Creating intelligence: Open Source in Action with Arctic Competition Research featuring Eric and Greg Levesque, Co-Founders at Strider Technologies
May 29, 2024
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Eric and Greg Levesque, co-founders of Strider Technologies, delve into the transformative landscape of open-source intelligence. They discuss the surge in data capabilities since the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of AI in enhancing strategic insights for national security. The conversation highlights Russia's burgeoning cooperation with China in the Arctic, emphasizing its implications for global power dynamics. They also explore the future of Arctic security and what 2030 might hold for this critical geopolitical theater.
Open-source intelligence capabilities have significantly evolved post-COVID-19, enabling better strategic insights to mitigate nation-state threats.
The growing partnership between Russia and China in the Arctic presents strategic dilemmas and opportunities amid the evolving global power landscape.
Deep dives
Origins of Strider Intel
The co-founders of Strider Intel, Eric and Greg Levesque, share their distinct career backgrounds that led to the formation of their company. Greg's experience in Washington D.C. involved analyzing China's economic statecraft, particularly its methods of acquiring technology and recruiting talent, highlighting that industry has become a battleground in great power competition. Meanwhile, Eric's finance background in Oman revealed information asymmetries between U.S. entities and foreign counterparts, emphasizing the lack of strategic insight within Western industries. Together, they aimed to leverage open-source data and AI technologies to help organizations address and mitigate the intellectual property threats posed by nation-states.
Open Source Intelligence Capabilities
The podcast delves into the expansive nature of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and its growing significance, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. With an increase in data accessibility from various sectors, including government, corporate filings, and social media, the capability to gather intelligence has evolved rapidly. The discussion points to the effectiveness of geospatial technology, which has surpassed traditional government capabilities, allowing for real-time analysis of significant geopolitical events. This growing industry of open-source intelligence empowers businesses to gain crucial insights needed to navigate emerging global challenges.
Strategic Dynamics in the Arctic
Strider's analysis of the Arctic reveals the escalating partnership between Russia and China and its implications for global geopolitics. The report, 'Shifting Ice,' highlights the increasing presence of Chinese companies in the Russian Arctic, which poses both opportunities and strategic dilemmas for Russia, traditionally wary of foreign influence in this sensitive region. Additionally, the investigation outlines how Russia, amid Western sanctions, is increasingly relying on Chinese technology and investment for resource extraction in the Arctic, which is estimated to hold trillions of dollars in untapped minerals. The findings illustrate the shifting dynamics of power and partnership in a region that is becoming a focal point in great power competition.
The Need for Public-Private Partnerships
The conversation emphasizes the need for enhanced public-private partnerships in Arctic strategies, especially as nations like China leverage industry to support their geopolitical ambitions. Critics argue that the U.S. and NATO must better utilize their industrial strengths in addressing the challenges posed by rising competition in the Arctic. There is a recognition that collaborative efforts among governments and corporations could lead to effective economic statecraft and improved security measures in the region. As infrastructure and resource extraction efforts continue to grow, a strategic framework integrating both public and private sectors will be crucial for establishing a cohesive presence and response in the Arctic.
This week, Andrew interviews Eric and Greg Levesque, co-founders of Strider Technologies. Strider is a tech company that utilizes open-source data and AI methodologies to provide strategic intelligence to governments, corporations, and research institutions around the world to proactively identify and mitigate nation-state-directed IP theft, talent recruitment, and supply chain threats. Eric and Greg walk us through how open-source information capabilities have expanded dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic and the "industry battlespace" in the Great Power Competition landscape. The second half of the conversation is devoted to Strider's new report, Shifting Ice, which outlines how Russia has begun to utilize Chinese commercial capabilities in the Arctic. Andrew, Eric, and Greg, wrap up with an overview of what the Arctic security space may look like by 2030.
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