fourth Transformation agenda, which began under incumbent President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). In contrast, Gálvez, the opposition candidate, advocates for a more market-oriented approach, promising reforms in key areas such as energy policy and the fight against organized crime. Lees meer
This election has significant implications for the complex Mexico–United States relationship. Sheinbaum and Gálvez disagree on the extent to which Mexico should align itself with the US on critical issues like migration, security cooperation, and trade. Additionally, the election takes place against a backdrop of concerns over the erosion of democratic institutions under AMLO.
Join Hudson for a discussion of possible post-election scenarios with Covington Senior Advisor Kim Breier, Dentons Global Advisors Partner Antonio Ortiz-Mena, and National Defense University Professor Arturo Sotomayor.
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The Defining Partnership of the Twenty-First Century: US-India Relations
15 mei 2024 · 1 uur 7 min
This event is part of the Motwani Jadeja US-India Dialogue series funded by the Motwani Jadeja Family Foundation. Lees meer
As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, respectively, the United States and India constitute key anchor points of the democratic world, and the two nations have significantly deepened their partnership over the past three decades. Shared values and strong people-to-people connections remain the core of US-India ties.
But the relationship is also based on a mutual commitment to economic engagement, marked by deepening trade relations worth over $190 billion. Additionally, US-India defense relations have evolved in recent years, reflecting shared security interests and a commitment to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based international order.
Please join Hudson Institute for a discussion on the big picture of US-India relations with Hudson fellows Walter Russell Mead and Aparna Pande.
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Reflections and Lessons from 20 Years of Estonian NATO Membership
9 mei 2024 · 58 min
When Estonia joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on March 29, 2004, the country’s foreign minister said, “Ever since regaining our independence, one of the main tasks of every government of Estonia has been the security of our nation. Today, I can say that we are much closer to a peaceful and confident feeling in our hearts.” Lees meer
But NATO has not only kept Estonia safe from existential threats. The alliance has also helped establish a framework that spurred the economic growth, inward investment, and entrepreneurial vibrancy that have become hallmarks of Estonia’s identity.
Tallinn has proven itself a serious defense actor, consistently living up to its Article III commitments to maintain and develop its security capacities. Estonian forces have reliably proven to be some of the most active contributors to NATO missions. Estonia remains one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters, materially and financially aiding Kyiv’s fight for freedom.
What insights should policymakers draw from Estonia’s 20-year NATO success story? How can Estonia’s experience guide aspirant nations like Ukraine through the membership process? How have Tallinn’s views on NATO shifted over the past two decades? And what does the alliance need to do to maintain credible deterrence at a time of heightened threats?
Ambassador Kyllike Sillaste-Elling, the undersecretary for political affairs at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will join Hudson for a conversation on the Estonian experience in NATO.
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Policy Matters: Congress’s Role in Countering China
8 mei 2024 · 31 min
Fresh off a string of policy victories, United States Representative Dan Crenshaw (TX-02) joins Hudson Media Fellow Jeremy Hunt for a conversation about the critical foreign aid package that recently passed both chambers of Congress. Specifically, the package contains vital support for Taiwan and the forced divestiture of TikTok—both of which are important policy steps to counter the Chinese Communist Party. Lees meer
Congressman Crenshaw will explain why this bill—and future national security legislation—is crucial to the interests of the American people.
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The Future of the Atlantic Alliance with David Lammy and Jim Risch
8 mei 2024 · 57 min
Join Hudson Distinguished Fellow Walter Russell Mead, United Kingdom Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for a conversation about the challenges and opportunities facing the transatlantic community and the future of the special relationship. Lees meer
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How Civil Defense Boosts Deterrence: A View from Sweden
8 mei 2024 · 50 min
Sweden’s total defense concept includes a civil defense component that “encompasses the whole of society and comprises the collective resilience in the event of war or danger of war.” Civil defense consists of three pillars: defending the population, safeguarding important societal functions, and contributing to the armed forces’ ability to respond to an attack. Russia’s hybrid attacks against the West and indiscriminate targeting of civilians in Ukraine have underscored the importance of a robust civil defense. Lees meer
How can Stockholm’s new North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies learn from Sweden’s civil defense experience to harden the vulnerable elements of Western societies? How does Sweden employ a whole-of-society approach to strengthen its total defense? What has Sweden learned from the war in Ukraine, and how can this enhance its civil defense capabilities? What is the Swedish view of the geopolitical situation in Europe and beyond?
Join Hudson for a discussion with Swedish Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin on the Swedish approach to civil defense.
