Security Studies
Middle East 2025 Workshop
From 25–26 March 2024, experts from the Qatar Armed Forces Strategic Studies Centre (QAFSSC) and the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies convened in Istanbul, Türkiye, for a series of comprehensive discussions. The discussions centered on defense, security, and the...
Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs PME Engagement
The Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs is undergoing a significant reorganization aimed at enhancing its logistics, organization, and processes. A dedicated team of senior leaders has been appointed to focus on these improvements while prioritizing the professional development of the entire force....
MIPOC Goes to Japan
For the first time, the Mobile Indo-Pacific Orientation Course (MIPOC) was hosted in Japan thanks to a partnership between U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS). More than 104 Fellows attended the five-day course, hosted at...
Nationalism Versus Liberalism: A South Korean View of the Taiwan Issues
At the invitation of Brookings Institution, Dr. Sungmin Cho contributed an essay for its Taiwan-U.S. Quarterly Analysis series. In this essay, Dr. Cho explains, “The Taiwan issue is often viewed by leaders of the United States and its allies as a contest between democracy and...
NATO Allies and Partners Focus on Defense and Deterrence Posture in the Black Sea Region
SOFIA, Bulgaria (November 12, 2024) – Marshall Center alumni, security experts, and government leaders gathered for the tenth annual Black Sea Regional Alumni Forum, hosted by the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, to address the evolving security landscape in the Black...
NATO Allies and Partners Focus on Defense and Deterrence Posture in the Black Sea Region
SOFIA, Bulgaria (November 12, 2024) – Marshall Center alumni, security experts, and government leaders gathered for the tenth annual Black Sea Regional Alumni Forum, hosted by the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, to address the evolving security landscape in the Black...
Nepal Ambassador and Defense Attaché Engagement with the NESA Center
On 7 December 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies Acting Director COL David Lamm, USA (Ret.) and Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas hosted Nepal’s Ambassador Sridhar Khatri and Defense Attaché Brigadier Bhuwan Satyal, at NESA Center offices for discussions on...
Nepal NDU Design Committee Dialogue at the NESA Center
From 8–12 April 2024, the Near East South Asia Center’s professional military education team, in collaboration with the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM) and the U.S. Office of Defense Cooperation, Kathmandu, hosted six senior members of the Nepal National Defense...
NESA (SSN)-AFRICOM-IEMed Human Security Approach for 2030 Workshop
From 10–11 January 2024, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies/Strategic Studies Network (SSN), in partnership with U.S. Africa Command and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), conducted the 10th annual workshop entitled “NESA (SSN)-AFRICOM-IEMed Human...
NESA Center and Azerbaijan National Defense University Engagement
On 15 July 2023, a Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies delegation composed of Professor Richard E. Wiersema and Associate Dean Charles B. Marks met withMajor General Arif Hasanov, who isthe Deputy Director of the National Defense University for Science and the Director of...
NESA Center Briefing at ARCENT Commander’s Conference
On 20 April 2023, the United States Army Central Command (ARCENT) conducted a Commander’s Conference at Shaw Airforce Base in South Carolina for all subordinate components and headquarters leadership focused on Security Cooperation. ARCENT invited the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for...
NESA Center Engagement with the GD Center for Strategic Defense and Research Studies
On Wednesday, 4 September 2024, three Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officials from the GD Center for Strategic Research and Defense Studies, including the Director, COL (Ret.) Ahmed Alibrahim, met with representatives from the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, D...
NESA Center Faculty Conduct a Third Annual Strategic Dialogue with the Armenian National Defense Research University
From 18–21 March 2024, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies convened a seminar-based dialogue on national strategic issues led by NESA Center faculty members Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas, Dr. Gawdat Bahgat, Professor Richard Wiersema, and Associate Dean Charles Marks...
NESA Center Faculty Development Program
From 15–27 June 2025, the Professional Military Education (PME) team at the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C., hosted a two-week, multinational faculty development course, providing regional partners a sampling of best practices in preparing faculty...
NESA Center Faculty Participate in a Roundtable Discussion at the Institute of Oriental Studies in Armenia
On 20 March 2024, Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies faculty comprising of Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas, Dr. Gawdat Bahgat, Professor Richard Wiersema, and Associate Dean Charles Marks participated in a roundtable discussion at the Institute of Oriental Studies in...
