Events at USIP

Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Ph.D., explores how India is cautiously observing Beijing’s nuclear intentions while calculating the potential risks to regional security in her new USIP special report, “Assessing India’s Perceptions of China’s Nuclear Expansion [https://www.usip.org/publications/2025/01/assessing-indias-perceptions-chinas-nuclear-expansion].” On March 4, USIP hosted a virtual conversation with Rajagopalan that looked at India’s perceptions of China’s nuclear expansion, the advancements that may be most consequential for regional security, and the potential consequences of China's nuclear build-up on the U.S.-India bilateral relationship. SPEAKERS Sameer Lalwani, Ph.D. Senior Expert, South Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace Robert Peters, Ph.D. Research Fellow, Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense, The Heritage Foundation Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Ph.D. Resident Senior Fellow, Australian Strategic Policy Institute Daniel Markey, Ph.D., moderator Senior Advisor, South Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace   For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/indias-perceptions-chinas-nuclear-advancement [https://www.usip.org/events/indias-perceptions-chinas-nuclear-advancement]

On January 30, USIP and the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy hosted a conversation reflecting on the history and legacy of religious engagement in peacebuilding. The discussion examined key accomplishments, assessed global trends, and explored bold new strategies for strengthening diplomacy, security and peacemaking through religious engagement. SPEAKERS Kirsten Evans Former USAID Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships under the Trump Administration Douglas M. Johnston, Ph.D. Founder and President Emeritus, International Center for Religion and Diplomacy Palwasha Kakar Acting Director, USIP, Religion and Inclusive Societies Program David Little, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Harvard Divinity School and Former Senior Scholar, Religion, Ethics and Human Rights, USIP Peter Mandaville, Ph.D. Former USAID Director of the Center for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships under the Biden Administration Martine Miller Interim President, International Center for Religion & Diplomacy   For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/bridging-divides-power-religious-engagement-global-diplomacy [https://www.usip.org/events/bridging-divides-power-religious-engagement-global-diplomacy]

On January 23, USIP hosted a conversation with leading Vietnamese and U.S. experts on what the next year might hold for Vietnamese politics, society and external relations — including how the country’s partnerships with the United States and other powers have affected development.  SPEAKERS Hai Hong Nguyen Fulbright Scholar, American University Lena Le Fulbright Scholar, Stimson Center Dien Luong Ph.D. Student, University of Michigan; Visiting Fellow, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore Mark Sidel University of Wisconsin-Madison and International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) Andrew Wells-Dang, moderator Senior Expert, Southeast Asia, U.S. Institute of Peace   For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/outlook-vietnam-2025 [https://www.usip.org/events/outlook-vietnam-2025]

As America prepares to inaugurate Donald J. Trump as the 47th president, the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) was proud to host Passing the Baton 2025: Securing America’s Future in an Era of Strategic Competition on January 14. This flagship, bipartisan event brought together national security leaders from across the political spectrum to mark the peaceful transfer of power and the bipartisan character of American foreign policy. PASSING THE BATON: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS * The Honorable Michael Waltz National Security Advisor-designate of the United States * The Honorable Jake Sullivan National Security Advisor of the United States * Stephen J. Hadley, moderator Former National Security Advisor   For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/passing-baton-2025 [https://www.usip.org/events/passing-baton-2025]

As America prepares to inaugurate Donald J. Trump as the 47th president, the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) was proud to host Passing the Baton 2025: Securing America’s Future in an Era of Strategic Competition on January 14. This flagship, bipartisan event brought together national security leaders from across the political spectrum to mark the peaceful transfer of power and the bipartisan character of American foreign policy. PANEL DISCUSSION: MOBILIZING TECHNOLOGY, OLD AND NEW * James Carafano, Ph.D. Senior Counselor to the President and E.W. Richardson Fellow, The Heritage Foundation * The Honorable Tarun Chhabra Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Technology and National Security, The White House * Mariano-Florentino (Tino) Cuéllar President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace * Kiron K. Skinner Taube Family Chair Professor, Pepperdine University; W. Glenn Campbell Research Fellow, Hoover Institution; Advisor to the President, The Heritage Foundation * Ambassador Adrian Zuckerman, moderator Of Counsel, DLA Piper   For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/passing-baton-2025 [https://www.usip.org/events/passing-baton-2025]