Network 20/20

We were pleased to welcome Karim Haggag, Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute @SIPRIorg, former Egyptian diplomat, and member of the United Nations Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, for our in-person, members-only discussion, Searching for Stability in a Rearranged Middle East.

Karim reflected on the ripple effects of ongoing conflicts across the Middle East and the changing security landscape in the region. The discussion explored the evolving role of the United States—traditionally viewed as both a source of regional security as well as an actor that contributes to instability—and the continued importance of U.S. involvement in shaping a future regional security structure.

He also discussed the growing influence of other regional and global actors, Middle Eastern countries’ search for alternative security partnerships beyond the United States, and the implications of an expanding regional arms race.

We are grateful to Karim for sharing his expertise and to our members for contributing to a thoughtful and engaging discussion.

Learn more about Network 20/20 membership: network2020.org/benefits/

#MiddleEast #RegionalSecurity #ForeignPolicy #GlobalAffairs #Network2020

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Network 20/20

Thank you to Taufiq Rahim, Senior Fellow at NewAmerica; Ambassador Chris Lu, former U.S. Representative to the United Nations for Management and Reform and distinguished professor at the Miller Center of Public Affairs; moderator Rekha Shanmugam of AJ+; and Subhah Agarwal for joining Network 20/20 and UNMUTED for United We Fall: Should the U.S. Leave the UN?

The debate examined competing perspectives on whether the United States should leave the United Nations, including U.S. financial contributions, the effectiveness of UN institutions, efforts toward reform, and the potential consequences of withdrawing.

Taufiq Rahim presented the case for investing U.S. resources elsewhere, while Ambassador Lu drew on his experience negotiating UN budgets and pursuing reform from within the organization.

We are grateful to our speakers, moderator, partners at UNMUTED, and everyone who joined us for a lively and thoughtful exchange on the future of U.S. engagement with the United Nations.

#UNMUTED #UnitedNations #ForeignPolicy #GlobalAffairs #Network2020

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Network 20/20

How is U.S. diplomacy being used today—and where is it headed? 🇺🇸🌎

Thank you to John Dinkelman, President of @AFSAtube; Dr. Jessica Tuchman Mathews, Distinguished Fellow and former President of @CarnegieEndow; and Professor Jay Sexton, Director of @mudemocracy, for joining us for *The State of Diplomacy at America 250.*

Below are some key takeaways from the discussion:

🌎 Career diplomats are being sidelined from key negotiations. Special envoys are operating without the regional expertise, cultural context, or even American translators that the Foreign Service provides—over 1,300 diplomatic professionals were dismissed last year alone, gutting the institutional knowledge the U.S. relies on.

🤝 The current approach to diplomacy lacks a discernible strategy. Dr. Mathews warned that the administration has “torched” long-standing bipartisan fundamentals—from alliances as a source of strength to the rule of law—replacing them with day-to-day chaos rather than a coherent alternative.

💡 Today’s diplomatic landscape echoes the 19th century more than the mid-20th-century norm. Professor Sexton drew parallels between current tariff policies, hemispheric expansion, and bare-knuckle politics—cautioning that the last era of spheres of influence ultimately led to the World Wars.

🇺🇸 The popular legitimacy that once sustained American internationalism has eroded. Rebuilding public support for U.S. engagement abroad requires addressing democratic legitimacy problems at home—from the concentration of political and economic power among the ultra-rich to the disconnect between voters and foreign policy.

➡️ Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications to be notified when the full recording is available.

#America250 #AmericanDiplomacy #ForeignPolicy #GlobalAffairs #Network2020

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Network 20/20

Should the United States leave the United Nations—or would withdrawing ultimately weaken American influence? 🇺🇸🌎

🎟️ Early-bird tickets are available through Wednesday, September 16!

Join Network 20/20 on Tuesday, September 22, for *United We Fall: Should the U.S. Leave the UN?*, an in-person UNMUTED debate in New York City.

➡️ Get tickets and learn more: luma.com/vi6dlvbw

The United States is the UN’s largest financial contributor, yet concerns about institutional effectiveness, peacekeeping, representation and the pace of reform continue to raise questions about the value of U.S. participation.

Could withholding U.S. funding create meaningful leverage for reform, or would disengagement weaken American influence and allow countries such as China to play a greater role?

The event will feature:

🎤 Opening the evening: Subhah Agarwal, NYC-based comedian, writer and actor.

🎙 Arguing for: Taufiq Rahim, Senior Fellow at @NewAmerica and strategist specializing in global geopolitics and technology.

🎙 Arguing against: Ambassador Chris Lu, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations for Management and Reform and Distinguished Professor at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.

🎙 Moderated by: Rekha Shanmugam, News Planning Producer for @ajplus at Al Jazeera Media Network.

