The U.S. military has a vested interest in the security of the nation’s critical transportation infrastructure. During a conflict, America’s adversaries are likely to attack U.S. critical infrastructure in an attempt to constrain Washington’s policy options, including its capacity to mobilize the armed forces. Over the past year, the intelligence community has revealed how deeply Chinese hackers known as Volt Typhoon penetrated U.S. transportation, energy, and water systems. Meanwhile, other Chinese Communist Party (CCP) malicious cyber operations, including Flax Typhoon, hijacked cameras and routers. Salt Typhoon burrowed deep into U.S. telecommunications networks; Silk Typhoon compromised U.S. Treasury networks.

These hacks have uncovered a dangerous truth: the cybersecurity of the critical air, rail, and maritime infrastructure that underpins U.S. military mobility is insufficient. In addition to enabling disruption, compromising critical infrastructure would allow U.S. adversaries to amass information about the movement of goods and military equipment – and impede America’s ability to deploy, supply, and sustain large forces.

To explore these themes and more, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies hosts Gen. (Ret.) Mike Minihan, former commander, Air Mobility Command; RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director, FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation; and Annie Fixler, director and research fellow, FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation. The conversation is moderated by Bradley Bowman, senior director, FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2025/04/17/persistent-access-persistent-threat-ensuring-military-mobility-against-malicious-cyber-actors/

Iran’s nuclear program is escalating, its economy is worsening, and Tehran’s terror-regime ties with other authoritarians are tightening. As a result, the United States has an unparalleled opportunity to operationalize alternative policy options that marry maximum support for the Iranian people with maximum pressure against the Iranian regime.

To advance these ideas, FDD and the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI) host a symposium featuring a keynote address by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) followed by an exclusive fireside chat with HIH Reza Pahlavi, crown prince of Iran, and Cliff May, FDD founder and president. An expert panel featuring Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD’s Iran Program senior director, and Cameron Khansarinia, NUFDI vice president, will unpack the current state of play with Iran and how maximum support can be paired with maximum pressure; Negar Mojtahedi, Iran International correspondent, will moderate.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2025/04/07/maximum-support-operationalizing-the-other-iran-policy/

Israel’s tech ecosystem plays a pivotal role in strengthening US-Israel relations, particularly collaborative innovations, economic partnerships, and geopolitical ties. These dynamics, notably in defense technology, align with U.S. national security interests and foster normalization with Gulf states by enhancing regional stability and economic resilience. Through the lens of innovation, these unique opportunities for collaboration and diplomacy have the potential to reshape regional dynamics and foster lasting peace.

For an insightful conversation on technology’s power to shape diplomacy and drive peace in the Middle East, FDD hosts Eyal Hulata, senior fellow, FDD and former Israeli National Security Advisor; Ilana Sherrington Hoffman, director of global partnerships, Startup Nation Central; and Seth Spergel, managing partner, Merlin Ventures. Nave Shachar, director of innovation diplomacy, Startup Nation Central, gives keynote remarks. The conversation is moderated by Bradley Bowman, senior director, FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2025/04/03/israeli-innovation-and-defense-tech-strengthening-ties-and-regional-normalization/

Cyber threats are evolving – but U.S. cyber policy coordination is still lagging behind. Four years after the establishment of the Office of the National Cyber Director, the Trump administration has a unique opportunity to establish stronger central coordination and drive meaningful improvements in how the federal government secures and defends cyberspace. How should the administration clarify and reinforce the role of the National Cyber Director? How can the administration create a more structured and accountable interagency cyber community? How can these structures set clearer national priorities and achieve the goals of deterring adversaries and advancing national resilience in cyberspace?

To discuss these issues and more, FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) hosts a virtual conversation with former National Cyber Director Chris Inglis and John Costello, senior advisor to CSC 2.0, an initiative housed at FDD to continue the work of the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission. The conversation is moderated by RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of CCTI and former executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission with introductions by Dr. Samantha Ravich, Chair of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2025/03/12/coaching-thecyberteam-the-future-of-the-office-of-the-national-cyber-director-and-cyber-governance/

Nations pursue access to reliable, sustainable, and affordable energy that will sustain their national security objectives. While the China-Russia led alliance continues to rely largely on fossil fuels, Western countries increasingly seek to replace these traditional energy sources with renewable offerings, leading to less reliable and more expensive electricity. This has profound national security implications.

International organizations such as the United Nations and the International Energy Agency promote the existence of an “energy transition” to renewable energy, despite no signs that a transition is imminent. This is dangerous. Simultaneously, the United Nations promotes diversion of trillions of dollars from the West to China and the Global South to promote climate policies and renewable energy use.

Future energy policies based on reliable energy supplies must necessarily include a full consideration of the national security implications.

What are the potential dangers of operating and enacting energy policies based on future ideals as opposed to current realities? What is the position of the Trump administration on these matters? What is the role of the United Nations in promoting energy policies that will weaken the West?

To explore these questions and more, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies hosts Dr. Brenda Shaffer, senior advisor for Energy at FDD; Michael Ratner, energy specialist at Congressional Research Service; and Ken Moriyasu, Washington correspondent at Nikkei Asia. The conversation is moderated by Clifford D. May, FDD founder and president.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2025/03/04/powering-national-security-energy-policy-in-the-us-and-beyond/

After nearly a year and half of war following Hamas’s brutal October 7 attacks, Israeli society has proven its resilience and strength. The IDF has had a series of military successes against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and in Iran – though substantial challenges remain, in particular the return of all the hostages from Gaza.

