Geopolitical Perspectives - WestExec Advisors

Dennis Ross writes with David Makovsky in The Washington Post: “Trump’s Peace Plan Won’t Have A Chance Unless Israel Shows Restraint on Annexation”

"The Trump administration has now unveiled its Mideast peace plan. While we should expect plenty of debate about its terms, which represent a sharp departure from past U.S. peacemaking efforts, another development has essentially pushed the plan into the background. Israeli officials have announced that they plan to annex all West Bank settlements next week. If they do, this new phase of the process will be dead before it really starts. "The peace plan was supposed to take the interests of [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-31T16:08:05-05:00January 29, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Rachel Ellehuus quoted in The Economist article, “A Weaker Post-Brexit Britain Looks to America”

"Still, American diplomatic and military insiders tend to pooh-pooh the idea that the relationship is in crisis, or that France could supplant Britain. 'The uk is still our most capable partner militarily, and our most valuable partner politically,' says Rachel Ellehuus, who handled European and nato policy at the Pentagon until 2018..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-31T16:06:35-05:00January 20, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michèle Flournoy testifies before the House Armed Services Committee on DOD’s role in the competition with China

Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry, distinguished members of the House Armed Services Committee, it is truly an honor to testify before you today on the Department of Defense’s role in the United States’ strategic competition with China. U.S.-China Competition Broadly Strategic competition between the United States and China is multi-faceted, with economic, technological, political, ideological, and military dimensions. Any successful approach to this competition must take account of each of these dimensions and neglect none. Therefore, before I outline the [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T11:04:24-05:00January 15, 2020|Cybersecurity & Defense, Geopolitical Perspectives, Press Releases|

Julie Smith quoted in Foreign Policy article, “Why Is the United States So Bad at Foreign Policy?”

"According to Julianne Smith of the German Marshall Fund of the United States: 'The Chinese have started brazenly claiming that it is China, not the United States, that shares more values with Europe. [They] also frequently remind European audiences that unlike the United States, China believes in climate change and multilateralism, a message that is especially powerful in a place like Germany.' "Now consider this: At a moment when the U.S. State Department is in free fall, China is upping its [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T22:01:29-05:00January 13, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Julie Smith writes in the Washington Monthly: “What the Next President Can Do to Save Our Alliances with Europe”

"The transatlantic relationship has suffered a series of near-fatal blows in recent years. President Trump has openly questioned America’s Article 5 commitment to defend any attacked NATO member, dubbed the European Union a 'foe,' and repeatedly disparaged some of America’s closest allies—for example, calling Germany 'captive to Russia.' The people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. France and Germany, instead of joining forces to chart a future course for the European project, have spent years trapped between [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:55:51-05:00January 13, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Danny Russel quoted in The New York Times article, “U.S. Applauds Tsai’s Re-election as Taiwan President: Pompeo”

"Daniel Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia until early in the Trump administration, said the extent of Trump's interest in Taiwan had seemed to be as a customer for U.S. weapons systems and as leverage on Beijing in the trade war. "'At times that has meant moving in Taipei’s direction; at other times it has meant backing off demonstrations of support,' he said. "'Now that a mini-trade deal has at last been reached with Beijing, Trump may have fewer [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T22:02:44-05:00January 11, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Tony Blinken on CNN’s “Amanpour”

"Former U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Antony Blinken says he suspects Iranians will look for other ways to exact a cost on the US for the killing of Soleimani..." Watch the full interview here: Full Interview

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:06:52-05:00January 7, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Meghan O’Sullivan writes in Foreign Affairs, “The U.S.-Iraqi Relationship Can Still Be Salvaged”

"One of the most dramatic consequences of killing Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani is unfolding at a rapid pace: the severing of ties between the United States and Iraq. There is still time to salvage this most critical relationship, but doing so will depend on the willingness and ability of the Trump administration to change the tone of the conversation in very short order. The current U.S. approach—calling for sanctions against Iraq if it demands the exit of American forces—risks [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:01:59-05:00January 7, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Michael Camilleri quoted in POLITICO article, “U.S. plans for Venezuela hit turbulence as Maduro tries Assembly takeover”

"Now, 'the trend lines point toward increasing authoritarian consolidation, a stronger Nicolas Maduro and a more fragmented opposition,' said Michael Camilleri, who served in the State Department and the National Security Council during the Obama administration. 'Those in the opposition who had deluded themselves into thinking Trump was going to invade and solve all their problems are coming to the realization that’s not going to happen.' "In a sense, the status quo works for Trump politically..." Read the full article here: [...]

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:11:46-05:00January 5, 2020|Geopolitical Perspectives|

Julie Smith quoted in The New York Times article, “Blocked in U.S., Huawei Touts ‘Shared Values’ to Compete in Europe”

“'The Chinese have started brazenly claiming that it is China, not the United States, that shares more values with Europe,' said Julianne Smith of the German Marshall Fund in Washington. “'Chinese scholars and officials also frequently remind European audiences that unlike the United States, China believes in climate change and multilateralism, a message that is especially powerful in a place like Germany,' she said..." Read the full article here: Full Article

Rebecca Skoryanc2020-01-16T21:39:27-05:00December 27, 2019|Geopolitical Perspectives|