Security Studies
Dialogue | Episode 51: North Korea’s Wartime Windfall — A Dialogue with Dr. Victor Cha
By Dr. James M. Minnich HONOLULU— August 19, 2025 Russia’s war in Ukraine has reshaped North Korea’s place in the world. What began withdiscreet transfersof artillery shells has expanded into a full-fledged strategic partnership—anchored by aformal defense treaty—that now...
Dialogue | Episode 53: Strategy in the Storm – Disaster Response as a Test of Indo-Pacific Partnerships
HONOLULU— February 6, 2026 In the Indo-Pacific, security rarely fails in isolation. It fractures under pressure—when infrastructure collapses, when governance strains, and when multiple crises converge. Natural disastersexpose these vulnerabilitieswith brutal clarity, often faster than...
Dialogue | Special Episode on Global Strategic Trends 7
The world is navigating a period of unprecedented complexity. Rapid geopolitical shifts, accelerating technological advancements, and escalating environmental challenges demand a new approach to strategic thinking.Global Strategic Trends 7(GST 7), the latest report from the UK...
Director Engages with Senior Leaders in India
The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies recently conducted key leader engagements in New Delhi, India, highlighting India’s strategic partnership with the United States. Director Suzanne Vares-Lum accompanied Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific...
Director Gumataotao Delivers Insights on the Indo-Pacific Region at Nauru Government’s Ambassador’s Retreat
Peter Gumataotao, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, was invited as a special guest speaker for the Nauru government’s ambassadors’ retreat held in Cairns, Australia from June 28-30. During the retreat, Nauru’s ambassadors, who work in foreign affairs...
Director Gumataotao Retires from the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center Russell Bailey to Serve as Acting Director
This week the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies bid aloha toretired Rear Admiral Pete Gumataotaoafter six years as the Center’s director. A native of Guam, he joined the Center in 2018 after 37 years of active duty service, including eight years as a U.S. Navy flag...
DKI APCSS Director Vares-Lum Moderates at Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference in Thailand
HUA HIN, Thailand— Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, served as a moderator during the27th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conferenceheld Aug. 26–28 in Hua Hin, Thailand. The conference, co-...
DKI APCSS Faculty Contribute to Strategic Religious Partnership Training
Two faculty members from the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies recently participated in Strategic Religious Partnership Training-25, hosted by U.S. Army Pacific Chaplains and the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps. The event was held in April at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in...
DKI APCSS Hosts Defense Industrial Base Resilience Workshop
As supply chain issues garner headlines around the world, the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies hosted a high-level workshop entitled “Building Collective Defense Industrial Base Resilience.” The two-day workshop was held in Honolulu January 18-19, 2024. DKI APCSS...
DKI APCSS Hosts its Largest In-Person Course with 157 Fellows
The Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies recently concluded itsIndo-Pacific Orientation Course (IPOC)23-3, from Nov. 13-17. This event marked a milestone in the center’s history as its largest in-person course, with 157 Fellows participating. Holding the course entirely in...
DKI APCSS Hosts RIMPAC 24 Senior Leaders Symposium
Nearly 100 Senior Leaders participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise visited the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies for a symposium on strategic security issues within the Indo-Pacific. The day-long event held on the 2ndof July, included Keynote remarks...
DKI APCSS Participated in the Galle Dialogues
Earlier this month, the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies participated in the annual Galle Dialogues.Retired U.S. Navy CaptainWade Turvold, DKI APCSS Dean of Admissions and Business Operations, served as a moderator for the Maritime Domain Awareness panel at the...
DKI APCSS Professor Speaks on Non-State Actors in Malign State Influence
HONOLULU —Dr. Sam Mullins, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS), recently spoke as part of the NSI Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) speaker series on “The Use of Non-State Actors as Proxies in Malign State Influence.” A summary of his...
DKI APCSS Returns to Washington for Mobile Indo-Pacific Orientation Course
WASHINGTON — After an eight-year hiatus, the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) returned to the nation’s capital to host the Mobile Indo-Pacific Orientation Course (MIPOC) from March 24 to 28, 2025. The event, the largest MIPOC to date, brought together...
DKI APCSS Supports Thai Senior Security Program Focused on Regional Security Challenges
BANGSAEN, Thailand — The Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS) recently participated in Thailand’s sixth Senior Security Studies Program (SSSP), an intensive, one-week course for senior security sector leaders. Hosted by theRoyal Thai Armed Forces’ Strategic...
