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September 21, 2023 Bolstering American Economic Statecraft: A Conversation with Senators Cornyn and Casey on Outbound Investments Congress has long been at the forefront of efforts to bolster America's tools of economic statecraft. Parallel to the Biden administration’s long-awaited executive order on outbound investment, for example, the Senate recently passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act proposing new powers and policies to further regulate the screening of outbound investment heading to China and other foreign adversaries. September 8, 2023 Maximum Support for the People of Iran: Honoring Mahsa Amini One Year After Her Murder As the protests continue to rage, Americans must not turn a blind eye to the Iranian people’s courageous demands for dignity, justice, and fundamental rights. What can the United States do to support the Iranian people? What bipartisan steps can be taken to amplify the voices of freedom-seeking Iranians and counter those who seek to silence them? August 31, 2023 Cyber Catastrophe Recovery: A Critique of U.S. Continuity of the Economy Planning Congress directed the president to establish a Continuity of the Economy (COTE) plan. The Biden administration delivered its response, but the final product provides no plan to ensure rapid economic recovery. Does the federal government have the information it needs to determine the order of recovery in the wake of a crisis? August 23, 2023 Confronting Beijing’s Weaponized Economy Axios China reporter Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian recently published a new book, Beijing Rules: How China Weaponized Its Economy to Confront the World, which includes headline-making stories of Western institutions bowing to Beijing’s pressure – and a glimpse of what America’s future may look like should liberal democracy come firmly under the thumb of authoritarian capitalism. To discuss her investigative reporting and the broader policy implications, FDD’s China Program hosts a conversation with Bethany as well as Liza Tobin, Senior Director for Economy at the Special Competitive Studies Project, and F. Scott Kieff, former Commissioner of the U.S. International Trade Commission. The discussion will be moderated by FDD Senior Fellow Craig Singleton. August 23, 2023 Extraordinary Threats and Opportunities: A Conversation with LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster and The Hon. Elaine Luria Despite an extraordinary list of threats faced, the United States enjoys unparalleled advantages, including a resilient democratic system, a large and innovative economy, a powerful military, and a strong network of allies and partners. So, what is the security situation in East Asia, Europe, and the wider Middle East? What is the Biden administration doing to address threats in these vital regions? And how can the US and its allies better secure national security interests while deterring aggression? August 21, 2023 Assessing America’s 2023 Cyber Resiliency: A Conversation with the CSC 2.0 Co-Chairs Authoritarian regimes, cybercriminals, and state-backed hackers prey on American individuals and businesses to sow chaos, reap financial gain, and carry out ideological agendas. Three years ago, the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) offered a new strategic approach to combat these threats and defend U.S. national security and economic interests in cyberspace. What more should the federal government be doing to promote national resilience? August 11, 2023 Afghanistan in Peril: Two Years After the U.S. Withdrawal Nearly two years after the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Taliban regime has reconstituted its Islamic Emirate and returned to draconian policies that are in grave violation of fundamental human rights. To prevent Afghanistan from further collapsing into a hub for terrorism, the West must pursue a clear-eyed security strategy that imposes due costs on the Taliban and eliminates safe havens for Islamic extremists. July 18, 2023 Safety in Numbers: Improving Cyber Capacity Building Washington’s robust efforts help partners build cyber resilience, mature their law enforcement tools and techniques, improve information sharing, train cyber workforces, and deploy more secure and resilient information and communications technology networks. As attacks by criminal and state-backed hackers on America and its allies grow, is Washington organized and resourced to meet the needs of tomorrow? July 14, 2023 Iran’s Terror Proxies on Israel’s Borders The Islamic Republic of Iran has spent the last four decades building a network of armed groups on Israel’s borders to create instability and foment terrorism. Thanks to funding, arms, training, and coordination from Tehran, a mosaic of at least nineteen terrorist organizations in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria continue to strike at Israel, blunting any hope for calm, let alone peace. July 13, 2023 The United States and Palau’s Strategic Partnership: A Conversation with President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. With the sensitive COFA renegotiation underway, Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr. is in Washington and has agreed to sit down with FDD Non-resident Senior Fellow Cleo Paskal and FDD Senior Vice President Jonathan Schanzer to discuss the U.S.