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The College Campus Tentifada: How It Started, Why It Matters, and How to Curb It
7 mei 2024 · 53 min
Hudson’s Michael Doran hosts Columbia University Professor Ran Kivetz, Scholars for Peace in the Middle East Executive Director Asaf Romirowsky, and Senior Fellow and Tablet Editor at Large Liel Leibovitz. They will discuss the causes of the recent slate of pro-Hamas encampments on American college campuses, who is funding these protests, and what administrators and policymakers should do about this nascent national security threat. Lees meer
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Georgia, Ukraine, and the Euro-Atlantic Community: An Update from the Front Lines of Freedom
3 mei 2024 · 31 min
For several days, Georgians have demonstrated on the streets of Tbilisi against the Georgian Dream–led government’s moves to derail the country’s Euro-Atlantic future. Nona Mamulashvili, a former member of the Georgian parliament and cofounder of the Gamziri civic platform, has participated in the nightly protests. Hundreds of miles away, her brother Mamuka Mamulashvili commands the Georgian Legion in Ukraine. He and his troops have been fighting Russia there since 2014. Lees meer
Join Hudson Senior Fellow Luke Coffey for a conversation with the two siblings, who each serve on the frontlines of freedom in different ways. They will discuss what is at stake for Georgia, Ukraine, and the Euro-Atlantic community.
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Northern Europe, NATO, and the War in Ukraine: A Conversation with Lithuanian Minister of Defense Laurynas Kasčiūnas
30 april 2024 · 49 min
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders met in Madrid, Spain, to chart a new Strategic Concept for the alliance. The document identified Russia as “the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.” One year later, in Vilnius, Lithuania, NATO leaders met again to adopt a new set of regional defense plans to guard against Russian aggression. Lees meer
Now comes the implementation. This July, NATO leaders will meet in Washington to assess the alliance’s progress in meeting its deterrence and defense targets. How strong is the West’s defense industrial base, and how prepared is NATO to defend itself if necessary? How will Sweden’s full membership in the alliance affect Northern Europe?
Moreover, the war in Ukraine continues, and Kyiv has made no secret of its aspiration to join the alliance. So these are difficult questions that allied leaders cannot put off into the future.
Please join Hudson Institute’s Peter Rough as he sits down with Lithuania’s minister of defense, Laurynas Kasčiūnas, for a conversation on these topics and more.
Kasčiūnas was appointed minister of defense just last month after serving as chair of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defence (NSGK). A past head of the Eastern Europe Studies Centre (EESC), Lithuania’s top think tank, Kasčiūnas wrote his doctoral dissertation on Ukraine’s relations with the European Union.
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Latin America’s Foreign Policies at a Crossroads
29 april 2024 · 36 min
The foreign policy actions of many Latin American governments often contradict their principles. This disconnect causes leaders to pursue short-term objectives that do not address the region’s most pressing challenges, such as authoritarianism and organized crime. Lees meer
The Maduro regime’s assassination of a Venezuelan exile in Chile and the Ecuadorian government’s arrest of a convicted former vice president at the Mexican embassy in Quito illustrate how poor foreign policy exacerbates lawlessness and democratic regression in the region.
Join Hudson for a conversation with academic and columnist Hector Schamis on how Latin American governments’ approach to foreign policy destabilizes the region and what a better approach might look like.
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A Conversation with Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell: The New Era in the US-Japan Relationship
25 april 2024 · 52 min
The historic April summit between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida signaled a new era in United States–Japan relations. The summit produced agreements for enhancing economic ties, advancing technological innovation, coordinating diplomatic efforts, and strengthening security cooperation. Lees meer
The president said that this is the most significant upgrade of the US-Japan alliance since it was first established. This upgrade comes at a critical juncture when the democratic nations of the world need to have all hands on deck. President Biden has made it clear that Japan is already standing shoulder to shoulder with the United States.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will join Hudson Asia-Pacific Security Chair Patrick Cronin to examine the new outlook for this key alliance.
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The Battle for the Black Sea Is Not Over
17 april 2024 · 1 uur 2 min
As Russia scores localized gains on land, Ukrainian forces have achieved major successes in the Black Sea Region (BSR). The Ukrainians have sunk or damaged some one-third of the Black Sea Fleet, forced Moscow to move naval assets away from occupied Crimea, and put Russia on the defensive. These successes challenge the narrative that Russia’s war against Ukraine is a stalemate and demonstrate Ukraine’s determination to preserve its identity, sovereignty, and independence. Lees meer
Ukraine’s gains are real and strategically significant, but the Battle for the Black Sea is not over. Major Russian land, sea, and air assets remain in Crimea and in the BSR, and Moscow is using them to continue its quest to subordinate Ukraine. The war will be won or lost on land and in the air.
