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Michael Walsh

@greatermiddleeast

Sr. National Security and Foreign Policy Columnist / Lead Researcher on US national strategic plans / Occasional Lecturer at Foreign Service Institute / Former Sr Comm Mgr at Microsoft/ Affiliate at Georgetown SFS / Views own.

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16.11.2024
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Latest posts by Michael Walsh @greatermiddleeast

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Dartmouth Needs To Mitigate Risks Of Trump’s Great Reform Agenda Campaign For Arctic Research – OpEd Last weekend, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Government is going to aggressively move forward with implementing the Great Reform Agenda in Higher Education. That announcement poses a m...

#Dartmouth is facing a potential backlash from #WhiteHouse. No matter where one stands on domestic #politics, Dickey Center appears partisan to conservatives. Why Sian Beilock should act to sever relationship with #Arctic institute before #Trump makes next move. www.eurasiareview.com/20102025-dar...

20.10.2025 02:06 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Secretary McMahon Should Consider Establishing a National Resource Center on Arctic Studies within the University of Alaska System The U.S. Department of Education needs to address the geographic bias against Arctic Studies and Pacific Studies in the NRC Program. That could start with the establishment of a Center for Arctic Stud...

New OpEd: US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon should address the geographic bias against #Arctic and #Pacific area studies in the National Resource Program. #ed #research #academic #alaska #hawaii

www.highnorthnews.com/en/secretary...

16.10.2025 00:39 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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A Quick Playbook for Congressional Oversight on Arctic Research Op-ed: It is clear that there are many Arctic research issues that warrant more engagement by the U.S. Congress, including potential non-compliance issues with statutory obligations, writes researcher...

My new commentary for High North #News in #Norway. Provides a playbook for Members of #Congress ti ramp-up their #oversight of US #Arctic research under #Trump Admin. www.highnorthnews.com/en/quick-pla... re: #climate #alaska #whitehouse #usarc #iarpc #nsf #ostp

10.10.2025 07:53 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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In the Arctic, the U.S. Shifts Focus From Climate Research to Security

Grateful to New York Times for opportunity to comment on #Arctic policy of #Trump Admin. My comments focus on #securitization of regional issues by #WhiteHouse. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/c... re: #climate #security #biden #greenland #foreignpolicy #nsf #polar #environment #navy #energy #immigration

10.10.2025 07:48 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Americans Need to Better Understand Where Trump Administration Stands on Arctic Research Americans need to better understand where the Trump Administration stands on Arctic Affairs and Arctic research.

New commentary argues, “Americans Need to Better Understand Where #Trump Admin Stands on #Arctic #Research.” That is because it is unclear what are the invalid and securitized issues according to #WhiteHouse. www.thearcticinstitute.org/americans-ne... re: #climate #alaska #science #policy #military

10.10.2025 07:44 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
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Arctic research should advance more than U.S. national security interests | Alaska Beacon The U.S. Government does not have a good grasp on the federally-funded research needs for advancing U.S. national interests in the Arctic. That became clear to me when the U.S. Arctic Research Commiss...

My first article was published in @alaskabeacon.com earlier this week. Explores my concerns that U.S. Government does not have a good grasp on the federally-funded #research needs for advancing US national interests in the #Arctic. re: #Alaska #NSF #IARPC #security

alaskabeacon.com/2025/09/23/a...

26.09.2025 12:32 👍 4 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
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Trump Administration’s Securitization of Arctic Affairs and Its Implications for U.S. Federally Funded Research The Trump Administration is in the process of securitizing Arctic affairs. "That will almost certainly have a significant impact on the future of U.S. federally funded research related to the Arctic",...

Excited to see my #OpEd on the #securitization of #Arctic affairs by #Trump Admin being published by #news outlets around the world! Nice to see Arctic research be recognized as an import issue. Unfortuante that it is because of US federal funding cuts. www.highnorthnews.com/en/trump-adm...

26.09.2025 12:27 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Nonprofit coordinating Arctic research will shut down as federal funding dries up The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States, which brings together academics from universities and government agencies, plans to close its doors.

Cited in #Alaska Public Radio (#NPR) #news story on effects of #NSF funding cuts on #Arctic #research. This month, US #Arctic Research Consortium (#ARCUS) will close its doors. Opened during Cold War. Will have impact on #Arctic researchers. re: #climate #seaice

alaskapublic.org/news/environ...

26.09.2025 12:14 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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State Department publications riddled with omissions and inaccurate info on Pacific island entries By Jayvee Vallejera The Facebook page of the U.S. Embassy in Palau is named U.S. Embassy Koror, which refers to the capital of Palau. However, the embassy’s official website says the embassy is actual...

