FDD Events Podcast

FDD is tracking a potential major development in Israel’s multi-front war against Iran-backed terrorists with reports of a potential strike against Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah and other senior Hezbollah leaders. Since October 8, 2023, Iran’s most pampered and lethal proxy, Hezbollah, has launched, without prior provocation, thousands of rockets at Israel from Lebanon. For months,...

One of the most significant features of the geopolitical landscape is an increasingly formidable emerging axis of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The members of this “axis of aggressors” are united in their determination to undermine the United States and counter its core interests. Though their methods may vary, these adversaries share a desire to sow chaos, erode the rule of law, and weake...

As cyber threats from malign actors against America’s critical infrastructure evolve, so must our defenses. Four years ago, the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) offered a new strategic approach to combat these threats and defend U.S. national security and economic interests in cyberspace. Since then, the Commission’s  report  and  white papers  have driven significant...

The Middle East is teetering on the precipice of major upheaval as the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies have ignited a devastating multi-front war against Israel and the West. An axis of authoritarian countries are working closely to create chaos in Europe and the Middle East. Regional dynamics are undeniably shuffling as the terrorist groups on Israel’s borders and their financiers in Teh...

Serving as America’s development finance institution, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) was established in 2019 to ramp up financing, equity investment, and partnerships to support U.S. foreign policy and development-aligned transactions in emerging markets. DFC bolsters U.S. national and economic security, enabling the United States to work with key partners and allies...

In the face of growing tensions between the United States and the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan is emerging as a pivotal flashpoint. As America strategizes its response, careful consideration and planning are paramount to address the challenges ahead. Security analyst Dmitri Alperovitch has a timely new book out with Garrett M. Graff that dives into how America can beat China in the race for...

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), arguably one of the most successful alliances in history. Yet, after the fall of the Soviet Union, some questioned whether NATO was still needed and relevant. Putin’s 2022 unprovoked re-invasion of Ukraine, which instigated the largest war in Europe since World War II, put those questions to rest...

The Islamic Republic of Iran ramped up its decades-long assault on Israel with an unprecedented attack last night, firing an estimated 300 drones and missiles at Israel – including directly from Iranian soil. Israel’s multi-layered missile defense system, along with robust support from a broad coalition of allied partners in the region, successfully thwarted the aerial offensive targeting Israeli...

The Islamic Republic of Iran has launched a barrage of drones from its soil, in-bound for targets in Israel. After more than 6 months of attacks on Israel by Iranian-backed proxies following the Hamas massacre of October 7, this escalation comes in response to the recent killing of top IRGC commanders by Israel in Damascus. Numerous drones have been intercepted by U.S. and Israeli air defense syst...

In May 2023, Turkey held its national elections, where Recep Tayyip Erdogan secured a third term in office, until 2028. The local elections may give the mistaken impression that they are less important in outcome than the national. This could not be further than the truth, as Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered a resounding defeat across the entire country. The main opposition R...

Late last year, the commander of U.S. Cyber Command observed that the current state of U.S. military cyber organization is unsustainable. “All options are on the table,” he said, “except the status quo.” The existing structures have led to recruitment challenges, inconsistencies in compensation and service requirements, and personnel with inadequate training and support. Bipartisan members of Cong...

Physical systems in U.S. critical infrastructure have become reliant on digital technology for an array of functions, from safety to operation to communication. This interconnectivity of cyber and physical systems has made services exponentially more efficient, but at the same time has vastly expanded the digital attack surface. Hackers understand now more than ever that the impacts of a digital a...

Corruption through foreign bribery schemes has fueled wars and bankrupted countries around the globe. Numerous treaties, international bodies, and conventions for years have sought to end the practice of foreign bribery – yet Transparency International research reveals that only two of the 47 largest exporting countries are actively enforcing foreign anti-bribery laws. To make matters worse, sanct...

In the wake of Hamas’s October 7 terror attacks on Israel, Turkey’s material support for the terrorist organization has come under increased scrutiny by the United States and beyond. Under the rule of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara has offered safe harbor to Hamas leadership, allowing the terror organization to raise and transfer funds, recruit members, and coordinate regional activities. Additional...

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency Rafael Grossi recently warned, “There’s loose talk about nuclear weapons more and more, including in Iran recently. A very high official said, in fact, we have everything, it’s disassembled. Well, please let me know what you have.” The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors meeting, which takes place in Vienna from March 4 to 8, prov...

The Northern Marianas is part of the United States but exists in a strategic environment unlike anywhere else in America. Sharing a maritime boundary with Japan, the Northern Marianas hosted a strategic air base for America’s operations in World War II. Today, as the same base in Tinian is under redevelopment for use by the U.S. Air Force, a Chinese-linked casino recently opened nearby. Unlike any...

The Eastern Mediterranean – a nexus for trade and culture, rich in resources, and home to many Western allies – is embroiled in complex geopolitical dynamics, only exacerbated by Russia’s War against Ukraine and the aftermath of the attacks of October 7, 2023. The Abraham Accords have brought Middle East nations closer to normalization and peace – enabling the Mediterranean to collectively advance...

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s proxy strategy to build a network of armed groups on Israel’s borders to create instability and foment terrorism is on full display in the region. While the fight against Hamas to the south of Israel grinds on, a war on Israel’s northern border looms. Were Israel not preoccupied in Gaza, the Iran-backed aggression from the north would almost certainly have already be...

Ukrainians continue to fight hard to defend their homes and defeat the Russian invasion, but the future is uncertain. The Ukrainian counteroffensive has not gone as well as many hoped and congressional delay is hampering the administration’s efforts to provide Kyiv the weapons and munitions it needs. What are Putin’s goals in Ukraine? Why should Americans care about the outcome in Ukraine? What do...

Digital assets, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized finance offer economic opportunity while also exposing nation-states and economies to genuine risk. While the cryptocurrency industry has grown and evolved at rapid pace, bipartisan lawmakers are actively wrestling with the challenging question of how best to regulate and guardrail new financial tools to foster innovation while protecting U.S. na...

The systems that provide safe drinking water and dependable wastewater services are increasingly dependent on networked technology. At the same time, the importance of water and wastewater systems make them prominent targets for both profit-seeking cyber criminals and America’s authoritarian adversaries. Securing the digital systems of tens of thousands of utilities – many of which are small and m...

The Biden administration is reported to have spent recent weeks drafting and consulting on a multiphase postwar plan for Gaza. As Israel continues to carry out its primary mission of destroying Hamas, significant questions remain on what may come next after the war ends, including what role Israel, the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Europe, among others, will play in supporting r...

The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) campaign of malign influence across Latin America includes leveraging tools of financial exploitation, expansion of military and intelligence apparatuses, and growing pressure around ports and critical waterways. To this extent, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) poses a threat to the national security of the United States and allies. As Beijing implements a c...

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a critical U.S. ally. It is one of three countries (along with Palau and Marshall Islands) that have signed Compacts of Free Association (COFAs) with the U.S. giving the U.S. extensive defense access, second only to what the U.S. has in the homeland. The COFAs forms the backbone of U.S. security architecture in the Central Pacific and facilitates U.S. fr...

Modern critical infrastructure – including access to safe water, energy, communications, and transportation systems – is vital to American security and prosperity. And yet the existing private-public partnership governing framework – Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21) – is a decade old. To address the rapidly emerging technological changes and increased threats to critical infrastructure, t...