Geoeconomics and Great Power Competition
Speaker: Petraeus, D. (Partner and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute & Former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; Commander of the International Security Assistance Force; Commander, US Forces – Afghanistan; Commander, US Central Command; and Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq) Date: 17 February 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Gen (Ret.) David […]
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Toward an Inclusive & Balanced Regional Order: A New US Strategy in East Asia
Speaker: Swaine, M. (Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft); Odell, R. (Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft); Lee, J. (Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft) Date: 10 February 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session, presented by Dr. Michael Swaine (Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft), Dr. Rachel Esplin Odell (Quincy Institute), and Ms. Jessica Lee (Quincy Institute) […]
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Regime Stability in Iran: The COVID-19 Effect
Author | Editor: Bragg, B. (NSI, Inc.) Questions of Focus [Q4] What, if any, effect will COVID-19 have on regime stability in Iran, both over the short and medium term? Report Preview Iran appears to have been hit hard by the COVID-19 virus, and there has been criticism both within and outside the country over the Iranian […]
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Russian and Chinese Influence in Iran: Sources and Future Trends
Author | Editor: Bragg, B. (NSI, Inc.) Questions of Focus [Q3] What is the source of Russian and Chinese influence in Iran, and how have recent events (incl. COVID-19) changed this? Report Preview Among all the experts interviewed for this report, there was a general consensus that relations between Iran and both Russia and China are driven […]
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IRGC’s Role in the Black Economy
Author | Editor: Canna, S. (NSI, Inc.) Questions of Focus [Q1] What is the extent of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) involvement in black (criminal) economic activity in Iran and internationally? How significant is the drug abuse problem in Iran currently? What is the population’s knowledge of IRGC involvement in trafficking drugs, including through Iran? How much […]
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A New US-Iran Nuclear Agreement: What are the Chances?
Author | Editor: Popp, G. (NSI, Inc.) Question of Focus [Q1] In the next five years, how likely is it that Iran will be willing to negotiate a new nuclear treaty with the United States? Bottom Line Up Front Microsoft Word – NSI ViTTa_A New US-Iran Nuclear Agreement_CENTCOM Q1_final for posting.docx Most of the expert contributors agree […]
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The Abraham Accords and Iran’s Unconventional Warfare Activities
Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc.) Question of Focus [Q4] How have the Abraham Accords shaped Iranian activity abroad in terms of unconventional warfare (UW)? Report Preview The Abraham Accords normalizing diplomatic and economic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Israel and Bahrain, as well as a less robust agreement with Sudan, […]
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Iran’s Ballistic Missile Launch Criteria: Change or Continuity?
Author | Editor: Bragg, B. (NSI, Inc.) Question of Focus [Q2] Based on recent events (Accords, Soleimani, COVID), how has ballistic missile launch criteria changed? Other impacts on military readiness and response? Report Preview The experts interviewed for this study do not see Iran’s recent operational use of its ballistic missiles as signaling a fundamental change in […]
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Internal Instability in Iran: Drivers and Regime Response
Author | Editor: Bragg, B. (NSI, Inc.) Question of Focus [Q1] What are the primary drivers of internal instability for Iran currently, and how are they responding? Report Preview There was consensus among the subject matter experts (SMEs) who responded to this question that the primary driver of internal instability in Iran is the dismal state of […]
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IRGC-QF Malfeasant Activity Outside of the CENTCOM AOR
Author | Editor: Canna, S. (NSI, Inc.) Question of Focus [Q3] Given recent events, what are the trends in Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) malfeasant activity outside of the CENTCOM AOR? Report Preview Experts interviewed state that they could find no evidence of recent changes in IRGC-QF activity outside of the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR). […]
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