Grateful to #Pacific Island Times for writing such a thoughtful #news story about my #data quality research project on #StateDept! As one might expect, they focus on errors in official publications related to the #Pacific Islands Region. re: #CANZPS

www.pacificislandtimes.com/post/state-d...

26.09.2025 12:09 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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What (Really) Went Wrong with (Africa) Strategy under Biden? Judd Devermont Asks Question, Dances around Answer, and Offers Valuable Context

#WhiteHouse: Over weekend, there was lots of talk about what went wrong with national security strategy under #Biden Admin. Even experts from #Africa and #Europe have weighed in. Covered in my column for Mail & Guardian. Reposted to #Substack: africanstudies.substack.com/p/what-reall... (re: #Csis)

05.05.2025 23:07 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Mcebisi Jonas takes up US envoy role, but faces potential diplomatic hurdles President Ramaphosa's appointment of Mcebisi Jonas as South Africa's Special Envoy to the US has drawn mixed reactions. While his business and political experience is praised, experts warn that Jonas'...

The new special envoy for South Africa likely will face an uphill battle given his prior remarks about President Trump … www.iol.co.za/business-rep...

14.04.2025 21:27 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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The Future of US-South Africa Relations - FPRI Events Join us for a discussion on the possible future direction of the US-South Africa relationship with FPRI's Africa Program Chair, Ambassador Charles Ray, Senior

Interested in South Africa? Today, the @fpri.bsky.social will be hosting a public webinar on the future of US-South Africa relations. A lot has already happened under the Trump Administration. And there are more challenges that need ti be overcome.

www.fpri.org/event/2025/t...

11.04.2025 05:05 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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White House Should Direct Department of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff to Review Strategic Choices on Embassy Crisis Response | Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University This article analyzes the role and preparedness of the U.S. Department of Defense in the conduct of global diplomatic security.

New Publication: After recent attacks on diplomatic missions to the DR #Congo, serious questions have been raised about whether #Trump Admin is adequately prepared for a significant attack on US embassies. smallwarsjournal.com/2025/04/10/w... #WhiteHouse #Pentagon #Marines #StateDept #Benghazi

10.04.2025 10:00 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Trump's pick as NZ envoy caught up in Pacific slip-up As Democrats block Donald Trump's diplomatic nominees, a seeming blunder may have moved his next ambassador to NZ to the back of the line.

The US Department of State responded to my earlier criticism published in The Post (New Zealand). However, the oversight will still carry significant diplomatic consequences for #Trump Administration.

newsroom.co.nz/2025/04/09/t...

08.04.2025 17:57 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Cold reality of mooted Swift bans for Israeli and South African banks Any attempt to prohibit access to the secure financial messaging network could backfire

Washington #News: Strong beliefs that #SouthAfrica banks used to make illicit transfers to #Iran and US designated #terrorist organizations (ie #HAMAS, #Hezbollah). Some talking about #SWIFT ban on #Israel banks. More likely economic #sanctions on South African ones. mg.co.za/thought-lead...

02.04.2025 14:24 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Trump administration might put AU and South Africa’s G20 membership into play Political analysts should pay more attention to the G20 Johannesburg Summit given Donald Trump’s bid to restore meritocracy and dilute diversity

The #Trump administration is committed to restoring meritocracy and promoting individuality in the international system. Those principle-based strategic goals pose a serious risk to the future involvement of the government of South Africa abd African Union in the #G20.

mg.co.za/thought-lead...

31.03.2025 13:10 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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White House Reviewing How Journalist Was Accidentally Added Into Group Chat on Houthi Strike The Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief was accidentally added to a Trump administration text chat discussing the renewed campaign of U.S. airstrikes on Houthi terrorists in Yemen in the hours after t...

#Signal: “Imagine you are an #Iran military officer, a #ChinA politician, or #ANC official. After you hear this story, you get approached by an intelligence officer from U.S. government or a close ally. Would you trust the USG and its allies with your life?” Walsh asked. www.ntd.com/white-house-...

30.03.2025 20:45 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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New Federal Maritime Commission inquiry could rock Pillars of Hercules in US-Spain relations the US Federal Maritime Commission launched an examination to identify any regulations, policies, or practices by other parties that create unfavorable shipping conditions in several choke points arou...

#Turmp: “Earlier this week, Federal #Maritime Commission launched an examination to identify other parties that create unfavourable shipping conditions in several choke points around the world. That carries significant risks for the future of US - #Spain relations.” mg.co.za/thought-lead...

30.03.2025 20:36 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Shipping inquiry raises stakes for US-South Africa relations A US policy expert warns that South Africa could face maritime sanctions and trade restrictions following a new Federal Maritime Commission inquiry, potentially further straining already tense US-SA r...