-Palau relationship and details on the great power battle taking place in the Pacific Islands. June 29, 2023 Evolving Threats, Stagnant Policies: A Conversation on How to Secure Critical Infrastructure for the Cyber Era Modern critical infrastructure – including access to safe water, energy, communications, and transportation systems – is vital to American security and prosperity. How can improved public-private collaboration better protect U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and public health? What should the Biden administration be considering as it undergoes its important policy review? June 12, 2023 Building Deterrence: Security Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and Beyond Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Jessica Lewis discusses the Biden administration’s ongoing security cooperation efforts in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, will moderate the conversation covering priorities, opportunities, and challenges going forward. May 30, 2023 Thinking Forward After the NSCAI and CSC: A Discussion on AI and Cyber Policy Rep. Mike Gallagher (CSC) and Dr. Eric Schmidt (NSCAI) discuss the roles of Congress, the Executive Branch, academia, and private sector leaders in shaping emerging technology policy, including how commissions can influence policies moving forward. May 15, 2023 Turkey’s Elections: A Contested and Uncertain Outcome FDD hosts a panel featuring Steven Cook, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR); Howard Eissenstat, associate professor of Middle East history at St. Lawrence University; and Sibel Oktay, non-resident senior fellow of Public Opinion and Foreign Policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The panel will be moderated by Sinan Ciddi, non-resident senior fellow at FDD and associate professor of national security studies at Marine Corps University. May 5, 2023 Russia’s War on Ukraine: A Conversation with Amb. Oksana Markarova Brave Ukrainians continue to defend their homeland from the unprovoked, blatantly illegal, and imperialist war being waged by invading Russian troops under the command of Vladimir Putin. FDD hosts an on-the-record conversation with Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova led by FDD Founder and President Clifford D. May. April 14, 2023 Securing Space: Addressing the Cyber Risk The event features former Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Mike Rogers; former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon; Skycorp CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Steven L. Kwast; CSC 2.0 Executive Director and Senior Director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery. March 1, 2023 Turkey After Erdogan FDD's panel discussion explores Turkey's elections issues with FDD Non-Resident Senior Fellow Sinan Ciddi as well as Henri Barkey, Cohen professor in international relations at Lehigh University and adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Merve Tahiroglu, Turkey Program director at the Project on Middle East Democracy, with Nate Schenkkan, senior director of research for Freedom House’s work on countering authoritarianism, moderating. February 23, 2023 Securing Contested Waters: A Conversation with NAVCENT Commander Vice Adm. Cooper FDD hosts NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral Brad Cooper in conversation with CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman. They discuss threats and challenges in the region and how NAVCENT is seeking to leverage cutting-edge technology, partnerships, and expanded military exercises to build an effective combined regional security architecture that deters and defeats aggression. February 7, 2023 Towards a Greater Eastern Mediterranean: Opportunities for Strategic Integration in the Region The Eastern Mediterranean has been an epicenter of great power competition for over two millennia. To discuss the region and what the US can do to meet the rising challenges and take advantage of the emerging opportunities in region, FDD hosts a panel discussion featuring Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power Bradley Bowman, FDD Senior Advisor Amb. Eric S. Edelman, Member of the Hellenic Parliament Dimitris Keridis, and FDD Senior Vice President for Research Jonathan Schanzer, moderated by Washington Correspondent for Greek Public TV ERT Lena Argiri. January 9, 2023 Rising Tensions in the West Bank The security situation in the West Bank is volatile. A mosaic of terrorist groups — many backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran — have found the West Bank ripe ground for plotting violence and attacking Israelis. The event features a panel discussion with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus, Jonathan Schanzer, Enia Krivine, and Bradley Bowman. November 30, 2022 Rogue Proliferators: Nonproliferation Threats Posed by Iran, Syria, Russia, and North Korea Experts from FDD’s Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program were scheduled to attend the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) annual conference at The Hague when they learned their attendance was blocked. Iran, Syria, and/or Russia – all known rogue proliferators—managed to veto the attendance of FDD observers. What are the chemical weapons and proliferation concerns associated with each of these rogue states and North Korea? What can Washington and allied nations do to hold them to account? FDD will host an on-the-record event to discuss the state of global nonproliferation efforts, the role each of these proliferators play individually and in coordination with each other, and recommendations for addressing these issues. The event features keynote remarks by Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation C.S. Eliot Kang followed by a panel discussion. September 21, 2022 Assessing America’s Cyber Resiliency: A Conversation with the CSC 2.0 Co-Chairs Nearly four years ago, the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) was tasked with developing a strategic approach to defend U.S. national security and economic interests in cyberspace. The commission put forward more than 80 concrete recommendations (in a 2020 report and six subsequent white papers) for what it would take for the U.S. government to succeed. Commission co-chairs Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) join a discussion hosted by CSC 2.0 and FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation to discuss outstanding congressional and executive actions in cyberspace and the path forward for national cyber policy. The conversation is moderated by Tim Starks, author of the Cybersecurity 202 newsletter at The Washington Post. The event coincides with the release of the second annual implementation assessment report. August 3, 2022 Flying Under the Radar: Iran’s Illicit Activities and Networks in Latin America Viewed by the regime in Iran as a fertile ground for the spread of anti-American ideology, Latin America has been a key region for the Islamic Republic of Iran to expand its influence, both through hard and soft power. FDD’s Center