CSAG STRATEGY PAPER Lt Col Richard Pecinka, CZE AF (CSAG/CCJ5), LTC René Berendsen, NLD Army (CSAG/CCJ5), LTC Ivan Puhalo, HRV Army (CSAG/CCJ5), and MAJ Vasile Nodis, ROU AF (CSAG/CCJ5) 20 November 2024 Introduction: The Golan Heights, a hilly 460 square mile (1,200 square kilometer) strategically vital plateau, was seized by Israel from Syria during Read More >
CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: LTC René Berendsen, NLD Army (CSAG/CCJ5), Lt Col Richard Pecinka, CZE AF (CSAG/CCJ5), and MAJ Felix Badut, ROU Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 05 April 2024 Subject: “Reawakening Threats: The Reemergence of Islamic State Amid Global Distractions.” Purpose: This paper examines the reemergence of Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East. IS continues Read More >
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 >
CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: LTC Kashif Ehtisham, PAK Army (CSAG/CCJ5) and LTC René Berendsen, NLD Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 12 September 2023 Subject: Chinese-brokered Iran-KSA Détente, “A Game-Changer or a Mirage?” Purpose: To present CSAG’s analysis of the recent rapprochement between Iran and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) brokered by China. Read the complete paper here. Read More >
CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: Lt Col Richard Pecinka, CZE AF (CSAG/CCJ5), LTC René Berendsen, NLD Army (CSAG/CCJ5), and MAJ Felix Badut, ROU Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 12 September 2023 Subject: Deir ez-Zor: Critical Juncture in the Process Towards Syria’s Normalization Purpose: To present CSAG’s analysis of the strategic significance of Deir ez-Zor in shaping the future of Read More >
From 21–30 August 2023, the NESA Center conducted the “Perspectives on Strategic Leadership Seminar” with students and faculty of the Royal Jordanian National Defense College (RJNDC) in Amman, Jordan. Seminar content and instruction was led by NESA Center Associate Dean Charles Marks and Professor Richard Wiersema. Training services on alumni resources and induction into the Read More >
CSAG STRATEGY PAPER By: LTC Jussi Puustinen, FIN A (CSAG/CCJ5) 11 July 2023 Overview: Russia’s worldview is shaped by its strategic culture. Certain periods in history have a significant meaning in forming its strategic culture. These periods have influenced how Russians think about strong leaders, why autocracy is seen as a better option over Read More >
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 >
CSAG STRATEGY PAPER By: LTC Jussi Puustinen, FIN Army, CSAG CCJ5 06 March 2023 Overview: Türkiye has quite a unique position in many perspectives e.g., geographically, geopolitically and geoeconomically. It lies at the intersection of Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia (and Africa) with ties to all of them; it has a land Read More >
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 >