Rebecca Skoryanc, Author at WestExec Advisors

Tony Blinken participates in Chatham House virtual roundtable, “US Foreign Policy in a Post COVID-19 World”

"The coronavirus crisis has accentuated the need for US leadership and international cooperation to address the global health emergency and economic crisis. The pandemic comes at a time of profound uncertainty over America's future role in the world, its commitments to transatlantic security, and its relationship with China. "As we face the 2020 US Presidential elections, America's European partners look ahead to the potential foreign policy priorities of the next US administration. "In this conversation, Tony Blinken, US Deputy Secretary of [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-05-01T14:34:51-04:00April 29, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Celeste Wallander participates in Council on Foreign Relations event, “Update on Russia: Policy, Power, and Public Health”

"Speakers discuss recent foreign and domestic policy developments in Russia, including the proposed changes to Russia’s constitution, oil tensions with Saudi Arabia, and the Russian response to COVID-19..." Listen to the full event here: Full Event

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-05-01T14:44:04-04:00April 28, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Danny Russel writes in the Los Angeles Times: “If Kim Jong Un Dies, Who’s Next in Line for His Seat? North Korea Has No Idea”

"The fog of rumors about Kim Jong Un’s health will clear up soon. But as of now, despite persistent rumors that the North Korean leader is seriously ill or even dead, the only two things we know with certainty are that Kim uncharacteristically missed the Day of the Sun public anniversary celebrations commemorating his grandfather Kim Il Sung’s birthday, and that his private train has been observed at the station in Wonsan, a fact the South Korean government cites to bolster [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-05-01T14:41:04-04:00April 27, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Bob Work quoted in The Economist article, “Global Arms Spending Is Rising, But Covid-19 Will Trim Budgets”

"Factor all that in and China’s defence budget may in fact have reached around 87% of America’s, suggests Frederico Bartels of the Heritage Foundation, a think-tank. Raw spending disguises technological advances, too. 'China appears to be driving the military-technical competition in critical areas such as quantum science, biotechnology, hypersonics, and ballistic and cruise missiles,' warns Robert Work, a former deputy secretary of defence in America..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-05-01T14:45:42-04:00April 26, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Matt Waxman writes with Samuel Weitzman in Lawfare: “Remembering the Montgomery Ward Seizure: FDR and War Production Powers”

"Every student of national security law knows about Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (the Steel Seizure Case), in which the Supreme Court invalidated President Truman’s seizure of steel mills to forestall a nationwide strike during the Korean War. Less well appreciated is that industrial confiscation was a familiar practice for Americans in 1952. Although the Roosevelt administration disfavored that policy tool, the U.S. government seized companies during labor disputes more than four dozen times during World War II—usually firms [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-05-01T14:42:30-04:00April 25, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

Meghan O’Sullivan quoted in the Financial Times article, “Will American Shale Oil Rise Again?”

“Meghan O'Sullivan, the head of the geopolitics programme at Harvard's Kennedy School, says the shale revolution had bolstered the US internationally by, 'altering the global strategic environment in a way that made it more conducive to US interests.' "'The global energy abundance that was in large part due to American shale... helped US allies and, on the whole, tended to harm its adversaries, from Iran to Russia to Venezuela,' she adds..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-05-01T14:53:04-04:00April 24, 2020|Economy & Trade|

Dan Shapiro writes in Haaretz: “Will the Coronavirus Crisis Accelerate Israel’s West Bank Annexation – or Derail It?”

"The Israeli coalition government agreed to by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leader of a shrunken Blue and White party, Benny Gantz, will make its first priority addressing the health and economic challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak. In fact, for the first six months, at least according to its own declarations, it will deal with fallout from the pandemic almost exclusively, as an emergency government. "But one unrelated issue is carved out for potential consideration during this period: Israel’s unilateral [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:47:42-04:00April 23, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Julie Smith writes with Garima Mohan in War on the Rocks: “In A Crisis, A Fumbling America Confirms Europe’s Worst Fears”

"Europeans have been watching America’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic with alarm. Last week’s news that the United States plans to freeze funding for the World Health Organization was seen as yet another piece of evidence that the United States is shedding its traditional, global leadership role. In over one hundred interviews, emails, and texts with policymakers, analysts, and colleagues across the European continent, we have found universal shock and disappointment over both America’s failure to lead in this crisis and [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:45:45-04:00April 23, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michèle Flournoy contributes to Der Spiegel article, “How the Coronavirus Is Changing the World”

"Coming out of this pandemic, the U.S. will be judged by two primary factors: First, how well did we handle the pandemic domestically, both in terms of public health outcomes and the economic impact? Secondly, what role did the U.S. play on the global stage orchestrating the international response to the pandemic? "If you look at the U.S. role historically, you can see that previous administrations stepped up to deal with the AIDS epidemic and led the international community in addressing [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-04-24T10:48:52-04:00April 23, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense, Geopolitical Perspectives|

Julie Smith quoted in Business Insider article, “The Coronavirus Pandemic Could Leave ‘A Profound Economic Impact’ On the Pentagon”

"'The bigger question among Democrats that we haven’t sorted out... is to determine exactly what to do with the defense budget,' with different camps advocating freezing, reducing, or imposing drastic cuts, said Julianne Smith, a foreign-policy adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, at the same event. "'That’s a debate that the party’s going to have to have, and frankly all Americans need to have,' Smith added..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-05-01T14:49:49-04:00April 23, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense|

About Rebecca Skoryanc