SE Valley Times

Worsening climate change and escalating tensions with China are two of the biggest issues affecting the future of the U.S., according to several experts who addressed a national security conference held by Arizona State University this week.

The 10th annual Future Security Forum was held Monday and Tuesday in Washington, D.C. The event is sponsored by ASU and the New America think tank, in collaboration with Security + Defense PLuS.

The forum gathered policymakers, government and military leaders, experts, and analysts to discuss what global security will look like over the next decade.

The partnership with New America, and the forum, are ways that ASU translates its expertise into action, according to Jim O’Brien, senior vice president of university affairs and chief of staff to ASU President Michael Crow.

“This partnership is a way that the university is attempting to step out and reach more people with more ideas that have real impact,” he said. “We have fantastic ideas in the institution, and we have fantastic people, but we have to find pathways and mechanisms to carry that out into the world.”

Over the course of two days, panelists touched on issues surrounding war, climate change, pandemics, and more.

**A new Cold War with China and the war in Ukraine**

Dmitri Alperovitch, founder and former CTO of CrowdStrike, said that the U.S. is now in a Cold War with China, much like it was with the Soviet Union decades ago, with competition for supremacy, an arms race, a technology race, and a space race.

The one difference is the deep economic relationship the U.S. has with China that it never had with the Soviet Union. He said that it’s crucially important for the U.S. to help maintain Taiwan’s independence not only for its economic importance but also for its strategic role.

Meanwhile, Russia is not ready for peace, according to Evelyn Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia.

“For now," she stated "the battlefield has to be shaped further; the political environment has to be shaped further; and the economic environment needs to be shaped further to incentivize the Russians to actually sit at the negotiating table in a serious fashion.”

Farkas believes Putin is waiting to see who will be elected president of the U.S. “He's banking on...that ultimately...the West will grow weary regardless of what happens in our elections," she added.

**Climate change and refugees**

Climate change is forcing the U.S. to change its perception of refugees as victims of persecution according to Elizabeth Campbell deputy assistant secretary Bureau of Population Refugees Migration in US Department State

Much migration at Southwest border driven by people can no longer farm home areas because extreme heat drought

“One biggest problems … do not conceptual legal operational frameworks government intergovernmental system respond effectively” she said

And current policy assumes once conditions stabilize refugees go home

“We acknowledge migration itself climate adaptation tool” Campbell said

Peter Schlosser vice president vice provost Global Futures ASU urged fast action preparing effects climate events such typhoons

“We just my view normalizing paying enough attention something catch near future” he said

Melting ice could raise sea level several feet

“Ninety percent exchange goods internationally goes across ocean By definition all port infrastructure shipping sea level So imagine raised nine feet” he said “We even started think means”

**Planning for a pandemic**

George Poste chief scientist Regents Professor Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative ASU painted grim picture lessons learned COVID-19 pandemic

“I think bottom line learned little least terms implementation” he said “But broader issue quite remarkable quickly gone ‘out sight out mind’ social-cultural issue also policy issue”

Poste listed many failures pandemic including inability quickly develop test lack medical-supply stockpiles disrupted supply chain lack investment public health poor communication irresponsible behavior media

“Biggest single thing first wave Trump administration pernicious corrosive effect media always wanting ‘gotcha’ moment” he said “I would love see new administration actually establish cabinet secretary biosecurity And just pandemics food water ecosystems climate very complex remit”

**AUKUS industry challenges**

Three years ago United States Australia United Kingdom created security partnership called AUKUS strengthen advanced defense capabilities including helping Australia develop long-range subs powered nuclear energy

Security + Defence PLuS initiative PLuS Alliance partnership between ASU King’s College London University New South Wales S+D PLuS provides research educational offerings events support AUKUS

Matt Hulver vice president knowledge enterprise initiatives ASU Knowledge Enterprise said ASU always thinking about how make impact “We impacts university I think S+D PLuS impacts desire unless partnering across many sectors includes industry” he said

Workforce development critical defense industry according Ashley Schneider director AUS/UK emerging markets HII “Global stability really deterrence deterrence really industrial capability And industrial capability having workforce work Whether making widgets small-to-medium enterprises Australia assembling testing operating nuclear power submarines workforce” she said “We need get students interested working defense interested working nuclear OK”

Chris Montferret vice president strategy business development maritime strategic systems General Dynamics Mission Systems agreed push more awareness defense careers “We spend lot energy new hires get understand mission why mission important fact lives stake what means strong defense strong deterrence strategy” he said “That’s one area curricula augment start align closely mission”