Modern critical infrastructure – including access to safe water, energy, communications, and transportation systems – is vital to American security and prosperity. And yet the existing private-public partnership governing framework – Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21) – is a decade old. To address the rapidly emerging technological changes and increased threats to critical infrastructure, the Biden administration has indicated it is reviewing and revising PPD-21. What are the shortcomings of PPD-21? 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?

To discuss these questions, FDD and CSC 2.0 will host a panel with Kiersten E. Todt, former chief of staff of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and current senior advisor to CISA Director Jen Easterly; RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and CSC 2.0 executive director; and Mary Brooks, policy fellow at the Wilson Center. The panel will be moderated by Martin Matishak, senior cybersecurity reporter for The Record.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/11/13/evolving-threats-stagnant-policies-a-conversation-on-how-to-secure-critical-infrastructure-for-the-cyber-era/

Protecting our government and private sector networks from state-backed hackers and cybercriminals is more important than ever and starts with having robust cybersecurity teams. However, as the demand for cybersecurity professionals rapidly grows, the supply has not matched pace, leading to hundreds of thousands of unfilled cybersecurity positions across the U.S. federal government and private sector. To address this gap, the Biden Administration released the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, a document with the ambitious goals on educating and training students and professionals to expand the cybersecurity workforce.

To discuss the implementation of the strategy and strengthening the federal cyber workforce, FDD and CSC 2.0 are hosting an event with Camille Stewart Gloster, deputy national cyber director for technology and ecosystem security; Seeyew Mo, assistant national cyber director for workforce, education, and awareness; Jason Barke deputy associate director for strategic workforce planning at the Office of Personnel Management; Kristy Daphnis, senior executive in the Office of Performance and Personnel Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and CSC 2.0 executive director. The panel will be moderated by Natalie Alms, staff reporter at Nextgov/FCW.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/11/06/mind-the-gap-federal-cybersecurity-workforce-initiatives/

The Republic of Turkey as designed 100 years ago by Kemal Ataturk was intended to be a stalwart member of the Western alliance. A founding member of the United Nations, an early member of NATO, and a candidate for European Union membership, Turkey was a trusted and reliable U.S. ally committed to secular governance and rule of law. Unfortunately, it will mark its centennial under a radically different guise. The two-decade rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has transformed Turkey to be defined by authoritarian nationalism, distanced from the West both as a people and a government. Following Hamas’s recent terrorist attacks on Israel, for example, policymakers in Washington are looking with increased scrutiny at Turkey’s deep dies with the terrorist organization.

One hundred years on, what is the trajectory of Turkey as a geopolitical and security partner for the West? What are the core security concerns held by the United States and its allies vis-à-vis Turkey and what steps could Erdogan take to change course? How could policymakers support a more prosperous century ahead for the U.S.-Turkey relationship? To what extent can Ankara claim to be a member of the Western alliance, while providing material support to terrorist entities?

Join FDD’s Turkey Program for a panel discussion featuring Henri Barkey, Cohen International Relations professor at Lehigh University and adjunct senior fellow at CFR; Sinan Ciddi, non-resident senior fellow at FDD; and Sibel Oktay, non-resident senior fellow at Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The conversation will be moderated by Amb. Eric Edelman, senior advisor at FDD, with introductory remarks by FDD Senior Vice President Jonathan Schanzer.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/10/26/turkey-at-100-under-the-grip-of-authoritarian-nationalism/

To counter a well-funded, Iran-backed “axis of resistance” seeking its destruction, Israel has spent more than a decade waging a “campaign between wars” — an unconventional multi-front campaign against Iran and its proxies that entails air, naval, cyber, sabotage, and psychological operations. Sometimes in cooperation with the United States, Israel has struck a wide array of targets inside Iran, penetrating Tehran’s defenses almost at will. These achievements have left a deep impression on governments in the region with some Arab countries having elected to de-prioritize historical animosities with Israel and normalize relations as mutual concerns about Iran loom large. In the wake of the recent attacks by Tehran-sponsored terrorists, leading to over 1,400 Israeli deaths, Israel’s intelligence apparatus is under study and scrutiny now more than ever. How did Hamas plan and execute an attack at such large scale under the nose of Israeli intelligence, and what lessons can be learned when thwarting Iranian nuclear ambitions?

Jerusalem Post senior military correspondent, Yonah Jeremy Bob recently co-authored a new book, Target Tehran, which surveys, exposes, and analyzes Israel’s 20-year clandestine war against Iran’s nuclear program. Yonah has recently been on the ground in Israel on both the southern and northern fronts meeting with top political and military decisionmakers. To discuss the new book and the trajectory of Israel’s military and intelligence campaign to counter Iran, FDD hosts a conversation with Eyal Hulata, FDD senior international fellow and former Israeli National Security Advisor and NSC head, and Jonathan Schanzer, FDD senior vice president for research. The discussion will be moderated by Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network Enia Krivine. FDD Senior Fellow and Director of Research David Adesnik will provide opening remarks.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/10/13/xi-and-bidens-diplomatic-dance-apec-summit-and-the-future-of-us-china-relations/

China’s assertive moves in foreign policy, defense, economics, and human rights over the past year have reshaped geopolitics and international dialogue. With U.S.-China relations delicately at a crossroads, the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Asia Pacific Economic Forum in San Francisco promises to be more than just a bilateral meeting and could be a defining moment for international diplomacy.

