FDD Events Podcast

Edmund Fitton-Brown, a former British diplomat with extensive experience in the Middle East and the UN, shares his insights on the current multi-front conflict in the region. He discusses Hezbollah's military tactics and internal dynamics, as well as the rise in Iran’s oil revenues and its implications for terrorism funding. Fitton-Brown also addresses the complexities of defining terrorism at the UN and the challenges posed by the Houthi movement in Yemen. Additionally, he explores the geopolitical tensions involving Hezbollah, Qatar, and the influence of China.

Anna Borshchevskaya, a Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, dives deep into Russia's growing influence in the Middle East. She discusses Yahya Sinwar's role in recent tensions from Gaza and the complicated geopolitical dynamics in Lebanon. The conversation reveals the intricate Russia-Iran alliance amid the Ukraine conflict and highlights the effects on regional stability. Borshchevskaya also unpacks Russia-Israel relations, advocating for a more strategic U.S. response to counterbalance destabilizing partnerships.

In a captivating discussion, Matt Pottinger, former Deputy National Security Advisor, Craig Singleton, a senior director at FDD, and Michael Singh, a managing director at The Washington Institute, dissect China's growing influence on global chaos. They explore China's role in supporting rogue states and examine its opportunistic engagement in Middle Eastern conflicts. The panel highlights the challenges of U.S.-China relations, the risks of biotech weaponization, and urges strategic partnerships to counter these threats, particularly in safeguarding Taiwan's resilience.

Brian Katulis, a Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Middle East Institute, brings his expertise in navigating complex geopolitical landscapes. He discusses the rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly focusing on the U.S. foreign policy towards Hezbollah and ongoing conflicts with Hamas. Katulis critiques the Biden administration's approach to regional instability, highlighting both its support for Israel and failures in humanitarian negotiations. He also examines Iran's influence in the region, advocating for a more proactive, bipartisan strategy to tackle these challenges.

FDD Senior Vice President Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Israeli journalist and writer Amir Tibon.Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

Craig Singleton, an expert on the CCP threat, is joined by RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, a cyber warfare specialist, Ti-Chen Chen from the Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance, and Ben Jensen, a strategic analyst. They delve into China's economic and cyber warfare tactics against Taiwan, emphasizing the need for resilience strategies. Key discussions include the importance of financial security, Taiwan's energy vulnerabilities, and effective partnerships with the U.S. and allies to counter CCP coercion. The episode offers crucial insights into collective defense in a precarious geopolitical climate.

FDD Senior Vice President Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a native of Gaza, and Resident Senior Fellow at The Atlantic Council.Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

FDD Senior Vice President Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Hezbollah expert Matthew Levitt of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/

Jon Schanzer, a Middle Eastern geopolitics expert, joins military spokesperson Jonathan Conricus, defense strategist Jacob Nagel, and Iranian politics analyst Behnam Taleblu. They discuss Iran's unprecedented ballistic missile attacks on Israel and the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Topics include Israel's sophisticated military operations against Hezbollah and the fate of key commanders. The group explores the potential for further Iranian aggression and the implications for regional stability, raising critical questions about future security dynamics.

FDD Senior Vice President Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with David Siegel, former Israel Consul General to the Southwestern United States and President of ELNET-US.Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/