AFPC Insights
By American Foreign Policy Council
AFPC InsightsFeb 03, 2021
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 24: China’s growing military hostility toward Taiwan
In this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen talks with Senior Fellow in Asian Security Dr. Larry Wortzel about China’s growing military hostility toward Taiwan, U.S. options to deter China and strengthen Taiwan's Security, its effect on the broader Asia-Pacific region and the PRC's new orbital missile capability. Listen and subscribe today!
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 23: The Strategic Consequences of the Taliban Takeover
On this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen talks with AFPC Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) Chairman Dr. S. Frederick Starr about the recent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, as well as what it means for the Afghan people and for Afghanistan's neighbors, both practically and geopolitically.
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 22: A foiled Iranian kidnapping, and implications for U.S. policy
On this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen talks with Senior Vice President Ilan Berman regarding last week's indictment of four Iranian intelligence officials on conspiracy to kidnap U.S. journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad and the implications for U.S. policy.
Additional resources:
July 13, 2021 - Department of Justice press release, "Iranian Intelligence Officials Indicted on Kidnapping Conspiracy Charges: Iranian Intelligence Services Allegedly Plotted to Kidnap a U.S. Journalist and Human Rights Activist from New York City for Rendition to Iran". https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iranian-intelligence-officials-indicted-kidnapping-conspiracy-charges
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 21: Turmoil in Colombia...and beyond
AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen talks with AFPC Senior Fellow in Latin American Affairs Christine Balling regarding the current political crisis in Colombia, elections in Peru, and external actors (e.g., China, Russia, and Iran) growing activity in the region.
Additional reading:
June 14, 2021 - A New Era For Iran’s Ambitions In The Western Hemisphere (Ilan I. Berman & Joseph Humire, The National Interest) https://www.afpc.org/publications/articles/a-new-era-for-irans-ambitions-in-the-western-hemisphere
June 8, 2021 - It’s a mistake to assume Colombia protests same as protests in US (Christine Balling, The Hill) https://www.afpc.org/publications/articles/its-a-mistake-to-assume-colombia-protests-same-as-protests-in-us
AFPC INSIGHTS Episode 20: The view from Ukraine
AFPC Senior Vice President Ilan Berman chats with Amb. James Gilmore III, former Ambassador the OSCE (2019-2021) and Governor of Virginia (1998-2002) and Mr. Jon Lerner, former U.S. Deputy Envoy to the United Nations, about their recent trip to Ukraine on an AFPC-organized delegation. In Kyiv, they met with various senior Ukrainian government and military officials to discuss the state of corruption and institutional reforms, the economy and COVID-19. The delegation also traveled to the front near Mariupol to discuss the state of the Russian-Ukrainian border and see it first-hand.
Related reading:
Taiwan’s Fate May Be Decided In Ukraine (June 4, 2021 Herman Pirchner, Jr., Alexander B. Gray The Hill)
AFPC Insights Episode 19: The Human Rights Dimension of Iran Policy
AFPC Senior Fellow in Middle East Studies Mora Namdar discusses Iran’s opposition and the Biden Administration's policy toward Iran on this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS. An attorney and foreign policy expert, Ms. Namdar previously served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs and Vice President of the U.S. Agency for Global Media - USAGM). Before that, she served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State, working on a variety of global issues. These responsibilities included, but were not limited to, working on Iran politics and policy, international messaging and broadcasting, and serving on the State Department’s Iran Action Group.
Additional resources:
The Human Rights Element of Iran Policy (Mora Namdar, The National Interest, March 22, 2021)
AFPC INSIGHTS Episode 18: The View from Morocco
The Kingdom of Morocco is America’s oldest diplomatic partner, and a key U.S. strategic ally in North Africa. It is also a country that is now facing a changed, and challenging, regional environment while simultaneously attempting to navigate a new Administration in Washington. In this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, Senior Vice President Ilan Berman discussed the current strategic challenges confronting the Kingdom, drawing on insights from his recent visit to the country.
Notes:
A Moment of Truth for Morocco - Newsweek (4/14/21) - https://www.newsweek.com/moment-truth-morocco-opinion-1583026
AFPC INSIGHTS Episode 16: The strategic significance of the Pacific Islands
American Foreign Policy Council Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs Alexander B. Gray discusses the strategic significance of the Pacific Islands.