If Russia wins or ends the war on its terms, the interests of all Black Sea littoral states will be negatively affected. But so too will those of the United States, Europe, and the West more broadly. The US has a major interest in a free and open Black Sea and a peaceful, stable, and prosperous BSR.
Join Hudson for an event to present the results of an in-depth study written by a US–Romanian–Ukrainian team: Hudson Senior Fellow Matt Boyse, New Strategy Center CEO George Scutaru, New Strategy Center Senior Fellow Dr. Antonia Colibasanu, and New Geopolitics Research Network Director Mykhailo Samus.
Read the study, The Battle for the Black Sea Is Not Over, here.
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Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Transatlantic Relations, the War in Ukraine, and the US-Czech Alliance
17 april 2024 · 35 min
Hudson is delighted to welcome Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala for a major policy address on the future of the transatlantic alliance. Lees meer
Since assuming office in November 2021, Fiala has placed transatlantic cooperation at the heart of the Czech Republic’s foreign policy and marshalled crucial support for Ukraine in its hour of need.
As Fiala put it in October 2022, “Ukraine’s fight is our fight too. The Czech Republic’s fight, the European Union’s fight, the whole of Europe’s fight. Our own geopolitical prospects depend on the outcome of this war.”
Under Fiala’s leadership, Czechia is modernizing its military and increasing its defense budget. It has launched an initiative to repair and upgrade Ukrainian armor on Czech soil and hosts the third-most Ukrainian refugees in Europe. Most recently, and to much acclaim, the Czech Republic has spearheaded an initiative to source ammunition for Ukrainian forces from stockpiles across the globe.
Join Hudson to hear Prime Minister Fiala’s understanding of the current moment and a Czech prescription for transatlantic relations in turbulent times.
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Is China the Big Winner in the Red Sea?
15 april 2024 · 47 min
Prosperity Guardian, the United States–led military operation designed to end Houthi attacks on international shipping, has failed. Lees meer
Michael Roberts and Salvatore Mercogliano, two leading experts on international shipping, will join Senior Fellow Michael Doran for a virtual event. They will discuss the Houthi attacks’ consequences for the global economy and the balance of power between the US and its global rivals—in particular, how Iran and its proxies’ weaponization of global supply chains strengthens China.
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A Risky Mission: Analyzing the Gaza Pier Project
15 april 2024 · 36 min
As United States military ships set sail to the Gaza coast, many questions remain unanswered about President Joe Biden’s plan to construct a floating pier to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The Department of Defense is expected to deploy over 1,000 service members to support the project. But how will the Pentagon ensure their safety? How will the aid be delivered in a combat zone? Lees meer
Join Foundation for Defense of Democracies Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg and Hudson Media Fellow Jeremy Hunt for an in-depth analysis of this risky mission.
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Chips and the China Threat
15 april 2024 · 1 uur 1 min
Senior Fellow Harold Furchtgott-Roth will introduce a discussion with Senior Fellow Jonathan Ward on his book The Decisive Decade: American Grand Strategy for Triumph over China. They will cover how the US can outcompete China on the world stage economically, diplomatically, militarily, and ideologically. Lees meer
Then, David Feith, former US deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Roslyn Layton, founder of China Tech Threat, will respond and highlight critical challenges for US-China semiconductor policy, namely America’s strong rules but leaky enforcement.
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The Struggle for Freedom in Belarus with Andrei Sannikov
15 april 2024 · 46 min
Although Belarus gained independence in 1991 when the Soviet Union broke up, it has been the crown jewel of Russia’s sphere of influence for three decades since. Domestically, Belarus remains firmly in the grip of its authoritarian ruler, Alexander Lukashenko, who has maintained power since 1994 through brutal repression and a series of unfree and unfair elections. Lees meer
Nevertheless, Belarusian civil society has a strong identity and a tradition of peaceful protest in support of freedom and democracy. In 1995, Andrei Sannikov resigned in protest from his position as deputy foreign minister of Belarus after Lukashenko put forward a referendum that would pave the way for the strongman’s consolidation of power. Sannikov has fought for Belarus’s freedom ever since. In 2005, he won the Bruno Kreisky Prize for Service to Human Rights. In 2010, Sannikov ran for president in a sham election in which Lukashenko claimed to have won more than 80 percent of the vote. In the aftermath, Sannikov led a peaceful demonstration in Minsk’s main square. Riot police attacked, badly injuring Sannikov. He was subsequently arrested, imprisoned, and tortured. Under international pressure, the Lukashenko regime released the opposition leader in April 2012. Threatened with rearrest, Sannikov left Belarus and received political asylum in the United Kingdom.