NESA Center Hosts Army War College Strategic Staff Ride Seminar
On 16 May 2023, the Near East South Asia Center hostedDr. John Nagland twelve academic year 22–23 Army War College students from Carlisle Barracks for discussions on contemporary Iranian strategy and U.S. Middle East policy under the Biden Administration.Dr. Mahsa Rouhi, from theInstitute for...
NESA Center Israel Indo-Pacific Virtual Workshop
From 24–25 March 2025, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies held an Israel Indo-Pacific Roundtable Virtual Workshop. The workshop was a continuation of an inaugural workshop launched on 27–28 March 2024, and provided a venue for participants from Israel and across the...
NESA Center Roundtable Discussion with the Indian Institute of Public Administration
On 6 February 2024, five NESA Center faculty members held a seminar discussion at NESA Center offices in Washington, D.C., with two faculty members and twelve students from theIndian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA)regarding current and emergent policy issues in South Asia and the...
NESA Center Seminar Builds Iraqi Senior Leadership Capabilities
From 7–18 August 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a delegation of 32 senior Iraqi military officers and government officials for a two-weekIraqi General Officer Capstone Seminarin Washington, D.C. The Seminar, modeled on the U.S. Capstone Program, was...
NESA Center Subject Matter Expert Lecture Series at the Royal Jordanian National Defense College
From 21–23 January 2024, the NESA Center Professional Military Education (PME) Team enabled the delivery of three subject matter expert (SME) lectures to students and faculty at the Royal Jordanian National Defense College (RJNDC) outside Amman, Jordan. Over the course of three days,...
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Alumni Publication: "Military Professionalism at Crossroads: A Review of Ginsburgh’s Thoughts" by Lt Col Thokozani Chazema
On 22 March 2024, theNESA Center for Strategic Studies published NESA Center alumLt Col Thokozani Chazema's latest article,"Military Professionalism at Crossroads: A Review of Ginsburgh’s Thoughts." Introduction: Just like many other old soldiers, the feeling that professionalism is being...
Alumni Publication: "Women and Violent Extremism" by Charani Patabendige
On 20 March 2024,Modern Diplomacypublished NESA Center alumnaCharani Patabendige's latest article,"Women and Violent Extremism." "Extremism, terrorism and radicalization are inextricably interlinked yet have nuances. Nonetheless, all these concepts have become crucial since society is a victim...
Alumni Publication: "Sweden Joins NATO: Walk Towards Instability and Nuclear Paradox" by Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
On 23 March 2024,Global Strat View published NESA Center alumAsanga Abeyagoonasekera'sanalysis ofSweden joining NATO. "In the late nineteenth century, Rudolf Kjellén, a Swedish political scientist at the universities in Uppsala and Göteborg, coined the word “Geopolitik.” Geopolitics is a widely...
Faculty Publication: "'Positive Neutralism': Security Politics of Vision 2040 in Oman" by Dr. Gawdat Bahgat
NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat authored a chapter in theItalian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) report,The Security Side of Gulf Visions: Adapting Defence to the Connectivity Age, published 25 March 2024. Introduction: In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states...
Alumni Publication: "After Attack in Russia, Focus Turns to ISKP in Afghanistan and Central Asia" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
On 28 March 2024,The Diplomatpublished NESA Center alumnaShanthie Mariet D'Souza's article,"After Attack in Russia, Focus Turns to ISKP in Afghanistan and Central Asia." "The focus on and understanding of ISKP’s core area in Afghanistan and Pakistan needs to be expanded to include the large...
Alumni Publication: "Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s Beijing Visit an Invitation for Chinese Strategic Expansion" by Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
On 2 April 2024,Global Strat Viewpublished NESA Center alumAsanga Abeyagoonasekera'slatest Op-Ed, "Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s Beijing Visit an Invitation for Chinese Strategic Expansion." "Six months before the presidential elections, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena visited China...
Alumni Publication: "SL’s econ. development & nat. security: Political stability essential" by Kalpani Gunathilaka Danangalage
On 2 April 2024,The Morningand published NESA Center alumna Kalpani Gunathilaka Danangalage's article,"SL’s econ. development & nat. security: Political stability essential." "Political stability is the cornerstone of a country's socio-economic development as it provides an environment...
Research Report: Power of Three: Role of Academia, Media & Think Tanks in Security Reform
The NESA Center, in collaboration with the think tankJinnah Institute(JI), published the research report "Power of Three: Role of Academia, Media & Think Tanks in Security Reform" following a day-long seminar hosted by both organizations on 13 September 2022 on "Academia, Media, and National...
