From surveillance-capable applications to data-harvesting platforms, foreign adversaries—particularly the Chinese Communist Party—are exploiting technology to access American data at an unprecedented scale. This information can give adversaries decisive strategic advantages and give foreign competitors an unfair footing over American businesses in global markets.

Ensuring that American businesses do not rely on foreign technology is both a privacy issue and a national security imperative. Policymakers should reform incentive structures to make national security profitable for American businesses.

Join Representative Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) for a fireside discussion with Senior Fellow Jason Hsu to discuss the congressman’s bill, H.R. 7509, the Deterring Adversarial Access to Americans’ Data Act, and Congress’s role in facilitating public-private understanding in an era of great power competition.

For the first time in its history, Kyrgyzstan will serve on the United Nations Security Council—winning a non-permanent seat for the 2027–28 term in a vote at the UN General Assembly. It is only the second time a Central Asian nation has held this position, after Kazakhstan in 2017–18.

The election reflects a broader shift in how the international community understands Central Asia’s place in global affairs. Long treated as a peripheral region, the Eurasian heartland is increasingly central to questions of connectivity and the future of the international order.

Ambassador Edil Baisalov, Kyrgyzstan’s newly appointed envoy to the United States and former deputy prime minister, joins Senior Fellow Ken Moriyasu for a conversation about why Kyrgyzstan sought this seat, how it campaigned, and what it hopes to accomplish. What does Kyrgyzstan’s election signal about Central Asia’s rising profile—and what does a small, landlocked nation bring to one of the world’s most consequential tables?

As technology, supply chain resilience, and economic security become increasingly central to United States foreign policy and national security, trade and investment policy has taken on a leading role in advancing American interests abroad. Critical minerals, energy, artificial intelligence, and other strategic sectors have emerged as key areas for collaboration with allies and partners as Washington works to align markets, guard against adversarial manipulation, and leverage economic gains to create national security advantages.

Join Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade William Kimmitt for a discussion with Executive Vice President Joel Scanlon on how the Trump administration’s trade and investment strategy is reshaping economic partnerships with allies across areas like industrial policy, digital services, and strategic competition.

For the first time, the United States is preparing to deter two nuclear adversaries­­­, Russia and China. In today's post-New START environment, US adversaries remain committed to weakening American resolve and undermining Washington’s commitment to its allies.

China is engaging in a historic expansion of its nuclear forces and has diversified its delivery systems across land, sea, and air. According to US Department of War estimates, China could possess up to 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035.

Despite the costs associated with President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has continued to devote significant resources to modernizing its nuclear program.

Join Senior Fellow and Keystone Defense Initiative Director Dr. Rebeccah Heinrichs and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration Brandon Williams for a discussion on the administration's priorities in strengthening the US nuclear enterprise.

Hudson Institute is pleased to host the 2026 annual Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture. Established in 2000 as a joint activity of the Czech and Slovak Embassies, the American Friends of the Czech Republic, and Friends of Slovakia to commemorate the Velvet Revolution, the choice of speaker and topic alternates annually between the Czech and Slovak groups. Click here for a list of all previous lectures.

This year’s speaker is H.E. Andrej Droba, Slovak ambassador to the United States, in one of his first major addresses since assuming his position in November 2025. In his lecture, "America250 and Slovak–US Relations," Ambassador Droba will celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence and reflect on the enduring partnership between Slovakia and the United States as he looks for opportunities to increase transatlantic cooperation.

The lecture will be followed by a fireside chat with Matt Boyse, senior fellow, Center on Europe and Eurasia.

In The Code as Witness, which was published on June 9, Dr. Steven Quay shows how the genetic material of SARS-CoV-2 points directly to human engineering. He warns that irresponsible and unregulated gain-of-function research is accelerating, and that future pandemics may be far deadlier than COVID-19. The book also lays out policy recommendations that could prevent such outbreaks while still allowing important research to continue.

Join Hudson as David Asher sits down with Dr. Quay for a fireside chat. Asher will bring his national security, intelligence, and investigative experience to one of the most consequential questions of our time: how the pandemic began, what the genetic evidence shows, and how the United States can prevent the next biological catastrophe.

Senator Roger Marshall, who has been a leading voice for stronger oversight of high-risk biological research, will open the program by framing the stakes for Congress, national security, and public health.

Today’s wars in Ukraine and the Middle East show how adaptation is becoming the central military competition. The side that can field new tactical or technical innovations faster gains an advantage and can impose compounding costs on enemy forces. To win this competition, the United States Department of War implemented a new strategy to accelerate new capabilities by better leveraging the private sector and focusing government research where it is uniquely needed. These changes are beginning to bear fruit on the battlefield.

Artificial intelligence is arguably the Pentagon’s top technology priority. In addition to speeding planning and decision-making, AI is enabling a more adaptable US force and powering the next generation of autonomous systems. And AI is only one of several technologies where the US military can benefit from America’s world-leading commercial innovation sector.

Please join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Dan Patt for a conversation with Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael about the Department of War’s efforts to bring AI to the battlefield and implement an innovation strategy that makes the most of America’s commercial and government research sectors. Following a fireside chat with the under secretary, a panel will discuss how adaptation is a new source of military advantage.

This event is part of Hudson Institute’s Apex Defense Conference series, which highlights the intersection of technology, military operations, and strategy. Hudson Institute hosts the Apex Conference in collaboration with Clarion Defence. To learn more about APEX 2027 participation or sponsorship opportunities, please visit apexdefense.org.