DKI APCSS Supports the 5th Thai Senior Security Studies Program
The Royal Thai Armed Forces’ Strategic Studies Center of the National Defense Studies Institute (NDSI) recently hosted the fifth Senior Security Studies Program (SSSP). The intensive, one-week course for senior Thai security sector leaders was held in Bangsaen, Chonburi, and focused on the...
DKI Speaker Series with Philippine President Marcos this Sunday
The Daniel K. Inouye (DKI) Speaker Series returns this Sunday, featuring His Excellency Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines. He will discuss regional developments, the Philippines’ security challenges, and the critical role of the Philippine-U.S....
Dr. Alex Vuving’s Interview on High-Tech Supply Chains and the US-Vietnam Upgrade
In a recent interview with TheDiplomat, Dr. Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, discussed the unexpected upgrade in U.S.-Vietnam relations. Contrary to expectations, the partnership skipped the “strategic partnership” level and was...
Dr. Alexander Vuving on Rapid Changes in Vietnam
Dr. Alexander Vuvinghas contributed a chapter to the new book “The Evolution of Vietnamese Foreign Policy in the Doi Moi Era” by Börje Ljunggren and Dwight Perkins, eds., His chapter is on “Vietnam: Navigating a Rapidly Changing Economy, Society, and Political Order. According to the book’s...
Dr. Byrd Briefs Members of Japan’s Upper House
DKI APCSS’ Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd recently briefed the Members of Japan’s Upper House on the current situation in Myanmar. The meeting was convened and hosted by MP Mr. Masaharu Nakagawa, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee to Support Myanmar Democracy; Chair of the General Meeting of...
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CSAG Strategy Paper: "Analyzing The Kashmir Conflict – Chinese Connection and Implications for the US"
Overview: The dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir has resulted in decades of hostility, including three wars. The Kashmir dispute is the oldest pending dispute on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which merits earnest world attention for a permanent solution....
Africa Organised Crime Index 2023
The ENACT Africa Organised Crime Index 2023 highlights longitudinal data trends and resilience to organised crime across the continent. The ENACT Index is a tool that measures and assesses levels of organised crime on the continent. It ranks the 54 countries on the continent according to their...
Alumni Publication: "Warfare Strategies in the Twenty-First Century" by Eman Ragab
NESA Center alumna Eman Ragab's new edited book, "Warfare Strategies in the Twenty-First Century,"published by the al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, is out in bookstores now and available for purchase. Book Description: In the twenty-first century, the conventional warfare...
Alumni Publication: “An Analysis on the Potential of Religion in Preventing Violent Extremism" by Charani Patabendige
NESA Center alumna Charani Patabendige authored a study that was published in the Proceedings of the University of Colombo's Annual Research Conference on Sustaining Excellence through Multi-Disciplinary Research 2023, titled "An Analysis on the Potential of Religion in Preventing Violent Extremism...
Alumni Publication: "Gender, climate and cohesion - Uncovering the linkages between climate change, human security and gender in Jordan"
NESA Center alumnaDr. Majd Al Naber co-authored the research paper"Gender, climate and cohesion - Uncovering the linkages between climate change, human security and gender in Jordan," published by theWest Asia and North Africa (WANA) Institute on 6 December 2023. Introduction: Women in Jordan...
NESA Center Update: July – October 2023
TheNESA CenterJuly – October 2023 Updatefocuses onLevant region trends. The update also highlights July through October NESA Center programs and events, faculty and staff engagements, alumni contributions, and a calendar with upcoming events. Regional Trends – The Levant: The 7 October...
CSAG Strategy Paper: "Sanctions on Russia and Economic Impact for Central Asia"
Overview: The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created a geopolitical challenge to the world order. The Russian attack violated not only Ukraine’s security and sovereignty, but also the rules-based international order and created a global economic, political and security crisis. Central Asian...
Alumni Publication: "Tajikistan and the Taliban: A Lone Voice in Central Asia" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
On 11 December 2023,The Diplomatpublished NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D'Souza's article"Tajikistan and the Taliban: A Lone Voice in Central Asia." "Tajikistan is the strongest critic of the Taliban in Central Asia and continues to host dialogues featuring a diversity of Afghan voices,"...
