American Global Strategies November Newsletter (2024)

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

Vol. 3, Issue 35

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We look forward to hosting you in DC on December 11th for the annual AGS holiday party. If you have not yet registered, you may do so here. (PW: AGSholiday)

AGS UPDATES

• Congratulations to AGS Senior Advisor John Ratcliffe on his nomination to serve as CIA Director in the incoming Trump Administration.
  • Read the full announcement here.
• AGS Chairman Robert O’Brien will address the 2024 Reagan National Defense Forum next month in California.
• AGS Vice President Julia Bristol and Associate Vice President Sean Calabria participated in a national security trip to Israel with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.
• O’Brien spoke to a BYU political geography class about national security issues.

WHAT WE ARE SAYING

• AGS Chief Executive Officer Alexander Gray for the Wall Street Journal: Why Trump Really Should ‘Buy’ Greenland
• Gray joined America Reports to discuss his op-ed about U.S. strategic opportunities with Greenland
• O’Brien joined the Larry Kudlow Show to discuss the foreign policy challenges President Trump will need to address.
• AGS Senior Vice President Anthony Ruggiero for the FDD Policy Brief: Chinese Money Launderers’ Guilty Pleas Highlight China’s Role in America’s Fentanyl Crisis.
• Gray for The National Interest: Why Does the U.S. Rely on Chinese State-Owned Shipping?
• AGS Senior Vice President Brian Cavanaugh for The National Interest: DHS is Ignoring the Foreign Drone Threat.
• O’Brien joined Hannity to discuss Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Iran.
• Gray joined Real America’s Voice to discuss his op-ed on Greenland’s strategic importance to U.S. national security.

• Cavanaugh for The Hill: How the US is bankrolling Beijing’s ambitions.
• Gray spoke with Benar News to discuss what President Trump’s policy towards Pacific Island Nations may look like.
• Gray joined NewsX Live to discuss the U.S. election results and President Trump’s victory.
• Gray was quoted in Politico discussing President Trump’s diplomacy with the UK.
• Gray spoke with Danish journalist Martin Breum about the prospect of a U.S.-Greenland Compact of Free Association agreement during the second Trump Administration.
• Gray spoke with Danish news service DR about how the U.S. and Greenland can cooperate in the Trump presidency.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT AGS

• The Wall Street Journal: Trump Is Recruiting a Team of China Hawks. So Why Is Beijing Relieved?
• The Wall Street Journal: Loyalty Is Common Thread as Trump Fills Foreign Policy, Immigration Jobs
• Taipei Times: Taiwan delivers letter to Donald Trump

WHAT WE ARE READING

Maritime

• Business Insider: Weak shipbuilding could be the US Navy’s Achilles’ heel in a war with China
• Defense News: The US Navy is at risk of losing vital shipbuilding skills
• Splash 247: Samsung Heavy unveils wind-assisted LNG carrier design
• The Maritime Executive: HII Prepares to Start First Simultaneous Assembly of Two USN Carriers
• G Captain: Wind Propulsion Technology Gains Momentum in Maritime Industry as Two Major Projects Advance

Defense Industrial Base

• The National Interest: Israel Declares Its Love for the F-15EX Eagle II Fighter Plane
• Defense News: The US defense industrial base needs a revamp for speed and scale
• The Warzone: Lasers, Microwaves, Missiles, Guns Not On The Table For Domestic Drone Defense
• Atlantic Council: The US needs a stronger defense industrial base. Option contracts can help.
• Business Insider: Trump’s China tariffs would cut into US defense production, Beijing advisor says
• Defense News: US arms stockpiles strained by Ukraine, Israel support: INDOPACOM boss

