FDD Events Podcast

One of the most significant features of the geopolitical landscape is an increasingly formidable emerging axis of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The members of this “axis of aggressors” are united in their determination to undermine the United States and counter its core interests. Though their methods may vary, these adversaries share a desire to sow chaos, erode the rule of law, and weaken the United States and its allies.From Putin’s 2022 re-invasion of Ukraine — which instigated the largest war in Europe since World War II — to the Iran-backed October 7th massacre which sparked an ongoing multi-front war against Israel, and China’s growing threats to Taiwan, America’s adversaries are emboldened. The United States must work together with its unparalleled network of allies and partners to respond more effectively.To discuss the situations in Middle East, the Pacific, and Ukraine, as well as the path forward, FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts CMPP Chairman LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, a 34-year-veteran of the U.S. Army and a former U.S. National Security Advisor, in conversation with CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman.For more, check out: fdd.org/events/2024/09/26/axis-of-aggressors-hr-mcmaster-on-defending-americas-interests/

As cyber threats from malign actors against America’s critical infrastructure evolve, so must our defenses. Four 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.Since then, the Commission’s report and white papers have driven significant advancements in U.S. cybersecurity policy, prompting Congress and the White House to develop innovative solutions to address these challenges. These efforts have improved federal government coordination, advanced U.S. cyber interests globally, deepened public-private partnerships, bolstered national resilience, and preserved military instruments of national power. However, key questions remain for Congress and the White House. Is the private sector adequately prepared to defend against sophisticated cyberattacks? What impact do funding shortfalls have on implementing the National Cyber Strategy? What lessons should guide the incoming administration and Congress in strengthening U.S. cybersecurity posture?To explore these questions, FDD and CSC 2.0 host a discussion featuring Commission Co-Chair Sen. Angus King (I-ME); Tom Fanning, former executive chairman of Southern Company; and former Executive Director RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, who leads CSC 2.0 and serves as senior director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI). Sam Sabin, cybersecurity reporter at Axios will moderate the conversation. This event coincides with the release of the fourth annual assessment report, which evaluates the progress made and the challenges ahead in implementing the Commission’s recommendations.For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/09/19/americas-cyber-resiliency-in-2024-a-conversation-with-csc-20-co-chair-sen-angus-king/

The Middle East is teetering on the precipice of major upheaval as the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies have ignited a devastating multi-front war against Israel and the West. An axis of authoritarian countries are working closely to create chaos in Europe and the Middle East. Regional dynamics are undeniably shuffling as the terrorist groups on Israel’s borders and their financiers in Tehran grow more emboldened. Meanwhile, the US is attempting to restrain Israel from taking direct action against Iran and Hezbollah, fearing that one miscalculated move may tip the scale. Moreover, efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a hostage deal seem to be moving one step forward and two steps back. These dynamics present unprecedented challenges to the U.S.-Israel security relationship.This critical moment demands strategic planning and raises several key questions: What are the implications of this escalating crisis for the U.S.-Israel security dynamic, and how might it impact the broader regional stability? How does the shifting global balance of power affect U.S.-Israeli relations and American interests in the Middle East? What adjustments might Israel need to make in the wake of October 7 and its war against Hamas? What weapon system and munitions challenges does the U.S. face as the “arsenal of democracy”? And finally, what lessons are to be learned from the ongoing wars with regard to intelligence reliability, deterrence, and conflict management?To explore these questions, FDD will host a panel discussion with MG (Ret.) Amir Eshel, FDD senior fellow and former director general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense; Eyal Hulata, FDD senior international fellow and former Israeli national security advisor and head of Israel’s national security council; RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation; and Jonathan Schanzer, FDD senior vice president for research. The conversation will be moderated by Katie Pavlich, editor for Townhall.com and Fox News contributor.For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/09/10/strategic-planning-in-chaos-the-future-of-the-us-israel-security-partnership/

Serving as America’s development finance institution, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) was established in 2019 to ramp up financing, equity investment, and partnerships to support U.S. foreign policy and development-aligned transactions in emerging markets. 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 chief executive officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, for a wide ranging conversation with Senior Director and Head of CEFP Elaine Dezenski. They will discuss critical areas for future DFC investment; evolving economic conditions across the global south; how the United States thinks about countering investments by adversarial regimes, including the Chinese Communist Party; and opportunities for greater collaboration with allies and partners. Ambassador John A. Simon, former ambassador to the African Union, and founder and managing partner of Total Impact Capital, will provide introductory remarks for the conversation. For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/07/11/supercharging-the-development-finance-corporation-opportunities-and-pathways-for-development-infrastructure-and-investment/

In the face of growing tensions between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan is emerging as a pivotal flashpoint. As America strategizes its response, careful consideration and planning are paramount to address the challenges ahead.Security analyst Dmitri Alperovitch has a timely new book out with Garrett M. Graff that dives into how America can beat China in the race for the 21st century. World on the Brink outlines a comprehensive roadmap for the United States and its allies to avert this impending disaster. To discuss these issues, FDD’s China Program hosts a conversation with Dmitri Alperovitch, as well as Ivan Kanapathy, senior vice president of Beacon Global Strategies, and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation. The discussion will be moderated by Ellen Nakashima, national security reporter for The Washington Post, with remarks by FDD's China Program Director Craig Singleton.For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/06/04/flashpoints-and-high-stakes-americas-blueprint-to-counter-china/

