American Global Strategies January Newsletter (2024)

What’s Happening in National Security, Technology, Defense & Maritime

Vol. 3, Issue 25

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AGS UPDATES

• AGS announced that former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is joining the firm as non-executive Vice Chairman. Morrison served as the 30th Prime Minister of Australia from 2018 to 2022. He brings extraordinary experience at the highest levels of international affairs and defense policy.”Prime Minister Scott Morrison is widely regarded as one of the most consequential world leaders of the last decade, presiding over unprecedented changes to Australia’s foreign and defense policies,” said Ambassador Robert C. O’Brien (ret.), Chairman of AGS. “As American Global Strategies’ non-Executive Vice Chairman, Prime Minister Morrison will bring high-level relationships and unique geopolitical insights to our clients.”Mr. Morrison said “I’m looking forward to working once again with Ambassador O’Brien and the whole AGS team, especially here in the Indo-Pacific. Robert and I enjoyed a great working relationship when I was Prime Minister. Together we can draw on our combined networks and experience in the region to help clients navigate a highly dynamic geopolitical landscape that presents risks and opportunities.”Read the full announcement here.
• AGS CEO Alexander Gray served as an international observer for Bangladesh’s recent parliamentary elections.

• Gray participated in the Global Taiwan Institute’s Taiwan in 2024 Seminar where he discussed the outlook for U.S.-Taiwan relations this year.
• AGS joined the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber where the firm will continue to participate actively in the local business community.
• AGS Senior Advisor Shigeru Kitamura was awarded the Order of the Grand Sequence Star by President Tsai of the Republic of China.

Watch here.

WHAT WE ARE SAYING

• Gray spoke with David Zang for China Insider to discuss Taiwan’s Presidential Election
• O’Brien joined Kudlow to discuss the U.S strikes on the Houthi rebels in Yemen in response to the attacks on commercial shipping.

• Gray for The National Interest: The U.S. Should Remain Engaged in Bangladesh
• The Richard Nixon Foundation’s “Nixon Seminar” series returned this month co-hosted by O’Brien and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The Seminar members discussed how Soviet influence in the Middle East was a crucial element of President Richard Nixon’s grand strategy.
• Gray was quoted in Politico on the Beijing’s efforts to influence Nauru and other pacific islands
• O’Brien joined Martha MacCallum: This is the ‘most dangerous time for the world since 1938’
  • Their conversation continued on “The Untold Story” podcast.

WHAT WE ARE READING

Maritime

• The Washington Post: Editorial: A big Navy is vital. A more lethal one would be even better.
• Real Clear Defense: Is America the “New” Great Britain?
• U.S. Naval Institute: The Navy’s Submarine Maintenance Crisis Needs Ready, Affordable Solutions
• Defense News: Coast Guard ship programs facing delays amid national worker shortage

Defense Industrial Base

• Forbes: Pentagon Makes It Official: U.S. Industrial Decline Is Undermining National Defense
• The Diplomat: Japan Approves 16.5% Increase in Defense Spending for FY2024
• Nikkei Asia: U.S. rushes to revive nuclear weapons industry as global tensions mount
• Breaking Defense: How to use the ‘MRAP mindset’ to get US industrial base on a wartime footing
• The Diplomat: India’s Russia Defense Gambit

U.S. National Security & International Affairs

• Real Clear Defense: The Geopolitics of World War III
• The Diplomat: China Sets Record for Activity Near Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in 2023
• The Scotsman: Ukraine War: Why 2024 is going to be a year of reckoning for Ukraine and Europe
• Foreign Affairs: The Ukraine-Taiwan Tradeoff
• Brussels Signal: Predictions for 2024: Brace for geo-strategic impact. A look at what else will go wrong next year – or not
• ITV News: Ex-MI6 boss warns UK not equipped to deal with Chinese spies

Technology & Cyber

• Reuters: US wants to contain China’s chip industry. This startup shows it won’t be easy
• Business Insider: Expert lays out why last year was a ‘perfect storm’ to slow down EVs — and explains 3 reasons China is winning the race for electrification
• Financial Times: China’s electric vehicle dominance presents a challenge to the west
• The Economist: What happened to the artificial-intelligence investment boom?
• The Wall Street Journal: Nvidia’s New China Pickle: Customers Don’t Want Its Downgraded Chips
• Nikkei Asia: EV powerhouse China to set own standards for automotive semiconductors

• Foreign Affairs: Can Republicans Find Consensus on Foreign Policy?
• Axios: Behind the Curtain: Trump’s exponential power surge

UPCOMING EVENTS

• February 16, 2024 – February 18, 2024: 60th Munich Security Conference
  “The world’s leading forum for debating international security policy”
• February 20, 2024 – February 25, 2024: Singapore Air Show
  “Every two years, high-level government and military delegations, as well as senior corporate executives around the world attend the Singapore Airshow to forge partnerships and seal deals in this region.”
• March 13, 2024 – March 15, 2024: Asia-Pacific Maritime (APM)
  “It is the largest meeting place for the global maritime value chain where 15,000professionals in Asia including shipowners, shipyards, ship management, technical procurers and end-users will meet with 1,500+ solution providers showcase the latest solutions, services and technology that will drive maritime development in the new decade.”
• April 16, 2024: 3rd Annual AGS National Security Conference
• May 7, 2024 – May 9, 2024: Defense Industrial Base Conference (DIBCON)
  “DIBCON exists to foster an environment for manufacturers to engage directly with Pentagon leaders and key decisionmakers. We welcome manufacturers of all sizes, whether you are already involved in contracting with the Department of Defense; have been trying unsuccessfully to grow your defense business; or have never considered this huge opportunity.”
• September 16, 2024: 1st 2024 Presidential Debate
• September 25, 2024 2024 Vice-Presidential Debate
• October 1, 2024: 2nd 2024 Presidential Debate
• October 9, 2024, 3rd 2024 Presidential Debate