This week, the Biden administration dropped its opposition to the Russia-Germany Nord Stream 2 pipeline deal, the U.S. blamed China for the Microsoft cyberattack, and Blue Origin completed its first manned spaceflight. Read more below.
This Week's Content Highlights
Features from Aspen Strategy Group Members
Robert Gates in a DIA MasterMinds discussion: "A Reflection on Public Service"
David Ignatius in The Washington Post: “Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s Government in Iraq Has A Long Way to Go. But at Least It’s A Start.”
Dina Powell McCormick made the Forbes "CEO Next 2021: The Up-and-Coming Leaders Set to Revolutionize American Business" list
Joseph Nye in a Center for the National Interest discussion: “Can the U.S. and Russia Agree on Cyber Rules?”
Meghan O’Sullivan quoted by Brand Spur: “Global Renewable Energy Capacity Jumps in 2020, More Needed to Meet Climate Goals: Experts”
David Petraeus discussed the Afghanistan withdrawal with Fareed Zakaria on CNN
David Rubenstein interviewed Mary Callahan Erdoes on Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein
David Sanger and Zolan Kanno-Youngs in The New York Times: “U.S. Accuses China of Hacking Microsoft”
Lawrence Summers on Bloomberg: “Summers 'Concerned' Over Lack of Regular U.S. Talks With China”
ASG Rising Leaders in the News
“As the last four years have shown, giving al-Sisi whatever he wants is neither justifiable nor effective. Biden needs to take steps to rebalance the U.S. relationship with the Egyptian government, and the time for that is now.”
ASG Rising Leader Philippe Nassif and Sara Salama wrote about “Biden’s Egypt Problem” on Just Security. Read their piece here.
Tweet of the Week
Upcoming Events
in partnership with
Speakers Include:
Things to Know
Stay Informed with Important Analysis Relevant to Aspen Security Forum Discussions
Sarah Collins for the Irish Independent: “With State Isolated on Global Corporation Tax Changes, Paschal Donohoe Launches Public ‘Consultation’”
Kate Dore for CNBC: "Values-based Investing Can Be Difficult to Screen. Here’s What You Need to Know”
Shishir Gupta in The Hindustan Times: “Jaishankar Firm on LAC Resolution at Dushanbe With Wang Yi, Economic Ties Later”
Lara Jakes and Steven Erlanger in The New York Times: “In Deal With Germany, U.S. Drops Threat to Block Russian Gas Pipelines”
Miriam Kramer in Axios: “Jeff Bezos, 3 Others Land Safely After Flight to Space With Blue Origin”
C. Raja Mohan in The Indian Express: “Demands on Beijing to Help Stabilise Afghanistan Are Growing. Will They Work?”
Book of the Week
By Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang
“Once one of Silicon Valley’s greatest success stories, Facebook has been under constant fire for the past five years, roiled by controversies and crises. It turns out that while the tech giant was connecting the world, they were also mishandling users’ data, spreading fake news, and amplifying dangerous, polarizing hate speech….
Drawing on their unrivaled sources, Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang take readers inside the complex court politics, alliances and rivalries within the company to shine a light on the fatal cracks in the architecture of the tech behemoth. Their explosive, exclusive reporting led them to a shocking conclusion: the missteps of the last five years were not an anomaly but an inevitability—this is how Facebook was built to perform.”
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.
Please consider donating today to support our work as a critical forum for nonpartisan debate about the most pressing foreign policy challenges of our times.
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.
Follow us on Twitter