“A US policy expert has warned that the Federal Maritime Commission inquiry launched last week could pose significant risk for US-SA relations via potential shipping sanctions, at a time when relations between two countries were already at an all-time low.” www.iol.co.za/business-rep...

30.03.2025 20:33 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0

Federal Maritime Commission Investigation on Global #Maritime Choke Points: “With these investigations, once they’re initiated you can never be quite sure where they’ll go,” Michael Walsh, a visiting researcher at Granada University, told the Olive Press.

www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2...

30.03.2025 20:31 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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President Cyril Ramaphosa Should Consider Ordering South African Embassy in Washington to Scrub… It has been two weeks since U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, famously declared the South African Ambassador to the United States…

After expulsion of #SouthAfrica Ambassador by #Rubio, President #Ramaphosa Should Consider Ordering South African Embassy in Washington to Scrub Images of #Biden and #Rasool from Official Website.

medium.com/the-democrac...

30.03.2025 19:41 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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US and Spain careening toward a strategic breakdown - Asia Times Under the Trump administration, the future of US-Spain relations appears to be moving along a path to resolve a strategic paradox. On the one hand, the

Spanish PM #Sanchez is no fan of #Trump or his right-wing billionaire backers, putting a crucial strategic partnership in jeopardy …

asiatimes.com/2025/01/us-a...

01.02.2025 01:54 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Will the US Congress pull the Magnitsky sanctions trigger on South Africa? – The Mail & Guardian With President Donald Trump in office, there is strong political will to push back against the Brics nations

At the start of the #Trump administration, select conservative interest groups are working hard to convince the chairperson and ranking member of appropriate committees in the US Congress to issue joint requests on South #Africa under the Global #Magnitsky Act.

mg.co.za/thought-lead...

01.02.2025 01:42 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The Blogs: Rubio Must Realign Office of Palestinian Affairs From the blog of Michael Walsh at The Times of Israel

Due to America First Agenda, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will now need to re-evaluate the strategic alignment of how US diplomatic missions are organized around the world. That includes the Office of Palestinian Affairs. blogs.timesofisrael.com/rubio-must-r...

01.02.2025 01:41 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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The Blogs: Rubio Must Fix US Foreign Policy Planning From the blog of Michael Walsh at The Times of Israel

October 7 Attacks show that there is a clear and present need for the US Secretary of State Marco #Rubio to re-evaluate the policy guidance for the unclassified strategic plans of State Department …

blogs.timesofisrael.com/rubio-must-f...

01.02.2025 01:38 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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The Blogs: Israel & USA Need Diagonal Foreign Policy Planning From the blog of Michael Walsh at The Times of Israel

Governments of #Israel and #UnitedStates need to explore novel ways to better prepare their foreign services to make strategic choices in pursuit of shared winning aspirations. One way would be to conduct diagonal #foreignpolicy planning at multiple levels.

blogs.timesofisrael.com/israel-usa-n...

01.02.2025 01:36 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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The AP establishes style guidance on the Gulf of Mexico and Mount McKinley President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday shortly after his inauguration calling for the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed the Gulf of America and Denali, the tallest peak in the United State...

“We will use Gulf of Mexico, while acknowledging the name Gulf of America in our copy. We will also use Mount McKinley rather than Denali.” - AP apnews.com/article/ap-s...

23.01.2025 23:45 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 5 📌 2
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Michael Walsh: We need Greenland Over the last eight years, the United States government has become increasingly concerned about the independent statehood movements in the self-governing...

#News: “The government — #Biden administration as well as incoming #Trump administration — recognizes that full independence of #Greenland and #FaroeIslands would provide #Russia and People’s Republic of #China with a once in a generation policy window”

www.post-gazette.com/opinion/insi...

20.01.2025 07:04 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
MICHAEL WALSH | Winter is coming: South African elites may face sanctions in first year of Trump administration It seems absurd that there are South African foreign policy experts who believe the US election results are likely to have a 'minimal' impact on US-SA relations, writes Michael Walsh.

#News: It seems absurd that there are #SouthAfrica #foreignpolicy experts who believe the US #election results are likely to have a 'minimal' impact on US-SA relations when #Magnitsky #sanctions request are moving forward against South African elites. www.timeslive.co.za/amp/sunday-t...

20.01.2025 06:59 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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When Israel and Turkey go to war - Asia Times Over the next three months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have a policy window in which to try to go for broke in Syria. The key question

Over the next 3 months, #Israel Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu will have a policy window to try to go for broke in #Syria. The key question that he has to ask himself is whether his government should push back against #Turkiye expansionism now rather than later.

asiatimes.com/2025/01/when...

20.01.2025 06:57 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0