by Matthew Woollen, NESA Alumnus and Program Analyst, United States Air Force Special Operations Command Despite an early belief, particularly in the United States, that the world would return to “normal” in short order following the outbreak of COVID-19, it’s now obvious the global impacts of the virus are long term. The duration and degree Read More >
Executive Seminar: “Global Power Competition”
February 1-11, 2021 – Dr. Gawdat Bahgat led the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies Executive Seminar on Global Power Competition (GPC). More than 80 foreign service and military officers from the United States and 26 other countries participated in the virtual seminar. To address this complex topic, the NESA Center brought in Read More >
Blacklisting the Houthis: What is the Price – What is the Gain?
By LtCol Michael von Normann, German Army, US Central Command: Strategy Plans and Policy Directorate; Combined Strategic Analysis Group, Middle East Branch 9 Feb 2021 Introduction: On December 30, 2020, three precision-guided missiles struck Aden Airport where a plane carrying Yemeni cabinet members had just landed. The strike killed twenty-seven people and wounded over 130. Read More >
Iran’s South Korea-Flagged Oil Tanker Seizure: What Does this Action Mean?
By Lieutenant Colonel Youngsuk Lee, Republic of Korea Army, US Central Command: Strategy Plans and Policy Directorate; Combined Strategic Analysis Group 8 Feb 2021 Introduction: On 5 January 2021, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized the South Korea-flagged oil tanker M/T HANKUK CHEMI in the Strait of Hormuz. As a justification, Iran cited alleged Read More >
China’s Territorial Ambition in Central Asia
By MAJ Naoki Tajiri, Japanese Army, US Central Command: Strategy Plans and Policy Directorate; Combined Strategic Analysis Group 4 Feb 2021 Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has restarted China’s revisionism along with their ambition of territorial expansion and accelerated their long-term plans. After World War II, China advanced westward and invaded Tibet in 1948 and Xinjiang Read More >
Facilitating Stability in Afghanistan
By Lt Col Farhan Ali, Pakistan Army, US Central Command: Strategy Plans and Policy Directorate; Combined Strategic Analysis Group 3 Feb 2021 Introduction: Almost 20 years in, the Afghanistan war has entered a phase where the peace dividend outweighs the potential benefits of continued conflict. Major warring parties have reached a stalemate as NATO cannot Read More >
The Future of US-Iran Relations Under the Biden Administration
29 January 2021 – The NESA Center held a meeting with representatives from Chatham House and other European think-tanks to discuss the future of US-Iran relations under the Biden Administration. The U.S. perspective was given, followed by a discussion of how Iranian leaders read the political map in Washington. Also among consideration was the Read More >
40 Years Later: The Role of Algerian Diplomacy During the Iran Hostage Crisis
by Dr. Arslan Chikhaoui Executive Chairman, Nord-Sud Ventures Consultancy Center and NESA Alumnus 25 January 2021 – On January 20, 1981, an “Air Algérie” Aircraft landed on the tarmac at Algiers international airport, coming from Tehran, with 52 American diplomats on board, who had just been freed after 444 days of being held hostage at Read More >
Sri Lanka’s Geopolitical Challenges with Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
22 January 2021 – In the eleventh edition of the NESA Alumni Virtual Interview Series, Mr. Fahad Malaikah hosts Mr. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera for a discussion of his new book, “Conundrum of an Island: Sri Lanka’s Geopolitical Challenges”. Mr. Abeyagoonasekera sheds light on what inspired him to write the book as well as the various topics Read More >
Impact of India-China Tensions in the CENTCOM AoR
By Lt Col Farhan Ali, Pakistan Army, US Central Command: Strategy Plans and Policy Directorate; Combined Strategic Analysis Group 25 Jan 2021 Introduction: Complex territorial disputes, economic competition, and broader geostrategic competition between India and China cause tensions along the world’s longest unsettled group of borders. The circa 3500 kilometer Indo-China border is divided Read More >