Hudson Institute Events Podcast

A founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Iceland has been a vital ally and partner to the United States for nearly 80 years. Positioned at the crossroads of the North Atlantic and the Arctic, its strategic importance to transatlantic security far exceeds its geographic size. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently described Iceland as the alliance’s “eyes and ears” for its critical role in securing vital transatlantic air and sea routes. How is Iceland adapting to the era of great power competition? What does the future hold for US-Icelandic bilateral relations? Join us for an in-depth conversation with Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, member of the Icelandic Parliament and leader of the Independence Party, on great power dynamics, Iceland’s role in transatlantic security, and bilateral cooperation.

In April 2025, toward the beginning of the 119th Congress, Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) announced at Hudson Institute the introduction of the SHIPS For America Act, a comprehensive proposal to revitalize America’s commercial maritime industries. The bill is aligned with the Trump administration’s aggressive maritime agenda and enjoys strong bipartisan, bicameral support. Join Senators Kelly and Young as they return to Hudson to discuss the bill’s prospects during this Congress’s homestretch. After the senators’ remarks, two expert panels will discuss how the maritime industry is preparing to respond.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is set to arrive in Washington this fall amid a tenuous bilateral relationship. Since the May summit between President Donald Trump and Xi in Beijing, artificial intelligence has solidified as a central axis of competition, Chinese support for Iran’s wartime economy continues, and major military and trade questions remain unresolved. What is the status of the relationship, and how can America maximize its leverage over the Chinese Communist Party—particularly in technology and AI? Join Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, for a discussion on the state of the United States–China relationship and Congress’s role in the competition.

On June 26, Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement brokered by the United States, the first bilateral understanding between Jerusalem and Beirut since the May 17 Agreement of 1983. The two governments committed to implement security measures under which the Israel Defense Forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and be replaced by units of the Lebanese Armed Forces, which would oversee Hezbollah’s disarmament. Does this diplomatic breakthrough open the door to a new chapter for the Lebanese people? Can the Lebanese government muster the will to confront Hezbollah? Or does the consensus-based mode of governance in Beirut doom the possibility of real change? Experts from leading Washington think tanks will come together at Hudson Institute to discuss the prospects for stability in Lebanon and for future Israel-Lebanon relations.

Following the establishment of diplomatic ties between Somaliland and Taiwan in 2020, Somaliland returned to international news last year when Israel became the first country to recognize the self-governing state’s independence since Somaliland re-declared independence in 1991. Since then, the Iran war, the Houthis’ continued provocations in Yemen, China’s ongoing influence throughout Africa, as well as Russian and Iranian inroads in East Africa have highlighted the strategic importance of pro-Western Somaliland. In his first visit to the United States since winning the presidency in November 2024, Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (“Irro”) will deliver a keynote speech at Hudson Institute followed by a fireside chat with Senior Fellow Joshua Meservey.

Cooperation in semiconductors and artificial intelligence is vital to the United States–Japan alliance. Two developments demonstrate the potential of this partnership: the Rapidus-IBM effort to produce advanced two-nanometer chips in Hokkaido, and Japan’s decision to be the first foreign partner in the Trump administration’s Genesis Mission for AI-powered research and development. Join Hudson Institute’s Japan Chair for a conference to showcase and strengthen US-Japan cooperation in semiconductors and AI. US Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Innovation and Engagement Bill Guidera will deliver an opening keynote before engaging in a fireside chat with Senior Fellow William Chou. Later, Rapidus CEO Atsuyoshi Koike, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, and Director-General Kazumi Nishikawa of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry will deliver remarks. They will participate in a panel discussion and take questions from the audience.

President Donald Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung issued an ambitious alliance fact sheet last November. It codified security and economic priorities, including increased South Korean defense spending and investment in United States shipbuilding, US support for Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, and preparations for the eventual transfer of wartime operational control. Both presidents are eager to reengage North Korea even as Pyongyang strengthens its nuclear arsenal and entrenches its status as a nuclear-armed state. An even larger strategic question is how Washington and Seoul will manage relations with China, whose growing power increasingly shapes both regional security and the global economy. Sustaining cooperation with Japan and other US allies and partners cuts across each of these challenges. Join Hudson Institute for an in-person and livestreamed discussion bringing together American experts and some of South Korea’s leading analysts. The program will feature two panels examining the future of the US–South Korea alliance and the regional challenges it faces.

