Caption
US sailors conduct routine maintenance on a jet blast deflector on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on July 9, 2025. (US Navy)
Caption
Iranian Basij militia members display their drones during military manoeuvres on January 10, 2025 in Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images)
The United States and Israel’s campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran marks a pivotal moment for the Middle East, with consequences that will shape the region’s future security landscape. As Washington counters Iran’s asymmetric missile and drone capabilities, Senator Joni Ernst (R‑IA)—Chairwoman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities and Co‑Chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus—has advanced key legislation, including the DEFEND and MARITIME Acts, to strengthen US and partner defenses against exactly these threats.
Hudson Institute invites you to join Senator Ernst for a conversation with Senior Fellow Peter Rough, Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia, on Operation Epic Fury, the trajectory of US policy in the Middle East, and how today’s conflict is reshaping modern warfare and strategy.
This event is co‑sponsored with The Bastion Institute, where Senator Ernst serves as honorary chair and Peter Rough serves on the board.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Related Events
30
September 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Regional Reactions to the US-China Summit
Featured Speakers:
Takahiro Tsuchiya
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Patrick M. Cronin
William Chou
30
September 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Regional Reactions to the US-China Summit
Join Hudson Institute for a discussion which will examine how Japan, Europe, South Korea, and Southeast Asia view the Trump–Xi summit and how the regions will act on their priorities going forward.
Featured Speakers:
Takahiro Tsuchiya
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Patrick M. Cronin
William Chou
01
October 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Brazil Decides: The 2026 Election and the Future of US-Brazil Relations
Featured Speakers:
Gil Guerra
Jana Nelson
Clifford Young
01
October 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Brazil Decides: The 2026 Election and the Future of US-Brazil Relations
Join Hudson Institute for a panel that will examine the dynamics shaping the race, how each leading candidate would govern, and what a Lula or Bolsonaro victory would mean for US-Brazil relations.
Featured Speakers:
Gil Guerra
Jana Nelson
Clifford Young
01
October 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Getting Past the US-Canada Impasse
Featured Speakers:
Matthew Boyse
Shuvaloy Majumdar
01
October 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Getting Past the US-Canada Impasse
Join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Matthew Boyse for a conversation with Canadian Shadow Minister for Canada-US Relations Shuvaloy Majumdar, MP (Calgary Heritage) as they discuss the state of the bilateral relationship and potential paths forward.
Featured Speakers:
Matthew Boyse
Shuvaloy Majumdar
02
October 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought on Revitalizing the Shipbuilding Industrial Base
Featured Speakers:
Russell Vought
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
02
October 2026
In-Person Event | Invite Only
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought on Revitalizing the Shipbuilding Industrial Base
Please join Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, for a conversation with Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs to discuss the Trump administration’s decisive efforts to build the Navy needed for today’s intensifying threat environment.
Featured Speakers:
Russell Vought
Rebeccah L. Heinrichs
Related Research
Caption
An F/A-18 Super Hornet lands on the flight deck of the USS George Washington on August 29, 2026, in the US 5th Fleet area of operations while supporting maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (US Navy)
Caption
(Screenshot via Fox News)
Caption
(Screenshot via Fox News)