Related publications:
Why a crisis in the Pacific islands matters for Washington and Beijing (February 16, 2021, The Hill) https://thehill.com/opinion/international/538968-why-a-crisis-in-the-pacific-islands-matters-for-washington-and-beijing
Trouble in Paradise: Why a Pacific Islands Squabble Matters for Washington (February 8, 2021, The National Interest) https://www.afpc.org/publications/articles/trouble-in-paradise-why-a-pacific-islands-squabble-matters-for-washington
AFPC INSIGHTS Episode 17: Chaos in the Caucasus
Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Director Svante Cornell explains the current political turmoil in Georgia on this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS.
AFPC INSIGHTS Episode 14: Space and the next administration
AFPC director for external relations Annie Swingen talks with senior fellow for defense studies Peter Garretson regarding space policy options and opportunities for the Biden Administration.
Related reading:
Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space (Lexington Books, 2020) - Co-authors: Namrata Goswami and Peter Garretson.
Biden’s space policy: One giant leap for climate change - Politico, 10/28/2020
AFPC INSIGHTS Episode 15: A New Approach to Iran
Iran is emerging as a critical foreign policy priority for the Biden Administration, but its approach seems to be profoundly different from that of its predecessor. American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) senior Vice President Ilan Berman elaborates.
Related reading: Iran's Ayatollahs Want a New Deal (Newsweek, 2/1/21) https://bit.ly/36Aa6AM
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BJax4djQkk&feature=youtu.be
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 13: China's Inroads Into Africa
AFPC director for external relations Annie Swingen chats with Amb. David Shinn and AFPC senior fellow for China studies and associate professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs Dr. Joshua Eisenman regarding the recently release of the Chinese translation of their 2012 book, "China in Africa: A Century of Engagement" (Penn Press) and their next book project slated for publication in 2021.
China in Africa: A Century of Engagement - https://www.amazon.com/China-Africa-Engagement-David-Shinn/dp/0812244192
Reviews:
Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2012-10-31/china-and-africa-century-engagement
Carnegie Council: https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/publications/articles_papers_reports/0150
Sage Publications: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0009445513491529?journalCode=chra
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 12: A Sudanese-Israeli reset
Research Fellow and Program Officer Jacob McCarty discusses Sudan's recent normalization of relations with Israel.
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 11: Defense Transformation & the Future of Warfare
AFPC fellow in defense studies Jennifer McArdle discusses "Defense Transformation and the Future of Warfare" with director for external relations Annie Swingen on the latest episode of AFPC INSIGHTS.
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 10: Renewed Conflict in the Caucasus
AFPC's Central Asia-Caucasus Institute director Svante Cornell discusses the recent flare-up in tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Additional reading:
The International Politics of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict: The Original "Frozen Conflict" and European Security (Palgrave McMillan, 2017)
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 9: U.S. Public Diplomacy in Crisis
U.S. public diplomacy in general, and in particular the agency that oversees it, known as the U.S. Agency for Global Media, has become the topic of considerable political controversy in recent months. AFPC Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs Jim Robbins has been following the issue closely and on this episode of AFPC INSIGHTS, provides a sense of the current state of America’s global messaging – and the problems that are currently plaguing it.
Additional resources: The Trouble With the Open Technology Fund, September 2, 2020, Newsweek James S. Robbins
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 8: A New Peace Deal in the Middle East
AFPC senior vice president Ilan Berman discusses the historic Aug. 13, 2020 Israel-UAE peace deal. Additional reading: New Mideast Peace Deal Reflects a Broader U.S. Strategy (Newsweek, August 17, 2020) https://www.newsweek.com/new-mideast-...
AFPC INSIGHTS -EPISODE 7: The strategic implications of the new Sino-Iranian accord
AFPC senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy Lawrence Haas breaks down the implications new Sino-Iranian accord for the AFPC Insights series.
Further reading: U.S. Needs a Broad Response to China-Iran Moves (7/16/20) https://www.newsweek.com/us-needs-bro...
AFPC INSIGHTS- Episode 6: The Significance of Space
AFPC Director for Defense Technology Programs and Vice President of Operations Richard M. Harrison discusses the significance of space and outlines why the U.S. needs a comprehensive space strategy to compete with China.
Additional reading: We Are in a New Space Race, and America Needs to Win, Newsweek (7/10/20) Richard Harrison & Peter Garretson https://www.newsweek.com/we-are-new-s...
Why the new X-37 space plane mission is a big deal, Politico (5/15/20) Peter Garretson https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05...
How Congress should grade the Space Force doctrine, The Hill (5/19/20) Peter Garretson https://thehill.com/opinion/technolog...