Tricia Paoletta, senior advisor for spectrum at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, will join Hudson Institute’s Center for the Economics of the Internet to provide a keynote address on the Trump administration’s progress in managing and reallocating the electromagnetic radio frequency spectrum from the federal domain. Following the keynote address, a panel of experts will discuss the importance of spectrum in the non-federal domain.

Amid continued geopolitical volatility, price instability, and rising demand driven by electrification and artificial intelligence, nuclear energy is a strategic pillar of Europe’s economic and technological security. Beyond providing secure, affordable, and clean electricity, nuclear power underpins the infrastructure needed for the AI economy while reducing dependence on volatile fossil fuel imports. Yet Europe remains significantly dependent on Russian nuclear fuel, fuel-cycle services, spare parts, and engineering expertise across several member states. This event will examine how expanding nuclear deployment can strengthen Europe’s energy and economic security by reducing import dependence, improving system reliability, and lowering emissions, while addressing key barriers, including financing, regulation, supply chain resilience, and strategic technology dependencies. The discussion will build upon the Center for the Study of Democracy’s 2026 Energy and Climate Security Risk Index. Join Senior Fellow Matt Boyse for a discussion with senior US policymakers, nuclear industry leaders, and energy experts about how enhanced transatlantic cooperation on advanced nuclear technologies, fuel-cycle resilience, and next-generation energy infrastructure can reinforce European industrial competitiveness and long-term energy security.

The Hudson Institute Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East was honored to host Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) for a conversation with Senior Fellow Ken Moriyasu on the strategic and economic importance of Central Asia. Central Asia is rapidly becoming one of the most important centers of global geopolitics. From August 30 to September 1, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, hosted an extraordinary convergence of world leaders surrounding the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and the opening of the World Nomad Games. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and other regional leaders gathered in the capital, underscoring the intensifying competition for influence in Eurasia. The discussion explored how expanded US engagement in Central Asia can help counter China’s global economic influence, reduce Russia’s energy leverage over Europe, and strengthen access to critical resources.

More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in any other country in the world. On October 31, 2025, President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom Act for having “engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.” Hudson Institute and the Ben Franklin Fellowship host a two-panel discussion examining United States policy as it confronts the crisis of terror in Nigeria. The event features Senior Fellows Matt Boyse, Joshua Meservey and Nina Shea, as well as Greg Simpkins, former staff director of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa. The first panel covers the current state of play in Nigeria, including the upcoming 2027 national elections and possible considerations for US policymakers. The second panel analyzes policies to address militia attacks that freely target Christians.

Japan’s politics underwent a historic realignment last year when the Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai) joined the Liberal Democratic Party in a governing coalition. As Japan confronts an increasingly difficult regional security environment, Ishin is now positioned to play an important role in shaping the country’s defense policy and the future direction of the United States–Japan alliance. Following the publication of Ishin’s new security policy paper, Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Riley Walters hosts Hitoshi Aoyagi, member of Japan’s House of Representatives and chair of Ishin’s Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Alex Saito, member of the House of Representatives and chair of Ishin’s Policy Research Council, for a discussion about Japan’s evolving national security and defense outlook. The conversation examines Ishin’s defense priorities, the party’s influence within the governing coalition, and the forthcoming revision of Japan’s national security documents.

In Twenty Times I Almost Died , available August 18, 2026, John Spencer recounts experiences spanning combat tours in Iraq, research trips through modern war zones, and more. He reveals important information that helps explain the changing character of warfare and its implications for strategists. Beyond providing lessons for the battlefield, Spencer offers guidance on personal growth and leadership, advising readers on how to live with purpose. Please join Hudson Institute for a fireside chat with Senior Fellow and Keystone Defense Initiative Director Rebeccah Heinrichs and John Spencer, chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and co-director of the Urban Warfare Project. Major John Spencer (Ret.) and Dr. Heinrichs will discuss Twenty Times I Almost Died and how it can inform US defense policymakers as they navigate the evolving challenges and opportunities of contemporary warfare.

