"In this episode, MEI Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense and Security Program Bilal Y. Saab speaks to former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle A. Flournoy. The conversation [focuses] on the future of U.S. defense strategy and posture in the Middle East in an era of great power competition..." Watch the full event here: Full Event
"'Great power competition' has, at least on paper, become the orienting principle for American strategy. That competition is usually defined as being between the United States and China as well as between the United States and the Russian Federation. Or it lumps them together in the vague category of 'great powers,' without much additional context. But a critical and underexamined factor in the current global geopolitical landscape is the relationship between Beijing and Moscow and how their ties affect US strategy [...]
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a trusted ally and partner in our daily lives. While there are countless benefits of AI, embedded bias could be determining who keeps their job, what news we see – even who lives or dies – without our even knowing it. "AI-based technology is enabling us to stay connected to our communities, order essential supplies and perform our jobs while adhering to stay-at-home orders. It ensures we’re entertained by using algorithms to [...]
Like all of you, we have been reflecting on what we can do in the wake of the senseless killing of George Floyd. We know that the nation we all served together has long been flawed—with underlying systemic racism, increasing inequality, and chronic mistreatment of Black Americans and others of color. We as a nation can and must be better. We will not only respond as a firm to reinforce our commitment to diversity within our ranks and explore ways to [...]
“‘There is a moral imperative to look closely at this issue. The need in Venezuela is growing and the scale of the corruption is industrial,' said Michael Camilleri, who is writing a report on the forfeiture funds for the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington, D.C., group that promotes democracy in Latin America. "He estimated that more than $1 billion in looted money is currently held in the United States, either in frozen banks accounts or being held by in government forfeiture funds. [...]
"North Korea is likely to try to increase pressure on the United States ahead of the upcoming election, said Daniel Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia until early in the Trump administration. “‘Trump’s claim to have ‘solved’ the North Korea problem gives them leverage,' he said..." Read the full article here: Full Article
"On Thursday 11 June, Lowy Institute Executive Director Dr Michael Fullilove hosted an ‘in conversation’ online event with Kurt Campbell and Michèle Flournoy. They discussed the US presidential election, Washington’s relations with Beijing, the global implications of the coronavirus pandemic, and the unrest on America's streets..." Watch the full event here: Full Event
"'We see a real absence of international cooperation during this moment of global crisis,' Meghan O'Sullivan, an international affairs professor at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government said May 20, pointing to early efforts by wealthy countries to procure vaccine manufacturing for the benefit of their own citizens. 'But then we see more conventional manifestations of nationalism: Doubling down on calls to reshore manufacturing, growing talk about protectionist measures, a lot of talk in the United States about the use of [...]
"There is remarkable agreement across the spectrum of Iran experts on what this campaign has achieved: not much. '"Maximum pressure" has caused unprecedented economic pain for the Iranian regime, but has not yet resulted in any outcome that advances American interests,' concluded an analysis by Michael Singh, who was senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration. 'It has not resulted in a new U.S.-Iran negotiation, ended or meaningfully obstructed Iranian regional [...]
"Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel in the Obama administration, said the current moment reminds him of the challenges he faced talking about the inability of the U.S. to confront gun violence and the epidemic of school shootings. “‘It really was — humiliating is an accurate phrase but doesn’t fully capture it. It’s more a feeling of shame, of our inability to address our own problems,' he said. "Shapiro noted that the protests actually show instances of hope and inspiration, [...]