The Week at CSIS: The Speeches, Discussions, and Events from April 24— April 28
CSIS hosts over 2,000 events a year, from major public speeches to small briefings. Join us here for an inside look at the events of the week.
4.24: Report Launch: “The Other Side of the World”
China’s growing interests in the Middle East, and the United States’ enduring interests in the Middle East, create challenges for two of the world’s most powerful nations. Should they seek more active collaboration? Are their goals for the future of the Middle East compatible? The discussion involved the implications of increasingly robust China-Middle East ties for U.S. interests, from the new Brzezinski Institute Report: The Other Side of the World: China, the United States, and the Struggle for Middle East Security.
4.24: ASTMH and CSIS: Alan J. Magill Malaria Eradication Symposium
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and CSIS convened the inaugural Alan J. Magill Malaria Eradication Symposium. The gathering honored the life of the late Dr. Alan J. Magill, who inspired us with his vision of the achievable defeat of malaria. Alan was former president of ASTMH, director of the malaria program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The symposium consisted of three panels: progress towards malaria eradication and the critical role of the U.S., innovative science in support of elimination and countering resistance, and the role of the private sector, including faith based organizations, in malaria elimination.
4.25: The CSIS-Pertamina Banyan Tree Leadership Forum with Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan
The CSIS Southeast Asia Program and Energy & National Security Program launched two new initiatives focusing on energy in Southeast Asia, supported by Indonesia’s PT Pertamina. General (Ret.) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, discussed global trends in energy policy and Indonesia’s energy policies within the context of Indo-Pacific regional dynamics.
General (Ret.) Pandjaitan was appointed Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs in July 2016. He previously served as Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, and before that as Chief of Staff to President Joko Widodo. General (Ret.) Pandjaitan has also served as ambassador to Singapore and as minister of industry and trade. He is the founder of PT Toba Sejahtra Group, an energy and mining firm, and served in Indonesia’s army from 1970 to 2000.
4.26: Careers in Global Development: Lester Munson
“Careers in Global Development” is a monthly series featuring U.S. senior-level, multilateral and NGO officials who have worked in the field of development for at least twenty years. The series is aimed at young professionals who are interested in working in development and includes a one-hour dialogue on both the specific expertise of the speaker, as well as the career path and influences along the way.
The event focused on specific areas of interest, including the role of humanitarian assistance in development and U.S. foreign policy; development as a tool to counter violent extremism; and sectoral issues such as food security, health, and education.
This session featured Mr. Lester Munson, Vice President, International at BGR Government Affairs. Lester joined BGR after a 26 year career on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch. He most recently served as the Staff Director for Chairman Bob Corker of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he led policy, oversight, legislative and communications efforts for a staff of 25 and negotiated committee priorities with the White House, the State Department and Congressional leadership. Previously, Lester was Chief of Staff in Senator Mark Kirk’s (R-Ill.), Washington, DC office.
4.26: Report Launch: Stuck in Limbo: Refugees, Migrants, and the Food Insecure in Djibouti
The Human Rights Initiative and the Global Food Security Project launched a report and discussed the linkages between human rights, food security, migration, and displacement in Djibouti.
Djibouti provides a window into the stresses and opportunities facing the international humanitarian assistance community. As a frontline country in a volatile region, Djibouti has dealt with a protracted refugee situation and high levels of poverty and food insecurity for decades, which is now exacerbated by an influx of Yemeni refugees and migrants and asylum seekers from Ethiopia and Somalia.The U.S. government alongside other actors must find the gaps in their current response as well as what opportunities this moment of crisis may create.
4.26: The CSIS-Pertamina Banyan Tree Leadership Forum with Josh Frydenberg
The CSIS Southeast Asia Program and Energy & National Security Program presented the Banyan Tree Leadership Forum with Josh Frydenberg, Australia’s Minister for Energy and the Environment. He discussed global trends in energy policy and how Australia’s energy policy fits within the regional dynamics of the Indo-Pacific.
Mr. Frydenberg was appointed Minister for Energy and the Environment in July 2016. He served previously in the ministry as Minister for Resources, Energy, and Northern Australia. Mr. Frydenberg has also served as Assistant Treasurer and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister. Mr. Frydenberg was first elected to the Australian Parliament in 2010 as the Member for Kooyong after a career in banking, law, and government.
4.27: Argentina at a Turning Point: An Address by President Mauricio Macri of Argentina
CSIS, the Inter-American Dialogue, and the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion with President Mauricio Macri of the Argentine Republic.
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