Saudi Arabia Armed Forces Command & Staff College Program

The Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, led by Matthew Holbert, NESA Program Manager and Associate Dean of Administration and Tom Wagstaff, Academic Advisor to the Saudi Arabia Armed Forces Command Staff College, hosted the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Defense Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC) from 1–5 May 2023. Holbert Read More >

NESA Center Briefing at ARCENT Commander’s Conference

Group posing for a photograph

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 Strategic Studies to attend the conference and provide an overview of the Read More >

NESA-IISS China-India Workshop in Singapore

In partnership with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the NESA Center for Strategic Studies participated in their first-ever track 1.5 workshop on Sino-Indian relations from 26–27 April 2023 in Singapore. NESA Center Dean Dr. Roger Kangas and faculty members Jeffrey Payne and Jack Gill participated as speakers and panel chairpersons. Topics included bilateral security Read More >

Iran-KSA Peace Talks and its Implications for South Asia

CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: Lt Col Kashif Ehtisham, Pakistan Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 28 April 2023 Subject: Iran-KSA peace talks and its implications for South Asia. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to present the analysis of CSAG on consequences of the Iran-KSA peace talks for South Asia in order to draw pertinent conclusions for US Read More >

Gulf Security Roundtable Discussion

From 25–26 April 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies held a Gulf security roundtable discussion in partnership with the Qatari Armed Forces Center for Strategic Studies and Chatham House in London. NESA Center Deputy Director COL David Lamm, USA (Ret.) and Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat led the discussion. The topics Read More >

2023 Lebanese Armed Forces Seminar

From April 10–14, 2023, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted a seminar titled “An Evolving World Order” at National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, DC. The program was designed to provide an academic setting in which these officers could examine ideas relating to emerging threats and changes in global power Read More >

CSAG Strategy Paper: The Red Sea – Neglected Nexus

CSAG STRATEGY PAPER By: CDR Hubert Mróz, POL (CSAG/CCJ5) and MAJ Essa Almansoori, UAE (CSAG/CCJ5) 14 April  2023   Overview: The strategic importance of the Red Sea basin, together with the Suez Canal, is obvious. Nevertheless, there are reasons to believe that the Red Sea region is a neglected nexus by the US, but not Read More >

The Bear, the Dragon, or the Eagle – Who Will Win in Sudan?

CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: LTC Hany Mohamed, EGY Army (CSAG/CCJ5); LTC Rene Berendsen, NLD Army (CSAG/CCJ5); and LCDR Stipe Skelin, CRO Navy (CSAG/CCJ5)   20 April 2023 Subject: Analysis of the current situation in Sudan. Purpose: To present the results of the CSAG’s analysis regarding the on-going situation in Sudan. Read the complete paper here. Read More >

Hezbollah’s “Financial Pyramid”

CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: LCDR Stipe Skelin, HRV Navy (CSAG/CCJ5); LTC Rene Berendsen, NLD Army (CSAG/CCJ5); LTC Richard Pecinka, CZE AF (CSAG/CCJ5); and MAJ Mihai-Florin Girboan, ROU Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 6 April 2023 Subject: Hezbollah’s “Financial Pyramid” Purpose: This paper is the third in a series about Hezbollah. The aim is to present the results of Read More >

China’s Approach to the Red Sea States

CSAG INFORMATION PAPER By: MAJ Ibrahim Elveren, TUR Army (CSAG/CCJ5) and LTC Almaz Mukashev, KAZ Army (CSAG/CCJ5) 6 April 2023 Subject: China’s Approach to the Red Sea States. Purpose: This paper aims to present the results of the CSAG’s analysis of China’s Approach to the Red Sea States, including the “5-No Approach” to the African Read More >