AFPC INSIGHTS- Episode 5: The Changing Politics of Central Asia
AFPC's Central Asia-Caucasus Institute (CACI) Director Dr. Svante E. Cornell discusses the recent e-CAMCA (Central Asia, Mongolia, Caucasus, Afghanistan) regional conference organized by CACI and the Rumsfeld Foundation , the region's response to COVID-19, progress with political and economic reforms, risks and opportunities for regional states with regard to China-U.S.-Russia competition in the region.
e-CAMCA 2020 panels:
- Panel I: “Post-Coronavirus Pandemic Challenges and Opportunities for the CAMCA Region” - https://bit.ly/2A7h0k5
- Panel II: “Afghanistan: What Comes First? Peace, Trade or Both Together?” - https://bit.ly/2Nz39WY
- Panel III: “CAMCA Network Report on Intraregional Trade: Growth Potential?” - https://bit.ly/2VjfouH
Additional reading:
- AFPC May 2020 Defense Dossier (Issue 27) : "A New Focus on Central Asia," S.Enders Wimbush, Roger Kangas, Mamuka Tsereteli, Svante E. Cornell, S. Frederick Starr - https://bit.ly/2BEn7wC
- "The Sino-American Competition Is Coming to Central Asia," Ilan Berman, The National Interest, June 20, 2020 - https://bit.ly/2Zhbl3i
- "Digital Transformation in the CAMCA region," Mariam Lashkhi & Talant Sultanov, CAMCA Network Conference Publication, June 2020 - https://bit.ly/2NvIxyv
- "Caucasus & Central Asia Post COVID-19," Amb. Tedo Japaridze, Sen. Sodyq Safoev, S. Frederick Starr & Fariz Ismailzade, Strasbourg Policy Center, June 2020 - https://bit.ly/3g3ab2o
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 4: Putin's Perilous Future
AFPC President Herman Pirchner, Jr. addresses Russian President Vladimir Putin's repressive regime and what may come next for Russia.
Additional reading:
Vladimir Putin’s Increasingly Precarious Future, May 26, 2020, The National Interest https://bit.ly/3dCRyBu
Post-Putin: Succession, Stability and Russia's Future (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). https://bit.ly/2XAKU9j
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 3: How China is harnessing the COVID-19 pandemic
In this episode, AFPC Senior Fellow for China Studies and University of Notre Dame Associate Professor of Global Affairs Dr. Joshua Eisenman addresses "How China is harnessing the COVID-19 pandemic."
Topics include: Beijing's efforts to purchase foreign companies; China’s “Health silk road” concept; Military moves in the South China Sea; and, Debt flexibility along the Belt and Road (BRI).
Additional reading:
Beijing Is Pushing the Taiwanese Toward Independence Hard and Fast (5/18/20 ), Joshua Eisenman, Foreign Policy
How Trump’s Constant Attacks on China over Coronavirus Won't Help (5/15/20), Joshua Eisenman & Devin Stewart, The National Interest
American Foreign Policy Council's China Reform Monitor, editor: Joshua Eisenman
Related podcast(s);
AFPC INSIGHTS Episode 2: China's coronavirus disinformation campaign and the subsequent implications for U.S. foreign policy. Click to listen!
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 2: China's Coronavirus Disinformation Campaign
AFPC Fellow for for Indo-Pacific Studies Michael Sobolik discusses China's coronavirus disinformation campaign and the subsequent implications for U.S. foreign policy with AFPC Director for External Relations Annie Swingen.
Further reading: To Hold China Accountable for Delayed COVID-19 Action, Target the ‘Great Firewall,’ by Michael Sobolik, The Diplomat, April 28, 2020 - https://bit.ly/3dkJHbj
"How China is ruthlessly exploiting the coronavirus pandemic it helped cause," by Alex Ward, Vox News, April 28, 2020 - https://bit.ly/2xy4Kb5
"Don’t Let the Chinese Communist Party Use the Coronavirus to Its Advantage ," by Michael Sobolik, National Review, March 27, 2020 - https://bit.ly/35rJUXp
AFPC INSIGHTS - Episode 1: Iran's Response to the Coronavirus
American Foreign Policy Council staff and experts explain changing world events and their implications for U.S. foreign policy.
On this inaugural episode of the AFPC Insights, Senior Vice President Ilan Berman breaks down Iran's response to the Coronavirus.
Watch an abbreviated version of this discussion on AFPC's YouTube channel and subscribe for updates and new episodes.