American Global Strategies April Newsletter (2024)

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

Vol. 3, Issue 28

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AGS UPDATES

• Earlier this month, AGS hosted its annual National Security Conference in Washington, D.C. where several speakers and panels discussed pressing national security and foreign policy challenges.
  • Speakers included AGS Chairman Robert O’Brien, AGS Non-Executive Vice Chairman Scott Morrison, John Ratcliffe, Morgan Ortagus, Elbridge Colby, Shigeru Kitamura, Chairman Mike Gallagher, Congressman Mike Waltz, Senator Mike Lee, and Senator Rick Scott.

• AGS Senior Vice President Brian Cavanaugh and AGS Senior Advisor Elbridge Colby participated in a visit to Taiwan to meet with senior ROC leadership including President-Elect Lai.

WHAT WE ARE SAYING

• O’Brien joined ABC News to discuss Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East.
• AGS Chief Executive Officer Alex Gray wrote in the Global Taiwan Brief about the Taiwan Relations Act 45 years after its enactment and how Washington can building upon its relationship with Taipei in the future.
• Cavanaugh spoke with The Wall Street Journal about the vulnerabilities of the chip supply chain and China’s aggression towards Taiwan.
• O’Brien spoke with Jason Chaffetz on Sunday Morning Futures about the importance of deterring Chinese aggression.

• O’Brien joined The Larry Kudlow Show to discuss Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
• O’Brien joined The Hugh Hewitt Show to discuss Israel’s response options to Iran’s missile attack.
• AGS Senior Vice President Anthony Ruggiero was quoted in Voice of America discussing UN sanctions on North Korea.
• Cavanaugh wrote in The National Interest about the critical need for infrastructure reform.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT AGS

• The New York Sun: Wise Words From an America First Strategist
• Deseret News: Utah delegation split on FISA reauthorization vote
• American Greatness: The American Peace Initiative: Lessons Learned from the Abraham Accords
• Politico: Inside the fight for top Trump national security roles
• Ambassador Kevin Rudd on X: “Two former Australian Prime Ministers flying the flag for AUKUS and the benefits of a unified industrial base it will bring at the American Global Strategies Conference yesterday. @ScoMo30. Thanks to @robertcobrien and @AlexGrayForOK for bringing everyone together.”

WHAT WE ARE READING

Maritime

• The Wall Street Journal: Inside the Strategies That Made China a Shipbuilding Powerhouse
• Defense News: To expand the US Navy’s fleet, we must contract
• USNI News: Navy’s Single Sub Buy Plan Raises Concerns with Congress
• Bloomberg: US Navy Shipbuilding Has Fallen Dangerously Behind
• Financial Times: Surge in maritime violence boosts demand for private security forces
• Kyodo News: China warns against maritime containment at naval symposium
• Reuters: Philippines boosts maritime security as China tension rises

Defense Industrial Base

• The National Interest: The Tech Industry is the New Defense Industrial Base
• Defense Scoop: DOD launching fully operational vulnerability disclosure program for defense industrial base
• National Defense Magazine: Vital Signs 2024: U.S. Defense Industrial Base Still Facing Headwinds
• Politico: China is a threat to Europe’s gunpowder supply, defense boss warns
• CSIS: How Supporting Ukraine Is Revitalizing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base
• Bloomberg: Defense Companies Are Luring Germany’s Struggling Autoworkers
• The New York Times: Ukraine’s Arms Industry Is Growing, but Is It Growing Fast Enough?

National Security & International Affairs

• Defense One: The State of the Air Force 2024
• Politico: Why Germany’s Scholz is bowing to the Chinese dragon
• Nikkei Asia: China envoy calls on U.S. to define ‘national security boundaries’
• The Wall Street Journal: Israel Moves Closer to Rafah Invasion as Iran Crisis Wanes
• The Kyiv Independent: Russia prepares for a major offensive in Ukraine, eyes Chasiv Yar
• Foreign Affairs: The Middle East Could Still Explode
• The Washington Post: Zelensky urges U.S. to send weapons quickly ahead of Russian offensive
• The Wall Street Journal: Russia Moves In on Northern Africa
• Financial Times: US and China defence ministers in first significant contact since 2022

Technology & Cyber

• The Wall Street Journal: Utah’s Tech Hub Powers America’s Hottest Job Market, WSJ Ranking Finds
• The New York Times: China Could Threaten Critical Infrastructure in a Conflict, N.S.A. Chief Says
• Financial Times: US seeks alliance with Abu Dhabi on artificial intelligence
• Semafor: What China’s EV buyers’ remorse means for the world
• The Wall Street Journal: A Chip Fab Business Grows in Brooklyn
• Fortune: Malaysia wants to benefit from chip companies trying to diversify their supply chains
• Newsweek: How China is Hacking America
• Industrial Cyber: Forescout research finds surge in Chinese-manufactured devices on US networks, including critical infrastructure

U.S. Politics

• Axios: Trump doubles down on Mike Johnson after foreign aid vote
• Politico: Next Ukraine package to be larger than normal, include armored vehicles
• Reuters: US aid will boost Ukraine, but doubts remain over 2025 supplies
• The Wall Street Journal: Senate Passes Spying Bill, Rejecting Privacy Concerns
• Bloomberg: China Braces for Worst as It Becomes Punching Bag in US Election

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 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.”
• July 15, 2024 – July 18, 2024: Republican National Convention
• July 16, 2024 – July 19, 2024: Aspen Security Forum
  “The Aspen Security Forum (ASF) is the premier national security and foreign policy conference in the United States. ASF has provided a nonpartisan public venue for domestic and global leaders to discuss the key national security and foreign policy issues of the day for the past 14 years.”
• August 19, 2024 – August, 22, 2024: Democratic National Convention
• 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
• November 22, 2024 – November 24, 2024: Halifax International Security Forum
  “Halifax International Security Forum is recognized globally for its cozy and confident convening.  Only at Halifax International Security Forum do the entrepreneurs who drive our economies, the writers who challenge and influence the world’s thinking and the decision-makers tasked with tough choices share the stage with the very individuals who are on the ground facing consequential local threats.”