National Security Law Today National Security Law Today

In our first episode of the Seabed Mining as a National Security Threat series, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette welcome on Matthew Gianni, Co-Founder, Political and Policy Advisor for the Deep Sea Conservation Commission. With over 30 years experience in marine conservation, Matt breaks down the fundamentals of seabed mining with a focus on the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ). What laws and treaties govern the CCZ? And why is it of strategic interest to our allies and enemies alike?

Matthew Gianni is the Co-Founder, Political and Policy Advisor for the Deep Sea Conservation Commission:
http://www.savethehighseas.org/about-us/board-of-directors/matthew-gianni/

Seabed Mining as a National Security Threat is a five-part series on the national and global security risks of deep sea mining. The ocean floor contains vast quantities of minerals critical for powering today’s technologies, from rechargeable batteries to advanced defense applications. The Clarion Clipperton Zone is ground zero, as companies and countries alike race to stake claim over this new mining frontier. Yet the potential for environmental damage is great––scraping the ocean floor to extract rare minerals could destroy deep sea habitats, dismantle ocean ecosystems, and dig us into far worse problems than supply and demand. In this series we’ll discuss the laws of mining the sea, who’s getting involved, the private sector’s role, and what a seabed mining future might look like for a fragile planet earth.

It’s a new year for national security law! To kick things off, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette dive into the latest international topics, from advanced Russian missile testing, to developments on the Horn of Africa, tensions in the Red Sea, and the announcement of our upcoming series on the world of seabed mining and its importance to national security law.

The second largest country in Africa, Sudan, recently experienced a coup. This is the second upset to Sudan’s ruling structure in less than 36 months. This week, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette are joined by Darin Johnson, professor of law at Howard University, who helps unpack these recent developments in Sudan while continuing our series on the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa. Why should Americans take interest in Sudan? What is Sudan’s history with international terrorism as well as counterterrorism operations? And what does the future hold for the U.S.-Sudan relationship?

Darin Johnson is a professor of law at Howard University:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IquHYEY-7F0O6FZ70wQn9ueqAGpuWP9i/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115287310253365681610&rtpof=true&sd=true

Part 2 of 2 – The Tigray War in Ethiopia, which began in November of last year, has killed thousands, displaced millions, and has fueled a devastating humanitarian crisis in the region. This week, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette are joined by Cameron Hudson of the Atlantic Council to discuss the latest developments in this ongoing civil war. What approach is the Biden administration taking to address this crisis? And what actions could draw the U.S. further into the conflict?

Cameron Hudson is a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center:
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/cameron-hudson/

The Tigray War in Ethiopia, which began in November of last year, has killed thousands, displaced millions, and has fueled a devastating humanitarian crisis in the region. This week, co-hosts Elisa and Yvette are joined by Cameron Hudson of the Atlantic Council to discuss the latest developments in this ongoing civil war. How does Ethiopia’s political history contribute to today’s conflict? How are China, Iran and other nations involved? And why is Ethiopia’s instability on the Horn of Africa so crucial to U.S. national security?

Cameron Hudson is a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center:
https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/cameron-hudson/

It’s our 200th episode! To celebrate we’ve invited back one of our very first guests to the podcast, Brian Egan. This week we’re discussing illicit finance, sanctions, and whether our methods of detecting and penalizing kleptocracy are up to par. How do kleptocrats hide their assets? What national security tools are currently at play? And how can sanctions be helpful or harmful in this process?

Brian Egan is a partner at Skadden:
https://www.skadden.com/en/Professionals/E/Egan-Brian

NSLT Ep. 158, “Kleptocracy and National Security with Tom Burgis”:
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/law_national_security/nslt/20210121-kleptocracy1/

United States v. Miller:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/307/174

H.R. 5525 ENABLERS Act (Introduced version):
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr5525/text

H.R. 402 CROOK Act:
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/117/hr402/text

ABA Afghanistan Response Project:
https://www.americanbar.org/advocacy/rule_of_law/afghanistan-response/