Alumni Publication: "Comparative Security of the Maritime Flow of Petroleum-Based Energy" by Raghvendra Kumar
On 28 March 2024,Global Affairs Review published NESA Center alum Raghvendra Kumar's article, "Comparative Security of the Maritime Flow of Petroleum-Based Energy." "The security of the maritime flow of petroleum-based energy will be a critical determinant for both New Delhi and Beijing, while...
Alumni Publication: "India’s Long Road to Net-Zero" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
On 9 April 2024,The Diplomatpublished NESA Center alumnaShanthie Mariet D'Souza's latest Op-Ed on India's "green transition" titled"India’s Long Road to Net-Zero." "With ambitious targets, the green transition is a huge challenge for India," writesD'Souza. Read the full article...
CSAG Strategy Paper: "Panacea for Gaza"
Overview: The quest for stability in Gaza has long been a focal point of international attention, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Hamas conflict and the broader Palestinian issue. However, the traditional approach to addressing this complex challenge may be overly narrow in scope. It...
CSAG Information Paper: “Reawakening Threats: The Reemergence of Islamic State Amid Global Distractions”
Subject:"Reawakening Threats: The Reemergence of Islamic State Amid Global Distractions." Purpose: This paper examines the reemergence of Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East. IS continues its recruiting efforts, resulting in a steady trend of malign activities in the region, while the...
Alumni Publication: "Can India and the United States Bridge the Climate Gap?" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
On 13 April 2024, The National Interest published NESA Center alumnaShanthie Mariet D'Souza's article,"Can India and the United States Bridge the Climate Gap?". "Both India and the United States have set ambitious 2030 targets for climate action and clean energy," writesD'Souza. Read the full...
Alumni Publication: "Locating Mozambique in India’s strategy for a gas-based economy: leveraging natural gas in transition to a greener future and energy security" by Raghvendra Kumar
On8 April 2024, theAustralian Journal of Maritime & Ocean Affairs published NESA Center alumRaghvendra Kumar'sresearch article, "Locating Mozambique in India’s strategy for a gas-based economy: leveraging natural gas in transition to a greener future and energy security." ABSTRACT:...
Faculty Publication: "Do not Jettison Traditional Data Sharing in Maritime Domain" by Jeffrey Payne
On 11 April 2024, theInstitute for Security and Development Policypublished NESA CenterAssistant Professor Jeffrey Payne's article,"Do not Jettison Traditional Data Sharing in Maritime Domain." "The sea remains troubled by bad actors. Piracy, trafficking, and illegal fishing, among others,...
Alumni Publication: "Undemocratic Rule of Modi’s India is a Security Threat to South Asia" by Asanga Abeyagoonasekera
On 12 April 2024, South Asia Journal publishedNESA Center alumAsanga Abeyagoonasekera'slatest Op-Ed,"Undemocratic Rule of Modi’s India is a Security Threat to South Asia." "The undemocratic rule is not limited to Indian geography but has spilt over to India’s immediate neighbouring countries....
CSAG Strategy Paper: Central Asia – Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Stability
Overview: Central Asia stands at a critical juncture, subject to influence by various global powers and regional actors. The strategic landscape is characterized by a delicate balance of interests, including those of the United States, Russia, China, and the European Union. The region’s...
Faculty Publications in Issue 196 of Ara'a Magazine
On 31 March 2024, Saudi Arabia'sAra'a Magazine,which spotlights Gulf initiatives for regional security, published articles by two NESA Center faculty (in Arabic) in its 196th Issue. Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat explores the"Biden administration and the Middle East Crisis"while Professor David Des...
Alumni Publication: "The Importance of Political Literacy in South Asia" by Charani Patabendige
On 29 April 2024, theLondon School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) South Asia Centre publishedNESA Center alumnaCharani Patabendige's latest article on the importance of political literacy in South Asia. Overview: This year will see four democracies in South Asia— Bangladesh,...
Alumni Publication: "Meeting the Climate Crisis in Afghanistan" by Shanthie Mariet D'Souza
On 29 April 2024,The Diplomatpublished NESA Center alumnaShanthie Mariet D'Souza's latest article on the climate crisis in Afghanistan. "As the dilemma on recognition and assistance remains unresolved, Afghanistan will be subjected to a vicious cycle of conflict with climate change acting as a...