05
December 2019
Past Event
Americans Held Captive Abroad: A Conversation with Senator Tom Cotton on The Global Hostage Act

Americans Held Captive Abroad: A Conversation with Senator Tom Cotton on The Global Hostage Act

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
December 05, 2019
05
December 2019
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Cotton
Tom Cotton

United States Senator, Arkansas

michael_doran
Michael Doran

Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East

Hudson Institute will host Senator Tom Cotton for a discussion on The Global Hostage Act, which he recently introduced with Senator Ted Cruz. The bill would require the president to sanction any foreign government officials responsible for taking Americans hostage and deny U.S. visas to complicit officials and their families.

Evidenced by the release of pastor Andrew Brunson from Turkey last year, the threat and use of sanctions continues to be a powerful tool in the pursuit of bringing home Americans held captive abroad. Senator Cotton said this bill “would punish those who hold Americans hostage by sanctioning their assets and blocking their travel to the United States.”

The discussion will focus on how this legislation would disincentivize the future hostage-taking of Americans abroad, while incentivizing the release of those currently detained.

NOTE: This event is open to the press. All members of the media should RSVP to press@hudson.org.

Related Events
23
October 2025
In-Person Event | Invite Only
The US in the Caucasus: Mapping New Strategic Opportunities 
Featured Speakers:
Ilan Berman
Luke Coffey
Steve Daines
Michael Doran
Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim
Efgan Nifti
Joel Scanlon
: President Donald Trump, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sign a joint declaration at the White House in Washington DC, on August 8, 2025. (Getty Images)
23
October 2025
In-Person Event | Invite Only
The US in the Caucasus: Mapping New Strategic Opportunities 

A keynote address by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), to examine the implications of the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement. 

: President Donald Trump, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sign a joint declaration at the White House in Washington DC, on August 8, 2025. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Ilan Berman
Luke Coffey
Steve Daines
Michael Doran
Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim
Efgan Nifti
Joel Scanlon
30
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Long Can Russia’s Weakening Economy Support Putin’s War on Ukraine?
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Volodymyr Lugovskyy
Dr. Anders Aslund
Thomas J. Duesterberg
Getty Images
30
October 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
How Long Can Russia’s Weakening Economy Support Putin’s War on Ukraine?

Join noted Russian and Ukrainian economists and Hudson Senior Fellow Thomas Duesterberg for an event that will analyze how growing economic problems are affecting Vladimir Putin’s war effort and its ability to avoid an economic crisis.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Volodymyr Lugovskyy
Dr. Anders Aslund
Thomas J. Duesterberg
03
November 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Congressman Rich McCormick on Securing American AI Leadership
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Rich McCormick
Jason Hsu
Representative Rich McCormick speaks during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on January 11, 2024. (Getty Images)
03
November 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Congressman Rich McCormick on Securing American AI Leadership

Senior Fellow Jason Hsu will host Congressman Rich McCormick (R-GA), a member of the House Armed Services Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee and a former member of the bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, for a conversation on securing American AI leadership.

Representative Rich McCormick speaks during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on January 11, 2024. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Congressman Rich McCormick
Jason Hsu
17
October 2025
Past Event
What Is North Korea’s Strategy?
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Glenn Chafetz
In-bum Chun
Bruce Klingner
Dr. Taerim Lee
Markus Garlauskas
Moderator:
Patrick M. Cronin
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un after a meeting in Beijing on September 3, 2025. (Getty Images)
17
October 2025
Past Event
What Is North Korea’s Strategy?

What is driving North Korea’s closer cooperation with Russia and China, and how does Kim view cooperation among the CRINK states? What are Kim’s ultimate aims with his nuclear program? How has North Korea developed such vast cyber capabilities? Is North Korea preparing for war? And how should the US and its allies respond?

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un after a meeting in Beijing on September 3, 2025. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Glenn Chafetz
In-bum Chun
Bruce Klingner
Dr. Taerim Lee
Markus Garlauskas
Moderator:
Patrick M. Cronin