Paired with global political realities, Israel’s military successes present Jerusalem a window of opportunity. What could this opportunity look like? How should Israel turn its military successes into strategic victories and ensure lasting peace and security? Critically, what should Israel do about the future of the Gaza Strip and how can it work together with the U.S. administration to continue down the path of the Abraham Accords and advance normalization with Saudi Arabia?

Yair Lapid, former Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and current Leader of Opposition of the Knesset, joins FDD to deliver a new proposal for the future of Gaza as part of his strategic vision for a peaceful and prosperous Israel and Middle East. FDD Chief Executive Mark Dubowitz will moderate an exclusive fireside chat following a presentation by Leader Lapid.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2025/02/25/the-day-after-yair-lapids-vision-for-a-peaceful-middle-east/

Over the last two months, Turkey has thrown its weight behind Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the victorious Syrian rebel group who ousted Bashar al-Assad’s government from power. Westen countries have labeled HTS a terrorist organization – yet, despite HTS’s jihadi roots, Turkey has argued the group is capable of establishing a state that brings law and order and is dedicated to serving Syria’s diverse population. For Syrian Kurds and other communities opposed to HTS governance, Erdogan’s embrace of the Sunni government foreshadows a grim future where Turkey is the dominant foreign power in Syria. For Turkey’s neighbors, Western allies, and fellow NATO members, Erdogan’s actions are a warning sign that Turkey is trying to fundamentally restructure and reshape regional boundaries.

In light of its ambitions for the Middle East and Arab world, how can Turkey’s expansionist ambitions be best understood? What are the potential consequences for Turkey’s neighbors in the Mediterranean? Will Turkey’s NATO status mean less as the U.S. changes its relationship with the alliance? Can Turkey be trusted to be an honest power in Syria, or will Turkey’s dreams yield a new sphere of influence?

To explore these questions, FDD hosts a sideline session during the 6th Annual Delphi Economic Forum featuring the Cohen Chair in International Relations at Lehigh University and Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations Henri J. Barkey; FDD Non-Resident Fellow and expert on Turkish domestic politics Sinan Ciddi; former Minister of Migration and Asylum of Greece and current member of the Greece-Cyprus-Israel-US Interparliamentary Committee Dimitris Kairidis; and FDD Executive Vice President Jon Schanzer. The panel will be moderated by Lena Argiri, Washington correspondent for Greek Public TV (ERT), with introductions by Endy Zemenides, executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2025/02/10/turkeys-neo-ottoman-resurgence/

China has prepositioned destructive cyber capabilities in U.S. energy and transportation infrastructure. Russia has capabilities to disrupt undersea cables and industrial control systems. Iran has exploited unprotected networks to deface machines monitoring water systems. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) at the Department of Homeland Security is charged with collaborating with the private sector to secure critical systems. Since its creation in 2018, CISA has led federal efforts to understand and mitigate systemic cyber risk. How vulnerable is America in cyberspace? How has public-private cyber collaboration changed over the past six years? And, as U.S. adversaries become more aggressive in cyberspace, how can CISA bolster national cyber resilience?

FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation hosts a fireside chat with CISA Director Jen Easterly on protecting critical infrastructure in the cyber age. The conversation will be moderated by RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, CCTI senior director and former executive director of the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2024/01/15/infrastructure-security-in-the-cyber-age-a-conversation-with-cisa-director-jen-easterly/

The character of war is constantly evolving. Those changes are happening not just on land, at sea, and in air – but also in the subterranean realm. The combatant that best understands these ongoing changes and adapts the most effectively is more likely to be successful in future wars.

Few modern militaries know subterranean warfare better than Israel. That’s because terrorist groups such has Hamas and Hezbollah have for years attempted to use tunnels to infiltrate Israel and conduct attacks there. Following the October 7 terror attack on Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah used tunnels in Gaza and Lebanon, respectively, to protect terrorist forces and their arsenals from counterattack, imprison hostages, extend the conflicts, and further political warfare strategies. In response, Israel has developed world-class technologies, capabilities, and tactics to detect and destroy tunnels.

What is the nature of subterranean warfare, how was it used in Gaza and Lebanon, and was this an anomaly peculiar to those wars and places or rather a sign of things to come elsewhere? What lessons should be learned, and how should Israel, the United States, and its allies respond?

To discuss these questions and more, FDD hosts MAJ (Ret.) John Spencer, chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, Daphné Richemond-Barak, assistant professor in the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy at Reichman University in Israel, and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus, senior fellow at FDD. The conversation is moderated by Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power with introductory remarks by FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2025/01/13/tunnel-vision-us-israel-cooperation-and-thefuture-of-underground-warfare/

Four years ago, Congress created the Office of the National Cyber Director to serve as the president’s senior advisor on cybersecurity, implementing national strategy, supporting whole-of-nation cyber resilience, and working with the Office of Management and Budget to align federal resourcing to growing cyber threats from criminals and nation states including China, Russia, and Iran. The office led the charge developing a new national cybersecurity strategy and executed dozens of technical, governance, workforce, and policy solutions to implement the strategy. Has this implementation bolstered national cyber resilience? Has the government developed a whole-of-nation response to cyber incidents? Are federal resources aligned to thwart and deter U.S. adversaries in cyberspace?

FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation hosts remarks and a fireside chat with National Cyber Director Harry Coker, Jr. on the role of the Office of the National Cyber Director, its past successes, and lessons learned for the future. The conversation will be moderated by RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, CCTI senior director and former executive director of the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission.

For more, check out: fdd.org/events/2025/01/07/cyber-strategies-and-successes-a-conversation-with-national-cyber-director-harry-coker-jr/