U.S.-Russian Relations (2016-2019)

On March 10-11, 2016 the NCAFP organized a U.S.-Japan-Russia Trilateral Conference at NCAFP Headquarters in New York City. The objective of the trilateral was to explore ways to build on our common interests and to manage our differences.

Influential scholars, think tank representatives and former officials from each of the three countries discussed current and future security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region; the Arctic region and possibilities for increased security, environmental and economic cooperation; and Economic development in Eurasia including energy, investment and trade.

Events for this previous program included a panel discussion of Russia in a changing energy environment and a conversation between American and Russian experts on challenges to the existing liberal global order.

The NCAFP partnered with the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Moscow. Japanese experts joined us from a number of different Tokyo-based institutions. Following the conference, the National Committee hosted a public program to bring greater awareness to the challenges faced by the three countries who featured in the conference. Moderated by Dr. Thomas Graham, the panel consisted of Ambassador Gleb Ivashentsov, Dr. Stephen Noerper, and Professor Matake Kamiya.

Middle East (2016-2019)

Since its founding in 1974 the National Committee on American Foreign Policy has conducted annual roundtables and public panel discussions on critical issues related to security in the Middle East. Recent areas of focus include the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s role in the region, intrastate conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and the implications of the rise of ISIS and violent extremism for the security of the United States and its allies.

Program participants have included NCAFP Trustee Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering; Ambassador Frank G. Wisner; Aaron David Miller, Woodrow Wilson Center; Gary Samore, Belfer Center, Harvard University; Vali Nasr, School of Advanced and International Studies, Johns Hopkins University; Gary Sick, Columbia University; and Warren Hoge, International Peace Institute.

Cybersecurity Initiative (2010-2019)

Both prior and current Administrations have determined that cyber threats represent one of the most serious economic, foreign policy and national security challenges facing the United States. Foremost is competition for Internet dominance now being waged across economic, technical, political and social battlegrounds-and the United States is facing challenges to its influence on all fronts. Cyber warfare is an increasing possibility as witnessed by recent attacks in Estonia, Georgia, Israel and even the

In 2010, under the leadership of Vice President Edythe M. Holbrook, the NCAFP launched its Cybersecurity Initiative to study the challenges that cyber poses to U.S. security interests and explore ways best defend our sovereign interests. The Cybersecurity Initiative has produced annual closed-door and off-the-record roundtable conferences and public programs. Experts on cyber security have shared their views on groundbreaking developments in both domestic and international cybersecurity policy and proposed recommendations for both governmental and private sector action. Summaries of policy recommendations made during conference proceedings have been widely disseminated to government, policy, academic, and business communities.

Experts in NCAFP activities have included Melissa Hathaway, President, Hathaway Global Strategies; Jason Healey, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Cyber Statecraft Initiative, Atlantic Council; Phil Venables, Chief Information Risk Office, Goldman Sachs; John Stewart, Senior Vice President, Chief Security and Trust Officer, CISCO; Rafal Rohozinski, Founder and CEO, the SecDev Group; the Honorable Philip Verveer, Senior Counselor to the Chairman, Federal Communications Commission; James A. Lewis, Director and Senior Fellow, Strategic Technologies Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies; and the Honorable Franklin D. Kramer, Distinguished Fellow, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Atlantic Council.

The NCAFP has also conducted briefings sessions in partnership with West Point’s Army Cyber Institute both in New York and at West Point and has also devoted an entire issue of its flagship publication, American Foreign Policy Interests, to cybersecurity.