21–25 March 2022, the Near East South Asia Center (NESA) hosted a Combating Transnational Threats Senior Executive Seminar (CTSES) titled “The Importance of Non-State Actors.” The seminar started off with an introduction and welcome from Course Director and NESA Center Professor Dr. Gawdat Bahgat, NESA Center Academic Dean Dr. Roger Kangas, and NESA Center Director Read More >
Tunisian NDI Program
From 21 to 31 March 2022, the NESA Center, in partnership with U.S. Africa Command, held its eleventh annual Tunisian National Defense Institute (NDI) National Security Seminar for 48 senior government officials from 18 Tunisian agencies. Led by its new Director, Sr Col Abdelkader Adouni, the NDI is a year-long Ministry of Defense program Read More >
NESA Maritime Series: Indian Ocean Region Underwater Challenges Workshop
From 21 to 23 March 2022, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies conducted a digital workshop that explored underwater security challenges in the wider Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The discussions discussed topics pertaining to military/security concerns, cyber and technological components, environmental considerations, and private sector perspectives on the underwater domain. Participants Read More >
Saudi Arabia National Defense University Executive Seminar
On March 14–25, 2022, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, led by Lieutenant General (Ret.) Terry Wolff, NESA Director, hosted the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Defense Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC). LTG (Ret.) Wolff welcomed Major General Mohammed J. Alruwaili, AFCSC Commandant and President of the future Saudi Arabia Read More >
NESA-IISS South Asian Security Forum in Bahrain

25 to 27 March 2022 – The NESA Center and its partner, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), co-hosted the sixth annual South Asian Strategic Forum in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This unique Track 1.5 dialogue brought together 40 participants from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the UK, and the U.S. for focused discussion of the Read More >
Is Egypt on the Way to Becoming a Regional Power?
By: LTC Ali Albedwawi, UAE MOD, CSAG CCJ5 25 Mar 2022 Overview: Egypt’s geopolitical importance lies in being open to different geopolitical dimensions at the same time. It overlooks the North African region from the east, connects to the African depth from the north, Sinai allows it to connect with the Middle East and the Read More >
SIO & The NESA Center Formally Present SANDU Design
27 February 2022 – The Strategic Initiatives Office (SIO) and the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA Center) formally presented the culmination of over 18 months of the team’s work on the Target Operating Model (TOM) for the Saudi Arabian National Defense University (SANDU). This work was an international project of 30 Read More >
Inaugural International Humanitarian Law / Law of Armed Conflict Course for Saudi Arabia Armed Forces Command and Staff College
17 January – 9 March 2022 – The NESA Center Military Advisor to the Saudi Arabia Armed Forces Command and Staff College, COL William “Bill” Stephens, funded through an FMS case, presented on multiple topics during the inaugural International Humanitarian Law Course for Saudi Arabia. This 8-week course was offered to twenty-six students and two Read More >
The January Crisis in Kazakhstan?
By: CDR Hubert MROZ, POL Navy, CSAG CCJ5 24 Feb 2022 Overview: On January 2, 2002, people took to the streets to protest high fuel prices in Zhanaozen and Aktau, major cities in the Mangystau region of western Kazakhstan. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) doubled its price from an equivalent of 11 to 23 cents (USD). Read More >
Does the Appetite to End the Conflict in Yemen Exist?
By: LTC Madalin Iordache, ROU Army, CSAG CCJ5 09 Feb 2022 Introduction: On September 24th, 2014, the Houthis rebels, endorsed by former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and his loyalist forces, seized control of the historic Yemen capital Sana’a and overthrew the government of Abdo Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the president at the time. It is the Read More >