This week, Brexit negotiations continued with the UK and EU finding agreement on the question of Northern Ireland, elections were held in Venezuela and Ghana, and President-elect Biden announced General Lloyd Austin as his choice for Secretary of Defense. Read more below.
This Week's Content Highlights
Features from Aspen Strategy Group Members
Madeleine Albright in a GZero discussion: “Reasons for Hope: COVID and the Coming Year”
Nicholas Burns co-chairs a joint report by the Belfer Center's Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship and the German Council on Foreign Relations: “Stronger Together: A Strategy for Revitalizing Transatlantic Power”
Kurt Campbell and Rush Doshi in Foreign Affairs: “The China Challenge Can Help America Avert Decline”
Ash Carter in The National Interest: “Ash Carter: How the U.S. Congress and STEM Experts Must Work Together”
Eliot Cohen in The Atlantic: "This Is No Job for A General"
Michael Green and Gregory Poling for CSIS: “The U.S. Alliance with the Philippines”
David McCormick and James Cunningham on Fast Company: “America’s Military Needs an Innovation Overhaul”
Joseph Nye and Richard Armitage co-chair a new CSIS report: “The U.S.-Japan Alliance in 2020: An Equal Alliance with a Global Agenda”
Susan Rice in The New York Times: “Our Democracy’s Near Death Experience”
Anne-Marie Slaughter, Fran Townsend, et al in a Foreign Affairs survey: “Does the World Need a New Global Health Organization?”
Robert Zoellick in The Wall Street Journal: "Biden Can Make American Trade Deals Great Again"
Tweet of the Week
Things to Know
Stay Informed with Important Analysis Relevant to Aspen Security Forum Discussions
Aljazeera: “Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo Wins Re-election As 5 Killed"
BBC: "Brexit: 'Strong Possibility' of No Trade Deal With EU - PM"
Colin Dwyer for NPR: “Trump Orders the Withdrawal of Most U.S. Forces from Somalia”
Meghan O’Sullivan in Bloomberg Opinion: “What Does Success Look Like for a Climate Czar?”
Barnett Rubin in Foreign Affairs: "There is Only One Way Out of Afghanistan"
Vivian Sequera and Deisy Buitrago for Reuters: “U.S., EU Say They Do Not Recognize Venezuela Parliamentary Vote”
Book of the Week
By H.R. McMaster
"Across multiple administrations since the end of the Cold War, American foreign policy has been misconceived, inconsistent, and poorly implemented. As a result, America and the free world have fallen behind rivals in power and influence. Meanwhile threats to security, freedom, and prosperity, such as nuclear proliferation and jihadist terrorism have grown. In Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster describes efforts to reassess and fundamentally shift policies while he was National Security Advisor. And he provides a clear pathway forward to improve strategic competence and prevail in complex competitions against our adversaries.
Battlegrounds is a groundbreaking reassessment of America’s place in the world, drawing from McMaster’s long engagement with these issues, including 34 years of service in the U.S. Army with multiple tours of duty in battlegrounds overseas and his 13 months as National Security Advisor in the Trump White House. It is also a powerful call for Americans and citizens of the free world to transcend the vitriol of partisan political discourse, better educate themselves about the most significant challenges to national and international security and work together to secure peace and prosperity for future generations."
Applications Open
Brent Scowcroft Award Fellow
The Aspen Strategy Group is seeking the next Brent Scowcroft Award Fellow. Named in honor of ASG Chair Emeritus Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft, the fellowship program provides the first stepping-stone for young professionals with an interest in U.S. foreign policy to forge careers inspired by General Scowcroft’s expertise and ethos of service. Scowcroft Fellows typically join the ASG team for a period of 6 months, during which time they are encouraged to develop practical skills and build knowledge in the field of foreign policy and national security.
Applications are now open for this temporary, full-time, paid position.
ICYMI
A Conversation with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea
Featuring Kang Kyung-wha
Foreign Minister, Republic of Korea
Moderated by Nicholas Burns
Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and
International Relations, Harvard Kennedy School &
Executive Director, Aspen Strategy Group
Thursday, December 10, 2020
7:00 - 8:00 p.m. ET
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As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute is nonpartisan and does not endorse, support, or oppose political candidates or parties. Further, the views and opinions of our guests and speakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.
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