National Security & International Affairs

• Foreign Policy: What an Even More Hawkish China Policy Could Look Like
• Breaking Defense: Israel likely partner for Greece as it looks for integrated air defense systems
• The New York Times: China’s Hacking Reached Deep Into U.S. Telecoms
• The Wall Street Journal: Iran Faces Fresh International Pressure Over Nuclear Activities
• Foreign Affairs: The True Aims of China’s Nuclear Buildup
• Fox News: Would the US win a war with China over Taiwan? US lawmakers briefed on the potential outcome
• Foreign Policy: New Missiles Won’t Change Ukraine’s Broken War Math
• FDD Policy Brief: Technology, drones and complexity: The IDF’s battle for Jabalya
• Axios: Israel destroyed active nuclear weapons research facility in Iran, officials say
• Foreign Affairs: Europe Has Run Out of Time
• Forbes: Under Trump Tariffs, ‘Made in Vietnam’ will be the new ‘Made in China’

Technology & Cyber

• Forbes: A Trump 2.0 Agenda For Artificial Intelligence
• The Defense Post: America’s Semiconductor Dependence: A Ticking Time Bomb for National Security
• Politico: Winter is coming. So are Russia’s elite hackers.
• The New York Times: Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles
• The Economist: Computers unleashed economic growth. Will artificial intelligence?
• Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP: European Court of Justice Upholds Fine Against Google for Abusing Its Dominant Market Position
• Fortune: 100 Most Powerful People in Business

U.S. Politics

• The New York Times: Tracking Trump’s Cabinet and Staff Nominations
• Fortune: Brace yourself — Trump’s foreign policy could reshape the business world
• The National Interest: How Eisenhower Reshaped the Joint Chiefs and U.S. Military Strategy
• Associated Press: JD Vance is leaving the Senate for the vice presidency. That’s set off a scramble for his Ohio seat

UPCOMING EVENTS

• December 7, 2024: Reagan National Defense Forum
  “The Reagan National Defense Forum (RNDF) brings together leaders from across the political spectrum and key stakeholders in the defense community, including Members of Congress, current and former Administration officials, senior military leadership, industry executives, technology innovators, and thought leaders. Their mission is to review and assess policies that strengthen America’s national defense in the context of the global threat environment.”
• December 11, 2024: AGS Holiday Party
• January 27, 2025 – January 28, 2025: Defense Outlook Summit
  “You are invited to join Members of Congress, key Pentagon Officials, military base commanders, procurement officials, DoD small business directors, prime defense contractors, subcontractors, and small businesses at the 2025 Defense Outlook Summit, a major national defense conference and expo. Time to get the latest defense contracting perspectives from the newly inaugurated Presidential Administration and the newly seated Congress.”
• April 6, 2025 – April 9, 2025: Sea, Air, Space
  “Powered by the Navy League of the United States, Sea-Air-Space is the premier maritime exposition in the U.S., bringing together defense industry leaders and top military decision-makers from around the world to share the latest advancements in the maritime domain. With industry leading speakers and events featured across three impactful days, Sea-Air-Space is a must-attend for anyone invested in the future of U.S. maritime strength and innovation.”
• May 30, 2025 – June 1, 2025: Black Sea Security Forum
  “During its first edition in 2024, Black Sea Security Forum assembled more than 350 participants from 20+ countries in Odesa, Ukraine. During three days of the Forum, the guests had a unique opportunity not only to discuss the most vital challenges the Black Sea region is facing today during the 2-day conference, but also to visit the sea port of Odesa, as well as the frontline cities.”
• July 15, 2025 – July 18, 2025: Aspen Security Forum
  “The Aspen Security Forum (ASF) is the premier national security and foreign policy conference in the United States. Presented by the Aspen Strategy Group, 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 15 years.”
• September 9, 2025 – September 23, 2025: 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
  “The 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80) will open on Tuesday, 9 September 2025. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Tuesday, 23 September 2025.”
• October 7, 2025 – October 9, 2025: SEMICON West
  “Phoenix is set to become a tech powerhouse in 2025 with the arrival of SEMICON West, the premier microelectronics exhibition in North America. The first show, at the Phoenix Convention Center, is October 7-9, 2025, then it returns in 2027 and 2029.  SEMI’s decision to host SEMICON West in Phoenix highlights a strategic shift to further technological advancements and industry expansion.”