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), arguably one of the most successful alliances in history. Yet, after the fall of the Soviet Union, some questioned whether NATO was still needed and relevant. Putin’s 2022 unprovoked re-invasion of Ukraine, which instigated the largest war in Europe since World War II, put those questions to rest. Even as the United States attempts to address serious threats in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, Washington now confronts “a combination of challenges and threats in the Euro-Atlantic area that we have not seen in more than thirty years,” according to congressional testimony last month by the commander of U.S. European Command (USEUCOM).So why should Americans care about security in Europe? What are Russia and China up to on the continent? How is the war in Ukraine going? What’s the status of the alliance and what investments are needed to strengthen readiness and deterrence?To discuss these questions and more, FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, deputy commander of U.S. European Command, and Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes, the command’s civilian deputy and foreign policy advisor. CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman moderates the conversation and Ambassador Eric Edelman, who sits on CMPP’s board, delivers introductory remarks.For more, check out: fdd.org/events/2024/05/10/transatlantic-security-after-75-years-of-nato-a-conversation-with-us-european-command/

The Islamic Republic of Iran ramped up its decades-long assault on Israel with an unprecedented attack last night, firing an estimated 300 drones and missiles at Israel – including directly from Iranian soil. Israel’s multi-layered missile defense system, along with robust support from a broad coalition of allied partners in the region, successfully thwarted the aerial offensive targeting Israeli civilians. All eyes are now on Jerusalem to see what happens next.Join FDD for a virtual event to hear from leading experts on the details of the attack and the policy options Israel and its partners in the West, including the United States, might be considering in response to deter further aggression by the emboldened regime in Tehran. Tune in for the discussion featuring former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) international spokesperson and FDD Senior Fellow Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus; FDD Chief Executive Mark Dubowitz; FDD Senior Vice President for Research Jonathan Schanzer; and founder and president of Israel-based Alma Research and Education Center Lt. Col. (Res.) Sarit Zehavi.For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/04/14/irans-historic-aerial-assault-on-israel-sitrep-and-policy-options/

The Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a barrage of drones from its soil, in-bound for targets in Israel. After more than 6 months of attacks on Israel by Iranian-backed proxies following the Hamas massacre of October 7, this escalation comes in response to the recent killing of top IRGC commanders by Israel in Damascus. Numerous drones have been intercepted by U.S. and Israeli air defense systems, with explosions heard in the skies of Jerusalem. Is this the beginning of a multiday attack by Tehran? FDD Senior Vice President Jonathan Schanzer and FDD Senior Fellow and former IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus deliver a timely situational report on what we know and what we can expect.For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/04/13/iran-attacks-israel-with-drones-and-missiles-fdd-sitrep-with-jonathan-schanzer-and-jonathan-conricus/

In May 2023, Turkey held its national elections, where Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured a third term in office, until 2028. The local elections may give the mistaken impression that they are less important in outcome than the national. This could not be further than the truth, as Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered a resounding defeat across the entire country. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) delivered its best electoral performance since 1977, and denied Erdogan the ability to win back major cities across the country, including Istanbul and Ankara. Moreover, the result can be interpreted as a personal repudiation of Erdogan by voters, and the launching of Ekrem Imamoglu’s national political career. It is now widely assumed that Imamoglu, the current CHP mayor of Istanbul, is the presumptive nominee who will seek to succeed Erdogan at the next presidential election (2028). Questions following Sunday’s elections are clear: are the results of the local elections the beginning of the end of Erdogan’s time in office? To what extent is Erdogan politically wounded? Are we witnessing a democratic revival in Turkey? What course will Erdogan chart in response to Sunday’s results?To discuss the election results and its immediate to long term implications, FDD hosts a panel featuring Guldem Atabay, economist at Istanbul Analytics; Sinan Ciddi, non-resident senior fellow at FDD; Howard Eissenstat, associate professor of Middle East History at St. Lawrence University; and Atilla Yesilada, president at Istanbul Analytics. The panel will be moderated by journalist Yavuz Baydar, and feature introductory remarks by FDD Senior Vice President for Research, Jonathan Schanzer.For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/04/03/turkeys-local-elections-outcome-and-implications/

Late last year, the commander of U.S. Cyber Command observed that the current state of U.S. military cyber organization is unsustainable. “All options are on the table,” he said, “except the status quo.” The existing structures have led to recruitment challenges, inconsistencies in compensation and service requirements, and personnel with inadequate training and support. Bipartisan members of Congress have for a decade expressed deep concern about the inability of the existing military services to recruit, train, and equip sufficient personnel to meet growing cyber challenges.America’s cyber force generation system is clearly broken. FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation is releasing a comprehensive report that explores the viability of establishing an independent cyber service: U.S. Cyber Force. To discuss the report and associated policies, join FDD for a virtual event featuring Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation; Dr. Erica Lonergan, assistant professor in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University; and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation; with introductory remarks by Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power.For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/03/25/exploring-the-potential-of-a-us-cyber-force/