The National Security Institute (NSI) and the Center for the National Interest (CFTNI) hosted an important discussion on cybersecurity challenges in telecom networks, with a particular focus on the SALT Typhoon threat actor and its broader implications for U.S. national security.

As cyber-enabled threats continue to evolve, state-sponsored actors like SALT Typhoon are increasingly targeting critical communications infrastructure, posing significant risks to both national defense and economic security. This timely conversation brought together industry leaders, and cybersecurity experts to examine how the United States can public-private collaboration to mitigate threats and build a more secure and resilient telecom ecosystem.

The event will begin with opening remarks from Congressman Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, followed by a panel discussion with key voices from the cybersecurity and policy communities.

Keynote:

• Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT, 4), Ranking Member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Panelists:

• Edward G. Amoroso, Founder and CEO, TAG Infosphere
• Kelli Andrews, Senior Director for Cybersecurity and Lawful Access Policy, Microsoft
• Jamil Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director, NSI
• Rich Mason, President and Chief Security Officer, Critical Infrastructure, LLC

Moderator:

• Paul Saunders, President, Center for the National Interest

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NSI and the Embassies of Estonia, Denmark, and Norway hosted an important discussion on transatlantic security challenges featuring senior diplomatic leaders. His Excellency Kristjan Prikk, Ambassador of Estonia to the United States; Ambassador Stig P. Piras, Deputy Chief of Mission of Denmark to the United States; and Ambassador Bård Ivar Svendsen, Deputy Chief of Mission of Norway to the United States provided insights on protecting the rules-based international order, countering hybrid threats, and supporting nations defending their sovereignty. As geopolitical tensions rose, exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conversation explored recent examples of hybrid warfare tactics used by authoritarian regimes and the strategic steps needed to bolster transatlantic resilience.

The event began with opening remarks from NSI Senior Fellow Andrew Borene, followed by a keynote statement from Ambassador Kristjan Prikk, who provided Estonia’s perspective on the evolving security landscape. A panel discussion followed, featuring Ambassador Prikk, Ambassador Stig P. Piras, and Ambassador Bård Ivar Svendsen, moderated by Martha Miller, NSI Deputy Executive Director.

Guest Speakers:

• Ambassador Kristjan Prikk, Ambassador of Estonia to the United States
• Ambassador Stig P. Piras, Deputy Chief of Mission of Denmark to the United States
• Ambassador Bård Ivar Svendsen, Deputy Chief of Mission of Norway to the United States

Moderator: Martha Miller, NSI Deputy Executive Director

Host: Andrew Borene, NSI Senior Fellow

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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/

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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 Government
• Martha Miller – Senior Fellow, National Security Institute
• Dr. Ray Takeyh – Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
• Behnam Ben Taleblu – Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Moderator:

• Andrew Borene – Former Senior Officer, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

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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 Association
• Katrina M. Mulligan, National Security Policy and Partnerships, OpenAI
• Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director, National Security Institute (moderator)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Government
• Ana Quintana-Lovett, former Staff Director, Western Hemisphere, the House Foreign Affairs Committee
• Liza Tobin, Senior Director of Research and Analysis of Economy, Special Competitive Studies Project
• Lester Munson, NSI Senior Fellow and former Staff Director, Senate Committee Foreign Relations

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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.

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NSI hosted an event to foster discussion around policy positions and recommendations found in its latest publication, Addressing the National Security Threat of Chinese Technology Innovation. This panel of experts expanded upon the policy solutions found in NSI’s latest paper and explain how the U.S. and our allies can lead in free-market innovation and what Congress can do to support and promote U.S. technological leadership. The panel discussion featured national security policy and industry experts and will take place in-person on Capitol Hill on November 2nd, 2023.

Panelists:

• Carl Holshouser, Senior Vice President & Corporate Secretary, TechNet
• Robert Strayer, Executive Vice President of Policy Information Technology Industry Council
• Liza Tobin, Senior Director for Economy Special Competitive Studies Project
• Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder & Executive Director, National Security Institute, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

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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 Studies
• The Honorable Nazak Nakakhtar, Former Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis, Department of Commerce
• The Honorable Randall G. Schriver, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific
• Lester Munson (moderator), Former Staff Director, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

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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 Network
• Lindsay Gorman, Senior Fellow, Emerging Technologies, Alliance for Securing Democracy, German Marshall Fund
• Yaqiu Wang, Senior China Researcher, Human Rights Watch
• Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg, NSI Advisory Board member, President of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (moderator)

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