on Economic and Financial Power hosts an event featuring keynote remarks by Venezuelan Member of Parliament Carlos Paparoni, followed by a panel discussion with Argentinian Member of Parliament Ricardo Lopez Murphy; Senior Managing Director at K2 Integrity and former head of Argentina’s Financial Intelligence Unit Mariano Federici; and FDD Senior Fellow Emanuele Ottolenghi, moderated by FDD Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Strategy Toby Dershowitz. July 13, 2022 Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump In his new book, Degrade and Destroy, Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon reveals the debates, diplomacy, and military operations that shaped the campaign against the Islamic State. To discuss the new book and what the successes and failures against the Islamic State can teach American policymakers, FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) host a discussion with Michael R. Gordon; retired three-star general and former commander of the coalition against ISIS in Syria and Iraq LTG (Ret.) Sean MacFarland; and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Co-Founder and Chair of the CNAS Board of Directors Michèle Flournoy, moderated by CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman. June 24, 2022 Investing to Deter in the Pacific: A Conversation with INDOPACOM Commander Admiral John Aquilino June 8, 2022 Strengthening the Cybersecurity of American Water Utilities June 2, 2022 Strengthening America’s Cyber Resiliency: A Conversation with the National Cyber Director May 8, 2022 Leveraging American Innovation to Counter Beijing and Protect U.S. National Security April 26, 2022 Standing With the Free People of Taiwan: Multi-Domain Strategies to Bolster Taipei and Counter Chinese Aggression If the United States is to defend its core interests in Asia and avoid war with Beijing, leaders in Washington must be clear-eyed about developments related to Taiwan – and act accordingly. April 21, 2022 The Guard and Growing Threats: A Conversation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau The National Guard’s more than 453,000 personnel are tasked with protecting the homeland and serving as a combat reserve for the U.S. Army and Air Force. FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts General Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in conversation with CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman. April 5, 2022 Disrupting China’s Military-Academic Complex FDD hosts an event featuring keynote remarks by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. An expert panel follows featuring: The Hon. Bonnie Glick, director of the Center for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue; RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, FDD senior fellow and senior director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation; Anna Puglisi, director of biotechnology programs and senior fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology; and Craig Singleton, FDD senior fellow and author of The Middle Kingdom Meets Higher Education: How U.S. Universities Support China’s Military-Industrial Complex. Phelim Kine, Washington-based China correspondent for Politico, moderates the discussion. March 17, 2022 The Strategic Nexus in the Eastern Mediterranean The Eastern Mediterranean has been an epicenter of great power competition for over two millennia, owing to its strategic location, cultural significance, and intersection of crucial maritime routes. FDD hosts a discussion with Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD’s Turkey Program Aykan Erdemir, Member of the Hellenic Parliament George Koumoutsakos, and American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Michael Rubin. The event includes introductory remarks by FDD Senior Vice President for Research Jonathan Schanzer and Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council Endy Zemenides, and is moderated by Lena Argiri, DC Correspondent for Greek Public Broadcasting. March 7, 2022 Erdogan’s Diplomatic U-Turn: Prospects and Pitfalls in Turkish-Israeli Relations Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s March 9 visit to Turkey will be the first visit by an Israeli head of state since 2007. Jerusalem has expressed cautious optimism to the diplomatic course correction of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who until recently had been a vocal critic of the Abraham Accords. On the heels of his similar overtures to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, what are the key drivers of Erdogan’s change of heart and outreach to Israel? Is the Turkish president willing to curb his support for Hamas and anti-Israel vitriol? February 22, 2022 The Islamic Republic’s Proxy War Against Israel: The Gaza Battle of 2021 Last year’s conflict between Hamas and Israel generated headlines around the world – most of which ignored critical components of the history, funding, and political dynamics at play. Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War, the first book published on the May confrontation, provides crucial context and overlooked details of this war. The Islamic Republic of Iran provides Hamas with financial assistance, as well as training and weapons, and regards Gaza as part of its expanding empire. FDD hosts a conversation with Jonathan Schanzer, FDD Senior Vice President for Research moderated by CBS News Senior Investigative Correspondent Catherine Herridge. FDD Founder and President Clifford D. May provides introductory remarks. February 4, 2022 Turkish-Russian Relations in Ukraine and Beyond: The Stakes for Europe and the United States To discuss the complex relationship between Turkey and Russia and how it may impact what happens next in Ukraine, FDD's Turkey Program hosts a conversation with Anna Borshchevskaya, Sinan Ciddi, and John Hardie. The event is moderated by FDD’s Aykan Erdemir, with an introduction by Clifford D. May. January 12, 2022 How to Fight Antisemitism in the Arab World Ideas Beyond Borders has produced an Arabic-language translation of Bari Weiss’s “How to Fight Anti-Semitism,” which will be distributed across the Arab world, with the aim of helping to oppose antisemitic rhetoric and counter stereotypes, tropes, and misconceptions. To discuss the threats and trendlines of global antisemitism and what more can be done to counter it, FDD hosts a discussion with Bari Weiss, FDD Research Fellow Hussain Abdul-Hussain, and Ideas Beyond Borders Founder and President Faisal Saeed Al Mutar. The conversation is moderated by FDD Senior Vice President for Research Jonathan Schanzer. December 13, 2021 Securing the High Ground: A Conversation with Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. In this year’s annual report to Congress on the Chinese military, the Department of Defense warned that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force is “rapidly catching up to Western air forces.” U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. testified this summer that China and Russia have “studied, resourced, and introduced systems specifically designed to defeat [U.S.] Air Force capabilities.” Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force is attempting to address serious modernization, readiness, and force structure challenges that compete for finite resources. Exacerbating these challenges and delaying efforts to address them, the Department of Defense is operating – yet again – on a continuing resolution due to the absence of an on-time defense appropriation from Congress. General Brown is right to warn that securing our nation requires, among other things, “a modernized and ready Air Force.” Hosted by FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), Securing the High Ground features a conversation with General Brown and CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman. December 6, 2021 The Growing Missile Threat in the Pacific and American Missile Defense China conducted an advanced military test this summer featuring a hypersonic glide vehicle designed to evade U.S. missile defenses before delivering a nuclear attack against the American homeland. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley characterized the test as “very close” to a Sputnik moment — referring to the 1957 satellite launch by the Soviet Union that shocked Americans and demonstrated the Kremlin’s military-technology prowess. According to a Pentagon report to Congress released last month, the People's Liberation Army launched more than 250 ballistic missiles for testing and training in 2020 alone, more than the rest of the world combined. Meanwhile, North Korea has also been working to develop a range of new missiles to threaten the U.S. homeland, as well as South Korea and Japan and U.S. forces in those two countries. The CMPP event, moderated by CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman, features a conversation with Director of the Missile Defense Agency Vice Adm. Jon A. Hill. The conversation features an introduction by CMPP Advisor LTG (Ret.) Ed Cardon. October 18, 2021 The National Defense Strategy America Needs Defense policy experts Bradley Bowman, Bryan Clark, Mackenzie Eaglen, and Thomas Spoehr recently outlined their recommendations in War on the Rocks for how the National Defense Strategy can best secure the United States and its interests. They argue that “the consequences of producing an ineffective National Defense Strategy may be severe and could come quickly.” Hosted by FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power and moderated by Wall Street Journal White House and national security reporter Gordon Lubold, The National Defense Strategy America Needs addresses America’s national security interests, the leading threats to those interests, and how the Department of Defense and the drafters of the next National Defense Strategy should respond. October 8, 2021 Filling the Void in Afghanistan: How Pakistan, Qatar, and Turkey Benefit from U.S. Retreat FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) and Turkey Program host a conversation with Aykan Erdemir, senior director of FDD's Turkey Program; Farahnaz Ispahani, senior fellow at the Religious Freedom Institute and public policy fellow at the Wilson Center; and Varsha Koduvayur, analyst at Valens Global. Filling the Void in Afghanistan is moderated by Maseh Zarif, director of congressional relations at FDD Action, with an introduction by Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at FDD. August 3, 2021 Transforming the Total Army U.S. Army Chief of Staff General James C. McConville, Chief of the Army Reserve Lieutenant General Jody Daniels, and Director of the Army National Guard Lieutenant General Jon A. Jensen discuss the importance of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard in securing the United States, provide an update on efforts to transform their components, and detail the challenges they confront going forward. June 11, 2021 Afghanistan After America’s Withdrawal FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani ambassador to the United States and senior fellow at the Hudson Institute; David Kilcullen, former chief strategist at the State Department and advisor to CMPP; and Bill Roggio, FDD senior fellow and editor at FDD’s Long War Journal. The conversation is moderated by Nancy Youssef, national security correspondent at the Wall Street Journal. June 2, 2021 America’s Role in Afghanistan: Lessons Learned and What Lies Ahead Hosted by FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, America's Role in Afghanistan features Secretary Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in the Obama administration, and LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, who served in Afghanistan as an Army officer and later as national security advisor in the Trump administration. May 7, 2021 Bipartisan Approaches to Counter Human Rights Abuses by the Islamic Republic of Iran April 27, 2021 Iran Is More Than Persia: Ethnic Politics in the Islamic Republic April 22, 2021 Readiness in the Balance: U.S. Military Preparedness Amid Growing Threats April 22, 2021 Aligning U.S.-Israel Cooperation on Technology Issues and China April 12, 2021 Engineering the Solution to Critical Infrastructure Cyber Sabotage March 22, 2021 Syria’s Chemical Weapons: A Decade of Atrocities and the Path to a Global Zero Use Policy March 17, 2021 The Sprint to Field the Army Force of the Future

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