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A photo shows US and Israeli flags projected on the historic walls of the Old City near Hebron Gate in Jerusalem on June 22, 2025. (Getty Images)
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Turkey, Free Syrian Army take complete control of Afrin.
In the Post-ISIS middle east, Iran, Bashar al-Assad, and Russia continue to pose challenges for the U.S. as the Trump Administration develops its policy for Iraq and Syria. Turkey’s expansion of its Syria operations has the U.S. and NATO allies concerned that Turkish actions in the region run counter to NATO goals. Additionally, cooperation between Russia and Iran continues to disrupt the balance of power in the region.
On March 26, Hudson Institute hosted a panel to explore U.S. options to realign our allies with traditional NATO and U.S. positions, hold adversaries responsible for atrocities, and prevent security backsliding in the region. The panel will consist of Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Hillel Fradkin; Hudson Adjunct Fellow Michael Pregent; Senior Intelligence Planner at the Institute for the Study of War Jennifer Cafarella; Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Omran Center for Strategic Studies Ammar Kahf; and President of Soran University Dr. Nahro Zagros.
Related Events
25
March 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Operation Epic Fury and the Future of Warfare: A Conversation with Senator Joni Ernst
Featured Speakers:
Peter Rough
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
John P. Walters
25
March 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Operation Epic Fury and the Future of Warfare: A Conversation with Senator Joni Ernst
Please Join Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Armed Services Committees, for a discussion with Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia Peter Rough on Operation Epic Fury, the future of American foreign policy in the Middle East, and how the conflict is shaping the future of warfare and strategy.
Featured Speakers:
Peter Rough
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
John P. Walters
25
March 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Postponed | Updating US Trade Policy: A Discussion on the Strategic and Economic Importance of Central Asia with Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Congressman Jimmy Panetta
25
March 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Postponed | Updating US Trade Policy: A Discussion on the Strategic and Economic Importance of Central Asia with Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
Please Join Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Senior Fellow Michael Doran for a discussion on the region’s significance and why updating US trade policy is key to unlocking its potential in an era of renewed great power competition.
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Congressman Jimmy Panetta
27
March 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Congressman Michael Baumgartner on Operation Epic Fury and U.S. Strategy
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Congressman Michael Baumgartner
27
March 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Congressman Michael Baumgartner on Operation Epic Fury and U.S. Strategy
Together, Baumgartner and Doran will examine the objectives and risks of Operation Epic Fury, the broader regional implications, and the policy choices facing Washington in the weeks ahead.
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Congressman Michael Baumgartner
30
March 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
China’s Economic Slowdown: Risks, Realities, and Strategic Implications
Featured Speakers:
Miles Yu
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Leland Miller
30
March 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
China’s Economic Slowdown: Risks, Realities, and Strategic Implications
Join Hudson Institute for a panel that will discuss Dr. Duesterberg’s new report on the Chinese economic model and how policymakers should consider its vulnerabilities when formulating strategy to counter Beijing’s practices.
Featured Speakers:
Miles Yu
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Leland Miller
Related Research
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Members of the Chinese Military delegation before the closing session of the National People's Congress on March 12, 2026, in Beijing, China. (Getty Images)
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A F/A-18E prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of USS Abraham Lincoln in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 16, 2026. (US Navy)
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(Screenshot via Fox News)