FDD hosts a discussion to dissect China’s aggressive moves, offer a rigorous assessment of the current state of U.S.-China relations, and deliberate on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the Biden administration. The conversation features Matt Pottinger, chairman of FDD’s China Program and former deputy national security advisor, who has been instrumental in shaping U.S. policy towards the Indo-Pacific; Craig Singleton, FDD senior fellow with over a decade of experience in national security roles focusing on East Asia; Human rights advocate Rayhan Asat, who brings a spotlight on international rights norms, particularly concerning Xinjiang; and the Honorable Nazak Nikakhtar, who served in key roles in international trade and national security at the Department of Commerce. The conversation will be moderated by Bloomberg’s White House Correspondent Michelle Jamrisko.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/10/13/xi-and-bidens-diplomatic-dance-apec-summit-and-the-future-of-us-china-relations/

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. The United States and its allies are assessing how best to respond to the indiscriminate attacks on Israel while also actively seeking to mitigate fatal flaws of the 2015 nuclear deal and associated UN Security Council Resolution 2231. While the US has opted for a policy of declining pressure on Iran, the Islamic Republic has amassed enough material to produce a nuclear weapon in 12 days while simultaneously developing and testing more advanced ballistic missiles. To make matters worse, the Islamic Republic has booted inspectors from nuclear sites, leaving reduced international oversight.

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?

To discuss Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities and its ongoing coordination with its global network of terror surrogates, FDD will host an event featuring: David Albright, founder and president of the Institute for Science and International Security; Shannon Crawford, ABC News reporter; Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD senior fellow; Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power; Richard Goldberg, FDD senior advisor and former director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destruction; Eyal Hulata, FDD senior international fellow and former Israeli national security advisor; Anthony Ruggiero, senior director of FDD’s Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program and former deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs and National Security Council senior director for counterproliferation and biodefense; Jonathan Schanzer, FDD senior vice president for research; Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Illinois’ 10th Congressional District; and Andrea Stricker, FDD research fellow and deputy director of FDD’s Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/10/16/terror-sunsets-and-declining-pressure-countering-the-full-range-of-tehrans-threats/

Most Americans now recognize the serious threat the People’s Republic of China (PRC) poses to the United States. But many may not be aware of the comprehensive campaign Beijing is implementing in Latin America to advance the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) interests, undermine the United States, and put our homeland at risk.

What is China doing in our hemisphere? Why does it matter? How is the United States responding? And what more can be done?

FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts a conversation with Commander of U.S. Southern Command General Laura J. Richardson. As the Commander of SOUTHCOM, she is responsible for U.S. contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The conversation will be moderated by CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/10/11/latin-americas-china-challenge-a-conversation-with-southcom-commander-general-laura-richardson/

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Israelis awoke to a multi-front, Iran-backed attack on Israel’s southern border today. Dozens of Hamas terrorists infiltrated the border and invaded Israeli towns, going door to door killing Israelis and taking hostages back into Gaza to be held as bargaining chips. Simultaneously, terrorists fired thousands of rockets at Israel with Hamas claiming 5,000 rockets launched. Several hours into the attack, residents of southern Israel were still barricaded in their homes waiting for IDF reinforcements.

FDD experts joined an exclusive on-the-record media event to provide their latest analysis. The conversation featured FDD Chief Executive Mark Dubowitz, Senior Vice President Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power Bradley Bowman, and FDD’s Long War Journal Analyst Joe Truzman. The conversation was moderated by FDD Vice President of Communications Elizabeth Robbins.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/10/07/israel-under-attack-iran-backed-terrorists-launch-deadly-surprise-war-media-exclusive/

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.

FDD’s Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) hosts Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) for an on-the-record event to discuss ways to safeguard America’s economy and national security and ensure Washington has the capabilities necessary to build a more unified understanding of investment risks with appropriate screening mechanisms.

The event is moderated by Juan C. Zarate, CEFP chairman and co-founder, and features a discussion with Elaine K. Dezenski, CEFP senior director and head, and Nova Daly, senior public policy advisor at Wiley Rein, LLP and CEFP advisor.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/09/27/bolstering-american-economic-statecraft-a-conversation-with-senators-cornyn-and-casey-on-outbound-investments/

China is sprinting to field military might that can defeat U.S. forces and conquer Taiwan. Putin continues to wage his brutal war against Ukraine – the largest invasion Europe has witnessed since World War II. The regime in Tehran continues to oppress the Iranian people, export terrorism, and inch toward a nuclear weapon capability, while building closer relationships with Moscow and Beijing. Nuclear-armed North Korea is strengthening its missile arsenal to threaten the United States, South Korea, and Japan. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has rolled back many gains of Afghan women and girls and has deepened its partnership with al-Qaeda.

While this list of threats and challenges is extraordinary, 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?

FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts a conversation with CMPP Chairman LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, 34-year-veteran of the U.S. Army and former U.S. National Security Advisor, and The Hon. Elaine Luria, 20-year-veteran of the U.S. Navy and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and its Committee on Armed Services. The panel is moderated by CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman.

For more, check out: https://www.fdd.org/events/2023/09/20/extraordinary-threats-and-opportunities-a-conversation-with-ltg-ret-hr-mcmaster-and-the-hon-elaine-luria/