Congressional Research Service Report: "Coup-Related Restrictions in U.S. Foreign Aid Appropriations"
On 12 December 2023, the Congressional Research Service published the In Focus report, "Coup-Related Restrictions in U.S. Foreign Aid Appropriations," on the events in Africa and Burma that have brought attention to a provision in annual State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPS)...
Congressional Research Service Report: "The AI Executive Order and Its Potential Implications for DOD"
On 12 December 2023, theCongressional Research Service published theInsight report,"The AI Executive Order and Its Potential Implications for DOD." Overview: On October 20, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order (E.O.) on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of...
Alumni Publication: "Fragility in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, Expanding China’s Geopolitical Ambition" by Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
On 7 December 2023, theNESA Center for Strategic Studies published NESA Center alumAsanga Abeyagoonasekera'sarticle "Fragility in Sri Lanka and Myanmar, Expanding China’s Geopolitical Ambition." "Does fragility matter in geopolitics? Does China exploit fragility in vulnerable nations to gain an...
Alumni Publication: "Afghanistan Left Out of Global Climate Change Conversation" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
On 19 December 2023,The Diplomatpublished NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D'Souza's article, "Afghanistan Left Out of Global Climate Change Conversation." "Afghanistan under the Taliban was once again shunned from the COP28 climate change conference," writesD'Souza. Read the full article...
NESA Center Alum Lt Col Thokozani Chazema Co-Authors 4 Research Publications on Security in Malawi
NESA Center alum Lt Col Thokozani Chazema has co-authored four research publications in 2023 on security in Malawi. View the publications below. Chazema, Thokozani; Tembo, Mavuto;Mphande, Chrispin Solomon; Kerr, Robert;Nundwe, Vincent; Kumwenda, David. "Aetiology of the Equilibrium of Civil-...
Alumni Publication: "Reimagining Agriculture as a Culprit and Victim of Climate Change in the Global Village" by Lt Col Thokozani Chazema
On 28 December 2023, the NESA Center for Strategic Studies publishedNESA Center alum Lt Col Thokozani Chazema's article, "Reimagining Agriculture as a Culprit and Victim of Climate Change in the Global Village." ABSTRACT: Climate is an important factor in agricultural production. However, in...
Alumni Publication: "U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Unraveling Complexities, Forging a Shared Future" by Syeda Tahreem Bukhari and Abdul Basit
On 29 December 2023, the NESA Center for Strategic Studies published the Op-Ed,"U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Unraveling Complexities, Forging a Shared Future," authored by alumniSyeda Tahreem Bukhari and Abdul Basit. "While Pakistan may not hold the status of an equal partner to the United States,...
Alumni Publication: "2024: What to Expect in Afghanistan" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
NESA Center alumna Shanthie Mariet D'Souza recently authored a piece onwhat to expect in Afghanistan in 2024, which was published in The Diplomat magazine's 110th issue cover story, "2024: What to Expect in the Asia-Pacific,"on 1 January 2024. The January 2024 issue identifies major events and...
Alumni Publication: "The Plight of Deported Afghans" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
On 15 January 2024, The Diplomat published NESA Center alumnaShanthie Mariet D'Souza's article,"The Plight of Deported Afghans," on "an unending refugee and humanitarian crisis the world seems to have forgotten." "The unrelenting season of forced homecoming continues for Afghans who had sought...
Faculty Publication: "The United States and the War in Gaza" by Dr. Gawdat Bahgat
On 28 December 2023, Araa Magazine published NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat's paper, "The United States and the War in Gaza," for its January 2024 issue. It examines the United States' short and long-term goals and efforts to end the war and build a consensus on a two-state solution...
Alumni Publication: "The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order: A Book Critique" by Lt Col Thokozani Chazema
On 19 January 2024, the NESA Center for Strategic Studies published NESA Center alumLt Col Thokozani Chazema'scritique of Samuel P. Huntington's1996 book The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order – a thesis which argues people's cultural and religious identities will be the primary...
Alumni Publication: "Dangers of disinformation" by Eman Ragab
On 16 January 2024,alAhram Weekly published NESA Center alumnaEman Ragab's latest article on the dangers of disinformation. "A new report is drawing attention to the dangers of misinformation and disinformation to societies worldwide," writes Ragab. Read the full article About the...