Hudson Institute Events Podcast

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.

The United States–Zimbabwe relationship has been strained for decades, in part due to the government’s violent farm invasion campaign that began in earnest in 2000. Harare’s refusal to compensate most of the farmers whose land was taken is still a significant barrier to improving the bilateral relationship.

Join Senior Fellow Joshua Meservey as he hosts a panel of experts to discuss the history of land expropriation in Zimbabwe, the status of the land compensation agenda, and how policymakers can rectify an issue that bedevils US-Zimbabwe relations.

Since the onset of Operation Epic Fury, Europe’s response has been cautious and divided, revealing real strain within the transatlantic alliance. While leaders in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Southern Europe have ruled out direct military participation—insisting this is “not our war”—others, including Spain and Greece, have declined to support U.S. operations altogether. The result is a Europe aligned with Washington’s concerns about Iran, but hesitant to fully commit.

Is this a temporary divergence, or the beginning of a deeper realignment?

To explore this question, former Czech Ambassador to Israel and national security advisor, now a nonresident senior fellow with Hudson Institute's Center on Europe and Eurasia Tomáš Pojar joins Michael Doran, Director of Hudson’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, for a timely conversation on Europe’s strategic posture, alliance cohesion, and the future of Western coordination in the region.

For over a year, the Republic of Moldova has advanced economic reforms to improve the country’s business environment and attract investment. The government prioritized deregulation and digitalized public services, while also helping businesses access finance. Key sectors, such as electrical equipment manufacturing and agriculture, received government support, and service exports, particularly in information technology, expanded rapidly. Meanwhile, Moldova is cooperating with international partners to diversify supply chains and position itself as a reliable hub for logistics, energy, and digital infrastructure. These efforts will allow the country to support regional stability and assist with Ukraine’s future reconstruction. 

Join Hudson as Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization Eugen Osmochescu speaks on these and other issues.

As President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping prepare to meet in April, striking a favorable trade deal is top of mind. But trade shouldn’t be the only priority. China currently imprisons several political prisoners who are important to the United States government—including Chinese Christian Pastor Ezra Jin, Uyghur doctor Gulshan Abbas, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, and many others. Several of these prisoners have family members who are American citizens and want to be reunited. Ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting, Washington needs to call for the unequivocal release and safe return of political prisoners.

Join us at Hudson Institute to discuss how advocates, lawmakers, and the US government can prioritize the release of political prisoners across China.