Since the founding of the American Security Project in 2005, the world has changed. New norms, changing politics, new technologies, and unpredicted crises have changed America’s focus onto the world. As we head into a new presidential administration and Congress, we must reexamine current and future threats to U.S. national security and find new policy solutions to enable the U.S. to succeed and prosper.
Over the week of January 11th, ASP will convene national security leaders and policymakers to discuss the three looming threats to U.S. national security that the Biden administration will need to rapidly address: climate change, emerging great power competition, and how to tell America’s story to a world that’s not listening. Each theme will be discussed in a one hour conversation with a panel of experts moderated by Andrew Holland.
Beyond Our Borders: A Discussion on the International Cooperation Needed for Climate Change
January 12, 2021
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm EST
Climate change is a threat to national security. President-elect Biden’s creation of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change and Secretary John Kerry’s appointment to the office is a clear signal to the world that he recognizes climate change is a threat to national security and is serious about reigniting U.S. climate diplomacy to mitigate the threat.
The Biden administration’s international climate efforts will be driven by competition and cooperation. The U.S. must prepare for climate-driven geopolitical competition, but also work with international partners to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), Norwegian Ambassador to the U.S. Ambassador Anniken Krutnes, Vice Admiral Lee Gunn, USN (Ret.), and ASP Director of Climate and Energy Security Alex Hackbarth will discuss what climate competition and cooperation may look like in the Biden administration in a panel moderated by ASP COO Andrew Holland.
Matching Rhetoric to Actions: A Hard Look at U.S. Soft Power in a Biden Administration
January 13, 2021
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm EST
Building a lasting positive American image abroad is far more difficult than destroying the credibility of America as a global leader, especially in light of the U.S.’ handling of COVID-19, foreign publics’ favorable view of the U.S. is at a historic low. The Biden administration has the opportunity to restore the U.S. image abroad and strengthen American soft power, but it will not be a simple task.
Ambassador (ret.) Barbara Bodine, Jed Willard, the Director of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Center for Global Engagement, Matthew Wallin, ASP Fellow for Public Diplomacy will discuss how to successfully rebuild America’s reputation abroad over the next four years in a panel moderated by ASP COO Andrew Holland.
Thinking Clearly About the ‘Infinite Game’: A Look at Great Power Competition Over the Next Administration
January 14, 2021
Time: 9:30am – 10:30am EST
Great power competition will continue to define the international stage over the next decade. As the U.S. reorients its foreign policy away from asymmetric actors, China and Russia have been steadily increasing their spheres of influence. In this new age of international norms, it is more important than ever to study and utilize the tools within America’s national security toolbox to counter foreign aggression.
Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) and ADM William Fallon, USN (Ret.) will discuss the future of great power competition and what to expect from the new presidential administration in a conversation facilitated by ASP COO Andrew Holland.
