NSI Live

NSI hosted a live podcast recording of the first episode of Coffee and Conflict! This new podcast is hosted by Joshua Huminski, Senior Vice President for National Security and Intelligence Programs at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress and NSI Senior Fellow. Each episode of Coffee and Conflict features Joshua interviewing leading authors about their books on national security, foreign policy, and intelligence.The first episode of Coffee and Conflict featured Dmitri Alperovitch, Chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, discussing his new book, World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century. Dmitri shared insights on what the U.S. needs to do to deter war with China and maintain America’s position as the world’s leading superpower.You can purchase a copy of World on the Brink here: https://worldonthebrink.com/

NSI hosted an event diving into the geopolitical, economic, and strategic implications of the growing partnership between Russia and Iran, which has led to increased cooperation, including military coordination, such as military transfers and defense technology exchanges, economic partnership, to even Russia providing cover for Iranian violations of international law in multilateral institutions.This event explored the motivations and goals driving Russia and Iran to grow closer, how the ongoing war in Ukraine and in the Middle East impacts their partnership, and the challenges – as well as opportunities – that their relationship presents for U.S. interests in the region.Panelists:Dr. Mark Katz – Professor Emeritus of Government and Politics, George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and GovernmentMartha Miller – Senior Fellow, National Security InstituteDr. Ray Takeyh – Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies, Council on Foreign RelationsBehnam Ben Taleblu – Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of DemocraciesModerator:Andrew Borene – Former Senior Officer, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

The NSI Cyber and Tech Center hosted an event exploring generative AI and its vast implications for U.S. national security. We explored the opportunities and challenges AI poses for our national security and defense community – including the military, intelligence agencies, and other security stakeholders. It also analyzed how the U.S. can continue to promote AI innovation and defend against AI threats.Speakers: Paul Lekas, Head of Global Public Policy, Software & Information Industry AssociationKatrina M. Mulligan, National Security Policy and Partnerships, OpenAIJamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director, National Security Institute (moderator)

NSI celebrated the bicentennial of the Monroe Doctrine, where we explored its historical roots, its evolving legacy, and its potential relevance to the modern geopolitical landscape.The Monroe Doctrine, which sought to halt foreign interference in the Western Hemisphere, has reemerged within the policymaking community as the United States seeks to develop an approach to respond to challengers from outside the Western Hemisphere – in particular, from China and its growing presence in the region. This event examined policies that promote and maintain U.S. economic and national security, as well as uphold wider regional security and stability.The event will began with keynote remarks by Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and was followed by a panel discussion with:Dr. Colin Dueck, Professor, George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and GovernmentAna Quintana-Lovett, former Staff Director, Western Hemisphere, the House Foreign Affairs CommitteeLiza Tobin, Senior Director of Research and Analysis of Economy, Special Competitive Studies ProjectLester Munson, NSI Senior Fellow and former Staff Director, Senate Committee Foreign Relations

NSI’s Cyber and Tech Center hosted a fireside chat featuring Representative Jay Obernolte (CA-23) and Royal Hansen, Google’s Vice President of Privacy, Safety, and Security Engineering, on March 5 from 12:15 to 1:15pm ET on Capitol Hill. Rep. Obernolte was recently announced as the Chairman of the new bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, which is tasked with ensuring America continues to lead the world in AI innovation while considering how to protect the nation against current and emerging threats. Royal is Google’s Vice President of Privacy, Safety and Security Engineering, where he leads the central engineering function that builds and scales the foundational technology that keeps billions of people safe online.Rep. Obernolte, and Royal discussed how AI can help defend the nation, including enable cyber defenders to better protect U.S. critical infrastructure from foreign cyber threats and cyber criminals. They will also address how to mitigate potential security risks associated with AI and how the U.S. can fully harness this new technology to empower our nation’s cyber defenders.

As part of NSI’s ongoing series, “A Spotlight on China’s Global Repression,” we are excited to host a discussion examining how China uses economic tools, such as the Belt-and-Road Initiative, foreign direct investment, and debt diplomacy, to further the Chinese Communist Party’s repressive goals. Experts will outline the dangers these pose inside and outside China and how the U.S. can counter these global threats.Participants: Matthew P. Goodman, Senior Vice President for Economics, Center for Strategic and International StudiesThe Honorable Nazak Nakakhtar, Former Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis, Department of CommerceThe Honorable Randall G. Schriver, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-PacificLester Munson (moderator), Former Staff Director, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

As part of NSI’s ongoing series, “A Spotlight on China’s Global Repression,” we are excited to host a discussion examining how China uses digital tools, such as social media platforms like WeChat and TikTok and its social credit system, to further the Chinese Communist Party’s repressive goals. Experts will outline the dangers these tactics pose inside and outside China and how the U.S. can counter these global threats.Participants:Geoffrey Cain, NSI Fellow, Senior Fellow, Lincoln NetworkLindsay Gorman, Senior Fellow, Emerging Technologies, Alliance for Securing Democracy, German Marshall FundYaqiu Wang, Senior China Researcher, Human Rights WatchSuzanne Wilson Heckenberg, NSI Advisory Board member, President of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (moderator)

NSI held our inaugural cryptocurrency and blockchain technology event, “Crypto and National Security: How to Validate American Innovation and Verify U.S. National Security.” This event featured a panel of experts discussing critical U.S. national security policy opportunities and challenges related to crypto innovation and adoption.“Crypto and National Security” kicked off NSI’s year-long policy programming initiative focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology – an emerging and important area of policy and innovation. NSI will host a range of conversations throughout 2022 that bring leading experts together to discuss and analyze issues such as crypto’s implications for:U.S. leadership in tech and financial markets;Illicit finance and sanctions policy;Privacy and human rights at home and abroad; andOther key national security objectives.Participants:Jerry Brito, Executive Director, Coin CenterSheila Warren, Chief Executive Officer, Crypto Council for InnovationJuan Zarate, Global Co-Managing Partner & Chief Strategy Officer, K2 Integrity, and NSI Advisory Board MemberModerator: Laura Shin, Author of The Cryptopians and host of Unchained podcast