📅 Tuesday, September 22

🚪 Doors open at 6:30 PM ET

🎤 Program begins at 7:00 PM ET

📍 New York City; exact location provided upon registration

#UnitedNations #ForeignPolicy #GlobalAffairs #InPersonDebate #Network2020

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Network 20/20

As America marks 250 years, what lessons from its earliest diplomats still apply—and what new thinking is needed for the future? 🇺🇸🌎

Join us on Thursday, September 17, from 3:30–4:30 PM ET for a timely conversation about the current state and future of American diplomacy with:

🎙 John Dinkelman, President of the American Foreign Service Association — @AFSAtube

🎙 Dr. Jessica Tuchman Mathews, Distinguished Fellow and former President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — @CarnegieEndow

🎙 Professor Jay Sexton, Rich and Nancy Kinder Chair of Constitutional Democracy, Professor of History, and Director of the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy — @mudemocracy

RSVP and learn more: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7417882007677/WN_…

#America250 #AmericanDiplomacy #ForeignPolicy #GlobalAffairs #Network2020

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Network 20/20

🌍 How are the Nordic Baltic Eight reshaping European security?

Thank you to Dr. Hiski Haukkala, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (@FIIA_fi); Dr. Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (@PetersonInstitute); and Dr. Kristi Raik, Director of the International Centre for Defence and Security (@ICDS_Tallinn), for joining us for *The New North: The Eight States Shaping a New European Security.*

Below are some key takeaways from today's discussion:

📍 The Nordic Baltic Eight occupy a unique strategic position. They feel the existential threat from Russia most acutely while possessing the fiscal strength to act on it, with some of Europe's strongest balance sheets, triple A credit ratings, and Norway's 1.9 trillion+ sovereign wealth fund enabling them to invest in both defense and domestic priorities without the painful "guns vs. butter" trade off most of Europe faces.

🛡️ The NB8 are leading European defense procurement integration, combining Nordic air forces, joint ammunition procurement, and coordinated armored vehicle purchases while pushing toward NATO's 5% GDP defense spending target. However, Southern European countries are unlikely to match this commitment, creating growing schisms within the EU over security priorities.

🇪🇺 As major net contributors to the EU budget, the NB8 countries are well positioned to shape the next long term EU budget toward defense capabilities and Ukraine support. Meanwhile, Iceland's upcoming EU accession referendum could further reshape the region's European footprint, with potential ripple effects on Norway.

🇺🇦 The panelists agreed that "no deal is better than a bad deal" for Ukraine. While the war continues, the probability of a direct Russian military attack on NATO is near zero, but the risk rises sharply once the war ends and Russia could redirect its battle hardened forces. Territorial integrity for Ukraine is nonnegotiable for the NB8, and any US acceptance of Ukraine ceding territory would be deeply difficult for the region to digest.

💬 We also appreciated the thoughtful questions from participants, which sparked discussion on the Nordic nuclear weapons debate, energy security transitions away from Russian fossil fuels, the durability of NB8 cohesion beyond the current crisis, and postwar transatlantic strategy.

🔎 The conversation explored the growing role of the Nordic Baltic Eight in #EuropeanSecurity and what this shift could mean for #NATO, #Ukraine, the European Union, and transatlantic relations.

🎧 Follow Network 20/20 on YouTube and the #GlobalInsights Podcast to hear the full conversation when it becomes available.

Global Insights Podcast: network2020.org/global-insights-podcast/

#Network2020 #NordicBaltic #TransatlanticRelations

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Network 20/20

The Nordic-Baltic Eight are quietly becoming one of Europe's most consequential security blocs and Washington is watching closely 🌍
➡️ RSVP at us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1617869808106/WN_…
From arming Ukraine to redrawing NATO's northern flank, the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) are no longer a quiet corner of Europe. They're shaping the future of the transatlantic alliance in real time.

But growing influence comes with growing exposure. As the NB8 take on a bigger role in European and transatlantic security, can they manage the economic and political risks that come with it? And what does their rise mean for the balance of power inside the EU — and for the U.S.-Europe relationship?

Join us for a timely conversation with:
🎙 Dr. Hiski Haukkala, Director, Finnish Institute of International Affairs ‪@FIIA_fi‬
🎙 Dr. Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics ‪@PetersonInstitute‬
🎙 Dr. Kristi Raik, Director, International Centre for Defence and Security ‪@ICDS_Tallinn‬

#EuropeanSecurity #NATO #Nordics #BalticStates #Ukraine #ForeignPolicy #Transatlantic #Geopolitics #Network2020

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Network 20/20

HOW IS THE UAE PLOTTING ITS RISE?
We were pleased to welcome Dr. Neil Quilliam, Associate Fellow with Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme, for our members-only conversation on the #UAE's evolving #foreignpolicy and its growing role in regional and #globalaffairs.