At Hudson, Sannikov will offer remarks on Belarus’s strategic importance, Russia’s regional ambitions, and prospects for political change in Minsk, followed by a question-and-answer session with Hudson Senior Fellow Tod Lindberg.
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Energy Policy and Social Goals: A Conversation with Paul H. Tice
12 april 2024 · 42 min
Join Hudson Senior Fellow Brigham McCown for a conversation with Paul H. Tice about the trend of sustainable investing. They will discuss how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors affect corporate decisions and government policy in the energy sector. Lees meer
Tice spent 40 years on Wall Street working for some of the energy industry’s most recognizable firms. He is also the author of The Race to Zero: How ESG Investing Will Crater the Global Financial System.
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China’s Interference in Taiwan’s Election and Implications for America
10 april 2024 · 1 uur 5 min
In January, Taiwan held another successful democratic election. Prior to the election, however, the People’s Republic of China attempted to influence the results by spreading lies on social media about the candidates, the candidates’ political parties, and Taiwanese domestic issues. But the PRC’s political interests aren’t limited to Taiwan. According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the PRC, through social media sites like TikTok, attempted to influence the 2022 United States midterm elections—and Beijing will likely do the same in the 2024 US presidential election. Lees meer
Join Hudson for a panel with some of the leading organizations combating the PRC’s influence operations in Taiwan and around the world.
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The Baltic View of European Security
8 april 2024 · 56 min
The developing world is mired in its worst debt crisis in a generation, with 60 percent of countries facing debt distress according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In the post-COVID world, the United States and its traditional allies have not been able to muster the political capital to institute long-term solutions for these developing nations as their debt-ridden economies deteriorate. China has become the largest source of development assistance but is reluctant to work with multilateral development banks and Western creditors to help find sustainable solutions. Lees meer
Former World Bank President David Malpass has been sounding the alarm about this crisis. At Hudson, Malpass will present a new paper outlining constructive and cooperative ways to address these issues. Then he will sit down for a discussion with Senior Fellows Thomas Duesterberg and Joshua Meservey.
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Stronger Together: The Importance of US-Japan Economic Relations
5 april 2024 · 1 uur 28 min
On the eve of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit to the United States on April 10, Hudson Institute will hold a half-day conference to examine the benefits of the deep and expanding US-Japan economic relationship. The event will focus on the importance of economic security and reliable supply chains; Japan’s significant and longstanding foreign direct investment across the US; and the potential benefits that an enriched US-Japan partnership offers to American workers and allied technological leadership. Lees meer
Hudson’s Japan Chair will welcome Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb to make a major economic announcement. Following his address, the governor will sit down for a fireside chat with Hudson Japan Chair Kenneth R. Weinstein. Afterward, Hudson will host successive expert panels to discuss economic security cooperation between Washington and Tokyo and the importance of Japanese investment in the United States.
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The Importance of the US-Israel Relationship with Mike Pence
1 april 2024 · 1 uur 3 min
Mike Pence, the forty-eighth vice president of the United States, will give an address on the importance of the US-Israel relationship. Then, he will sit down for a fireside chat with Hudson Japan Chair Ken Weinstein.
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Integrating Uncrewed Systems to Hedge against Aggression
26 maart 2024 · 59 min
The recently released United States defense budget suggests that the US military is reaching its capability and capacity limits. The US force—which consists almost entirely of crewed multimission ships, aircraft, and vehicles—is too expensive to grow within realistic fiscal constraints but too small to meet America’s growing national security needs. To fund next-generation crewed platforms and sustain those already in the force, the Pentagon now must retire more ships and aircraft each year than it buys. Lees meer
The Department of Defense could escape this force structure death spiral by incorporating uncrewed systems as an integral part of the US military, rather than as extensions of the crewed force that handle only “dirty, dull, and dangerous” missions. As demonstrated by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Red Sea, uncrewed systems could contribute to each link in US kill chains, improving the adaptability and resilience of US forces and achieving scale at much lower costs compared to crewed systems.
Join Hudson Institute Senior Fellows Bryan Clark and Dan Patt for a discussion with David Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, about the growing role of uncrewed systems in warfare, how the US could exploit uncrewed technology in “hedge forces” like those the Pentagon is pursuing through its Replicator initiative, and how the US military can improve its ability to integrate uncrewed technology into the force.