Southeast Europe’s Growing Role in European Energy Security
Southeast Europe, where Russia and Communist China have long sought to strengthen their foothold and expand their malign influence on the Continent, is a test case for a Russia-free, resilient European energy future. The region is becoming the gateway for liquefied natural gas imports from the United States, which could fully replace Russian gas by 2027. The region is also a major hub for US investment in next-generation clean energy technologies. With expanding artificial intelligence–driven data centers and innovation partnerships, Southeast Europe is making important contributions to European resilience and transatlantic ties.Join Hudson Senior Fellow Matt Boyse for an event with Bulgarian Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation President Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, and Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) Energy and Climate Program Analyst Marius Koeppen. They will discuss recent developments in the region and CSD’s latest risk assessments. Ruslan Stefanov, program director and chief economist at CSD, will provide opening remarks.
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Freeing China’s Political Prisoners
Given the scope and scale of the political prisoner crisis across China, the United States needs to do more to secure political prisoners’ release. The Chinese Communist Party holds at least 1.8 million Uyghurs in political prison camps and nearly 1,000 political prisoners in Hong Kong. In addition, the CCP extrajudicially detains many Tibetans, Christians (including pastors), and political dissidents. This is largely because the CCP sees political prisoners as an essential method of quashing dissent and retaining its power.With that in mind, the United States should have equally robust mechanisms for setting political prisoners free. Congress has a substantial apparatus for securing political prisoners’ release. But the executive branch pursues political prisoner release in a more ad hoc manner. A new office of political prisoner advocacy in the executive branch, with a special envoy of ambassador rank, could bolster existing US efforts to free political prisoners.
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The Digital Front Line: Building a Cyber-Resilient Taiwan
Taiwan sits at the intersection of geopolitics and global supply chains, and its democracy, technological prowess, and strategic location make it both a symbol and a target. As tensions with China grow, the island faces not only the threat of a potential economic blockade or military invasion, but also the danger of cyberattacks. Cyber resilience is a vital component of deterring Chinese aggression against Taiwan.Join Hudson Senior Fellow Jason Hsu for a discussion with Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA), Rhombus Power Founder and CEO Dr. Anshu Roy, former Vice Minister for Policy of the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense and former Chief of Naval Operations Admiral (Ret.) Legislator Richard YK Chen, and RunSafe Security CEO Joseph Saunders as they explore the role of cyber resilience in the defense of Taiwan.
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The Sudan Conflict: Causes, Ripple Effects, and Current Trajectory
The two-year-old conflict in Sudan is disrupting one of Africa’s most important regions, threatening a major maritime shipping route, advancing American adversaries’ interests, and devastating the civilian population. Despite the Trump administration’s recent mediation effort, the war shows no sign of ending. Continued violence at the current level promises even more destructive ripple effects.Hudson Institute, in collaboration with the Israel-Africa Institute, is conducting a series of webinars analyzing the East Africa region. In this episode, experts discuss:The history of the Sudan conflict and the status of the fightingThe roles of Generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, Islamists factions, Iran, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United StatesSudan’s importance to Africa and the worldNext steps toward ending the world’s costliest ongoing conflict
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Counterterrorism and US Strategy with Dr. Sebastian Gorka
The Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East will host Dr. Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, for a conversation with Dr. Michael Doran. They will discuss the evolving global terrorist threat, the future of United States counterterrorism strategy, and how counterterrorism shapes US policy in the Middle East.
Founded in 1961 by strategist Herman Kahn, Hudson Institute challenges conventional thinking and helps manage strategic transitions through interdisciplinary studies in defense, international relations, economics, energy, technology, culture, and law.
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