Six months after the opening salvos of Operation Epic Fury, America and the Islamic Republic of Iran remain at loggerheads over the future of Tehran’s nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz. Unresolved conflicts linger in Yemen, Lebanon, and Gaza. Meanwhile, a Unites States-brokered deal between Jerusalem and Beirut, as well as Washington’s engagement with leaders in Syria and Iraq, offer glimmers of hope. The Iranian regime’s shocking attacks on its Persian Gulf neighbors in recent months have raised profound questions about future security arrangements in the region. Join Hudson Institute Senior Fellows Michael Doran and Ludovic Hood, Research Fellow Zineb Riboua, and Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, for a timely discussion about the conflicts in the region and America’s strategic and diplomatic paths forward. To request an RSVP, please reach out to Natalie Arbatman at narbatman@hudson.org .

In July 2026, President Donald Trump granted Ukraine a license to coproduce Patriot interceptors and declared that the ceasefire in Iran was over as Tehran retaliated against US allies in the Gulf. At the same time, Moscow and Beijing completed joint naval drills off Qingdao, China, home to a major People's Liberation Army naval fleet. And on July 6, China test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile from the South China Sea to the Pacific Ocean. These developments are interconnected. As Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea continue to coordinate, America’s strategic responses in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific will determine whether deterrence holds. How can America respond to threats on multiple fronts, and is its defense industrial base equipped to sustain the effort? Join Senior Fellow Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) for a fireside discussion on how Congress can guide American strategy, the need to modernize the defense industrial base, and the vital role of allies and partners in an unstable international environment.

As the Chinese Communist Party intensifies its campaign of political, economic, and military pressure against Taiwan, the island's government and civil society have moved to strengthen national resilience on multiple fronts. Please join Hudson Institute’s China Center as Miles Yu hosts a panel with key members of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and the Democratic Progressive Party to examine Taiwan’s mobilization efforts against the CCP’s increasing threats. The discussion will address Taiwan's ability to counter disinformation and cognitive warfare, strengthen supply chain and economic security, and build public awareness of gray zone tactics. The panel will also address how Taiwan engages with international partners to reinforce democratic resilience in the face of sustained external pressure.

A New Look at US Communications Law is a timely book that explores the evolution of communications law in response to new technologies. It analyzes nearly every major topic of contemporary communications law, including the public interest, common carriage, wireless communications, privacy, and the First Amendment. Join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Robert McDowell for a discussion of the book and communications law with the authors, Harold Furchtgott-Roth, Kirk Arner, and Arielle Roth.

As Minister Noach Hacker concludes his tenure as Israel's Minister of Economic Affairs in Washington, Hudson Institute's Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East invites you to join a farewell fireside chat with Senior Fellow Michael Doran. Minister Hacker has been a key advocate for deepening the US–Israel economic relationship, overseeing landmark cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and defense technology. The conversation will trace the arc of that partnership, from its foundations in joint research and development and trade to its acceleration in the wake of October 7, 2023, and the war with Iran. As the region enters a new strategic phase, Hudson is honored to host Minister Hacker for what promises to be a candid farewell discussion.

The 2026 North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Ankara, Turkey, provided significant deliverables: a €70 billion pledge of military assistance for Ukraine, President Donald Trump's announcement that Kyiv would be licensed to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, and a declaration reaffirming allied commitment to The Hague defense spending targets. But questions remain over America's evolving role in the alliance and broader European security architecture. Please join Senior Fellow Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs and Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) to discuss the summit following his return from Ankara, where he served as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation.

Few countries in central and eastern Europe have as much influence in the Balkans as Austria. For centuries, Austria has forged deep personal connections with the region. The imperial legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is visible in the architecture of Zagreb and Sarajevo, and during the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, refugees fled into the heart of the Alps. More recently, Vienna has been to the Balkans what Miami is to Latin America: a gateway facilitating trade and movement. Among Balkan hands in the United States, Vienna’s Schwechat airport is familiar terrain. While the US has supported programs that promote economic connectivity in the region, like the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), Austria plays a unique role in the Balkans through such areas as financial services. Moreover, Austrian officials like Valentin Inzko have shaped diplomacy in the Balkans, while the Austrian Bundesheer has deployed to the region as part of the Common Security and Defence Policy and other missions. Today, officials in Austria and elsewhere are discussing how the Western Balkans can be brought into the European Union. Join Senior Fellow Peter Rough as he welcomes Claudia Bauer, minister for Europe, Integration, and Family in the Federal Chancellery of Austria, for a policy address followed by a fireside chat on how Austria sees EU enlargement in the Western Balkans.