Caption
A 49.5-megawatt data center is under construction on April 14, 2026, in Vernon, California. (Getty Images)
Caption
SDF and YPG flags seen in al-Raqqa after its takeover by the SDF, October 20, 2017 (VOA Kurdish)
As Turkey targets Kurdish fighters with ties to the U.S.-led coalition combatting the Islamic State, tensions between Turkey and the U.S. have the potential to squander many of the gains that have been made against ISIS. Simultaneously, Iran and Russia are gaining leverage by solidifying their hold on key areas in the region. The U.S. is now forced to weigh its conflicting alliances in Eastern Syria, and develop a coherent policy towards its allies.
On Tuesday, March 13th, Hudson Institute hosted a discussion assessing U.S. policy options for the conflict and the region. The panel will consist of American Foreign Policy Council Senior Vice President Ilan Berman; Institute for the Study of War Senior Intelligence Planner Jennifer Cafarella; former Syrian diplomat Bassam Barabandi; and Hudson Adjunct Fellow Michael Pregent.
To view the map used in today's panel, click here.
Related Events
15
September 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Contested Lebanon: Israel, Iran, and US Strategy in a Fractured State
Featured Speakers:
Ludovic Hood
Hagar Chemali
Joel Rayburn
Hussain Abdul Hussain
15
September 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Contested Lebanon: Israel, Iran, and US Strategy in a Fractured State
Experts from leading Washington think tanks will come together to discuss the prospects for stability in Lebanon and for future Israeli-Lebanese relations.
Featured Speakers:
Ludovic Hood
Hagar Chemali
Joel Rayburn
Hussain Abdul Hussain
15
September 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Senator Pete Ricketts on the Next Phase of Competition with China
Featured Speakers:
Joel Scanlon
Pete Ricketts
15
September 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Senator Pete Ricketts on the Next Phase of Competition with China
Join Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, for a discussion on the state of the United States–China relationship and Congress’s role in the competition.
Featured Speakers:
Joel Scanlon
Pete Ricketts
16
September 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Transatlantic Watchtower: Iceland’s Role in Great Power Competition
Featured Speakers:
Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir
Daniel Kochis
16
September 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Transatlantic Watchtower: Iceland’s Role in Great Power Competition
Join us for an in-depth conversation with Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, member of the Icelandic Parliament and leader of the Independence Party, on great power dynamics, Iceland’s role in transatlantic security, and bilateral cooperation.
Featured Speakers:
Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir
Daniel Kochis
16
September 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Fixing Shipping and Shipbuilding: Plotting the Course Ahead
Featured Speakers:
Senator Todd Young
Senator Mark Kelly
Michael Roberts
Bleu Hilburn
Ben Cipperly
Larry Ryder
Chris McVickers
Todd Tucker
David Sullivan
Ian Bennitt
Brent Sadler
Joe Russell
Bryan Clark
16
September 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Fixing Shipping and Shipbuilding: Plotting the Course Ahead
Join Senator Young as he returns to Hudson to discuss the bill’s prospects during this Congress’s homestretch. After the senator’s remarks, two expert panels will discuss how the maritime industry is preparing to respond.
Featured Speakers:
Senator Todd Young
Senator Mark Kelly
Michael Roberts
Bleu Hilburn
Ben Cipperly
Larry Ryder
Chris McVickers
Todd Tucker
David Sullivan
Ian Bennitt
Brent Sadler
Joe Russell
Bryan Clark
Related Research
Caption
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a press conference in Ottawa, Ontario, on August 22, 2026, after trade talks with the US collapsed. (Getty Images)
Caption
(Screenshot via Fox Business)
Caption
US President Donald Trump takes part in a welcome ceremony with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 14, 2026. (Getty Images)
