Fault Lines National Security Institute

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss President Biden hosting Kenyan President William Ruto for a state visit - the first state visit a U.S. president has held for a president of an African nation since 2008.  Last night’s state dinner also marked the designation of Kenya as a U.S. Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA).  This dinner took place during President Ruto’s three-day state visit that coincides with Kenya’s imminent deployment of forces to Haiti, as part of a U.N.-led, largely U.S.-financed effort to try to calm the ongoing humanitarian crisis. 
Why has the United States designated Kenya a MNNA now? Is this elevation an attempt by the Biden Administration to make up for recent failures to engage with the continent? Can the United States do more to increase engagement?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://apnews.com/article/state-dinner-kenya-biden-african-visit-74de529133275da0a146cf61cc211d82 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/2024/05/23/kenya-state-dinner-biden-obama/ 
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp4421nx727o 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/21/kenya-america-ruto-africa/ 
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/22/kenya-non-nato-ally-status-visit-00159578 
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/23/politics/biden-kenya-president-state-visit-china/index.html 
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2024/05/23/a-new-military-era-for-the-us-and-kenya-kind-of-00159744 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/czOdT2BL52E

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss this week's deadly riots in the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia where there is upheaval over a constitutional amendment passed by lawmakers in Paris expanding suffrage in the territory and diluting indigenous voting power.  French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting the territory today and has deployed an additional 1,500 troops to quell the violence in the strategically important territory which is the 3rd largest nickel producer in the world. 
Is France’s constitutional amendment a genuine democratic push or an attempt to wield control of resources? Is France’s strong-arm approach to the protests a good strategy? How are China, Russia, and Azerbaijan impacting the unrest in New Caledonia?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-new-zealand-send-evacuation-flights-new-caledonia-2024-05-21/ 
https://www.wsj.com/world/behind-new-caledonias-riots-a-fight-over-vast-reserves-of-nickel-a73f6301 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/17/world/asia/new-caledonia-france-protest.html 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/15/why-riots-new-caledonia-france-voting 
https://www.politico.eu/article/new-caledonia-france-brink-civil-war-nickel-gun-macron/ 
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20240517-why-did-france-block-tiktok-to-quell-unrest-in-new-caledonia 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/ZsB9RBS6JZQ

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss this weekend’s fatal helicopter crash in the mountainous border region between Azerbaijan and Iran that led to the deaths of both the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, and Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian. The helicopter also carried the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, a senior cleric from Tabriz, three crew members, and a Revolutionary Guard official. 
How does this crash impact the succession order of Iran's Supreme Leader? How does this accident impact Israeli policy and the wider region? Does the accident provide an opportunity for the Biden administration to change its Iran policy?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/05/19/world/iran-president-crash
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/19/middleeast/iranian-president-raisi-helicopter-intl
https://apnews.com/article/iran-president-ebrahim-raisi-426c6f4ae2dd1f0801c73875bb696f48 
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/who-is-mohammad-mokhber-irans-interim-president-2024-05-20/ 

Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/kVt9zIMPxIk


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Beijing at the head of a large delegation to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Russian offensive toward Kharkiv. This marks the first international trip by President Putin since his recent re-election to his 5th term as President of Russia. 
What message does this trip send? What role did the U.S. play in driving Russia closer to China? How does this trip impact U.S. partners and alliances?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/15/russia-vladimir-putin-china-xi-meeting/ 
https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-visit-chinas-xi-deepen-strategic-partnership-2024-05-15/ 
https://www.reuters.com/world/top-takeaways-putins-trip-china-2024-05-16/ 
https://www.euronews.com/2024/05/16/putins-visit-to-china-heres-what-you-should-know 
https://www.ft.com/content/f77028c8-c960-4d10-b0eb-4c511924a4d5 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/nxuxAlqzQXo


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Bishop discuss … copper! A recent Wall Street Journal article highlights the increasing competition between China and the United States over obtaining the critical mineral, which is used in everything from electric vehicles, solar panels, to cutting-edge military equipment, and is found across Latin America and in Central Africa.
What is the Biden Administration's strategy to increase the US’ acquisition of copper? Is copper mining sustainable? How can the United States compete with China on the critical mineral front?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.wsj.com/business/why-the-world-has-gone-cuckoo-for-copper-ef8c385a 
https://maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-and-china-back-competing-rail-corridors-to-zambia-s-copper-belt 
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/china%E2%80%99s-pursuit-copper-changing-latin-america-210171 
https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/panamas-supreme-court-rules-against-first-quantum-mine-bab0cfa2 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
@BishopGarrison
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/yNgReztNdYg


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, and Morgan discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Hungary, where Xi received a warm welcome from Hungarian Prime Minister Vicktor Orban.  After their meeting, Xi and Orban announced that China and Hungary had elevated ties to an “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership” and Orban endorsed China's peace plan for Ukraine, going against the rest of the NATO alliance. 
How will the deepening relationship between Hungary and China impact the NATO alliance? What does an “all-weather” partnership mean? How does Hungary endorsing China's peace plan impact wider NATO support for Ukraine?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/chinas-xi-jinping-hungary-discuss-ukraine-infrastructure-2024-05-09/ 
https://www.rferl.org/a/xi-hungary-orban-european-tour-pillar-new-world-order/32939244.html 
https://www.foxnews.com/world/nato-ally-endorses-chinas-ukraine-peace-plan-beijing-applauds-model-european-diplomacy 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/09/world/europe/xi-jinping-china-hungary-orban.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare 
https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-xi-jinping-hungary-china-partnership-electric-vehicles-investments-cooperation/ 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@morganlroach
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/_8yFbqkUfYs

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.