Sanctions and Illicit Finance
Events
Reexamining the U.S.-South Africa Relationship
South Africa is emerging as a key enabler of authoritarian influence. From hosting joint military exercises with Russia and China to serving as a sanctions evasion hub and a vocal defender of Tehran, Pretoria is positioning itself in direct opposition to U.S. strategic interests. For a discussion on how Washington is reexamining its relationship with South Africa, FDD hosts a virtual panel of experts
Events
Breaking China’s Chokehold: Securing America’s Advanced Battery Supply Chains
China has developed a state-led policy of weaponizing critical supply chains against rivals, raising serious economic security and national security concerns for the United States. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have taken important steps to bolster domestic production of minerals, components, and batteries, but much more can and should be done to unlock private sector funding and innovation, support ally-shoring and allied capacity, stabilize pricing and streamline permitting. The U.S. must also develop strategies to push back against a wide range of Chinese non-market practices that it uses to establish supply chain dominance, create resource dependencies, undermine foreign rivals, concentrate economic power, and destabilize American and global economies.
Events
The Trajectory of U.S. Economic Statecraft
The current economic “moment” is seeing a generational re-ordering of global trade, alliances, and capital. The Trump Administration is unleashing an unprecedented and muscular use of economic power, with tariffs on historical allies and adversaries alike, ramped up sanctions on Iran and Venezuela, new investment incentives and reviews, and willingness to endure economic pain to remake the global order. The framework and objectives for this new use of economic power, however, continue to evolve.
Events
Supercharging the Development Finance Corporation: Opportunities and Pathways for Development, Infrastructure, and Investment
DFC bolsters U.S. national and economic security, enabling the United States to work with key partners and allies to define a new vision of public-private development financing, centered around transparency, financial sustainability, and economic resilience, while reinforcing high standards for protecting human rights and the environment. FDD’s Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) hosts Nisha Biswal, Deputy CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation for a wide ranging conversation with Senior Director and Head of CEFP Elaine Dezenski.
Events
Turkey: A Sanctuary for Terrorist Entities & Illicit Finance
Under the rule of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara has offered safe harbor to Hamas leadership, allowing the terror organization to raise and transfer funds, recruit members, and coordinate regional activities.
Events
Expanding the Anti-Corruption Toolkit: FEPA and Beyond
FDD and Transparency International-US host a conversation with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to discuss the recent passage of the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (or "FEPA"), how the legislation can best be leveraged against corrupt regimes, and what comes next in the fight against global corruption and kleptocracy.
Events
Fortifying the Crypto Future: U.S. National and Economic Security in the Virtual Realm
Digital assets, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized finance offer economic opportunity while also exposing nation states and economies to genuine risk. While the industry has grown and evolved at rapid pace, bipartisan lawmakers are actively wrestling with the challenging question of how best to regulate and guardrail new financial tools to foster innovation while protecting U.S. national and economic security.
Events
Terror, Sunsets, and Declining Pressure: Countering the Full Range of Tehran’s Threats
As key international restrictions on Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are set to expire this month, Tehran supports, sponsors, and coordinates with terrorist groups like Hamas—who just brutally murdered over 1,200 Israelis. How can the US stand up to the murderous regime in Iran and its network of proxies? What exactly are the upcoming “sunsets” under UN Resolution 2231? How can the West mitigate the fallout of an effective greenlighting of Iranian sales of missiles and drones to Russia?
Events
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.
Events
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.
Events
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.
Events
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.