Dr. Quilliam discussed the UAE's strategic priorities and the factors shaping its role in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. A few things he shared that stood out:

🔹 Leaving #OPEC gives the UAE greater independence over its #energy strategy. With significant production capacity, Abu Dhabi is seeking to monetize its hydrocarbon resources while they remain competitive and avoid leaving valuable reserves stranded.
🔹 The UAE’s influence rests heavily on networks. Decades of well-financed investment in diplomacy, expertise, trade, finance, and strategic relationships have enabled a relatively small state to bring a vision to life and exercise influence well beyond its size.
🔹 Competition with #SaudiArabia is becoming increasingly consequential. Once closely aligned, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are now competing across business, tourism, technology, regional influence, and strategic positioning.
🔹 The UAE–Israel relationship is likely to remain durable. Despite regional tensions, Dr. Quilliam argued that ties spanning security, technology, trade, and defense have deepened—and are closely connected to Abu Dhabi’s broader relationship with Washington.
🔹 The UAE is still hedging—but there are limits. While Abu Dhabi continues to deepen economic ties with #China, Dr. Quilliam emphasized that its strategic and security relationship with the United States remains fundamental, particularly in sensitive areas such as technology and defense.

Network 20/20's Virtual Salons give members exclusive access to candid conversations with leading experts on today's most pressing foreign policy and national security issues.

Want in on the next one? Learn more about becoming a Network 20/20 member at: network2020.org/membership-benefits/

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Network 20/20

🌐 What if intelligence is no longer the exclusive domain of governments?

Below are some key takeaways from our discussion today with Dr. Eliot A. Jardines, Founder & Executive Director of the OSINT Foundation, and Dr. Anthony Vinci, Co-Founder and CEO of Vico, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and former Chief Technology Officer & Associate Director for Capabilities at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)



📍 Intelligence is no longer limited to governments. Open-source intelligence and commercially available information have expanded access to intelligence capabilities far beyond traditional intelligence agencies.

🤖 AI is transforming every stage of the intelligence process—from collecting and analyzing information to generating intelligence products—while also creating new challenges for verification, transparency, and trust.

🛰️ Commercial satellite imagery and other publicly available data have become essential intelligence resources, allowing analysts to answer national security questions using information available outside classified channels.

⚠️ As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, analysts must determine not only whether information is accurate, but whether an image, video, document, or even an online identity is authentic in the first place.

🌍 Intelligence increasingly extends beyond governments. Private companies now play a central role as both targets of espionage and providers of technologies that shape intelligence collection, cybersecurity, and national security.

💬 We also appreciated the thoughtful questions from participants, which sparked discussions on TikTok, AI-generated intelligence, economic espionage, public-private partnerships, intelligence sharing, and the future of open-source intelligence.

🔎 The conversation explored how publicly available information, commercial technologies, and AI are reshaping the intelligence landscape.



▶️ If you missed the conversation—or would like to revisit it—the recording is available here: https://youtu.be/SjkopMH_yIU



#Network2020 #InternationalAffairs #NationalSecurity #OSINT #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #Intelligence #natiotionalsecurity #espionage #spy

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Network 20/20

It was a pleasure to host Gregory B. Poling, Director and Senior Fellow of the Southeast Asia Program and the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at CSIS, in our members-only conversation on the Philippines' evolving role in the South China Sea — and why it matters far beyond the region.

Greg has spent 15+ years tracking this flashpoint, and a few things he shared genuinely reframed how we think about it:

🔹 China avoids direct force on purpose. The strategy is "left of bang" — intimidation, water cannons, boat-blocking — precisely calibrated to stay below the threshold that would trigger a U.S. military response under our mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.

🔹 The Philippines is America's oldest defense ally in the Indo-Pacific — older than our alliances with Japan or Korea — yet the two countries only formally defined "what the alliance is actually for" in the last few years.

🔹 China's territorial claims aren't really about history. As Greg put it, arguing historical fact with Chinese counterparts is often beside the point — the claims function more as national mythology than legal argument, which is exactly why they're so hard to negotiate away.

🔹 "Non-lethal" force isn't risk-free. Water cannons, lasers, and ramming look tame — until they aren't. The only fatality in decades of South China Sea confrontations happened last year, when Chinese vessels collided with each other.

🔹 Scarborough Shoal, not Taiwan, may be the bigger near-term flashpoint. Greg's read: a Taiwan crisis would likely give the world months of warning. A South China Sea incident could escalate overnight.

We're grateful to everyone who joined us for this candid, members-only discussion. 💬

Want in on the next one? Learn more about becoming a Network 20/20 member at network2020.org/membership-benefits/

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