From 11–15 September 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a Combating Transnational Threats Senior Executive Seminar (CTSES) titled “Emerging Security Platforms in the Digital Age,” held in Washington, D.C. The CTSES five-day seminar engaged 32 participants from 22 countries. Thirteen sessions began with speakers, followed by question-and-answer sessions with participants Read More >
Lebanon
2023 Eastern Mediterranean Security Roundtable
The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, in partnership with the Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM), a leading Turkish think tank, held a roundtable discussion in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 17–19 July 2023. Scholars from Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye participated in the discussion. The agenda Read More >
Capt. America vs Capt. Agon (The Billion-Dollar Bargaining Chip for the Syrian Republic of Captagon)
CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: MAJ Ibrahim Elveren, Turkish Army (CSAG/CCJ5) and Lt Col Richard Pecinka, Czech AF (CSAG/CCJ5) 2 June 2023 Subject: Capt. America vs Capt. Agon (The Billion-Dollar Bargaining Chip for the Syrian Republic of Captagon) Purpose: This paper aims to present the CSAG’s analysis regarding how the Captagon drug industry in Syria affects Read More >
2023 Lebanese Armed Forces Seminar
From April 10–14, 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a seminar titled “An Evolving World Order” at National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, DC. The program was designed to provide an academic setting in which these officers could examine ideas relating to emerging threats and changes in global power Read More >
Hezbollah’s “Financial Pyramid”
CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: LCDR Stipe Skelin, HRV Navy (CSAG/CCJ5); LTC Rene Berendsen, NLD Army (CSAG/CCJ5); LTC Richard Pecinka, CZE AF (CSAG/CCJ5); and MAJ Mihai-Florin Girboan, ROU Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 6 April 2023 Subject: Hezbollah’s “Financial Pyramid” Purpose: This paper is the third in a series about Hezbollah. The aim is to present the results of Read More >
The Earthquake: Catalyst for Dynamic Change in Syria
CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: Richard Pecinka, LTC, CZE AF (CSAG/CCJ5), Rene Berendsen, LTC, NLD Army (CSAG/CCJ5), Hubert Mroz, CDR, POL Navy (CSAG/CCJ5) 16 February 2023 Subject: The Earthquake: Catalyst for dynamic change in Syria. Purpose: This paper presents CSAG’s summary analysis of the geopolitical and military evolution of the main actors in Syria following the Read More >
Hezbollah – IRGC Main Coordinating Tool in Middle East
CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: Stipe Skelin, LCDR, HRV Navy (CSAG/CCJ5), Richard Pecinka, LTC, CZE AF (CSAG/CCJ5), Mihai-Florin Girboan, MAJ, ROU Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 16 February 2023 Subject: Hezbollah – IRGC’s main coordinating tool in the Middle East. Purpose: This paper aims to present the results of the CSAG’s analysis of Hezbollah as the main coordinator for Read More >
International Military Officers’ Forum 2023
From 23–27 January 2023, the NESA Center hosted foreign military officers assigned to U.S. Central Command in Tampa and embassy officials in Washington D.C. for an International Military Officers’ Forum (IMOF) titled “The Biden Administration and Global Security.” NESA Center experts, including Professor Dr. Richard Russell and Deputy Director COL (Ret.) David Lamm, as well Read More >
Eastern Mediterranean Sea Security Roundtable
From 12–14 September 2022, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies organized a roundtable discussion on security in the Mediterranean Sea in Rabat, Morocco. Scholars and representatives of civil society from Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey attended the meeting. NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat led the discussion focused Read More >
Lebanon Fouad Shehab Command & Staff College Program
The NESA Center hosted the Lebanese Armed Forces for a Lebanon Fouad Shehab Command & Staff College Program titled “Back to Basics: U.S. Security Partnerships in the Middle East” from 18 to 22 April 2022. This seminar explored the enduring issues and values that can reinforce or challenge partnerships around the Middle East region. It Read More >