Today’s Battlegrounds

Turning U.S.-Canada Tension Into Opportunity with H.R. McMaster and David MacNaughton | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution

Join former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, David MacNaughton, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss Canada and US cooperation on Arctic and North American security, prospects for deepening economic cooperation after the 2026 review of the USMCA trade agreement, and opportunities to turn recent tensions into opportunities for both nations.

Reflecting on current geopolitical forces shaping North America and the Western Hemisphere, MacNaughton provides his insight on shifting dynamics in Venezuela, China’s expanding economic and strategic footprint in Latin America, and the implications of political rhetoric and rising tensions on the US–Canada relationship. Exploring a forward-looking agenda centered on continental defense and resilience, including the modernization of NORAD, missile defense, and the protection of critical infrastructure, McMaster and MacNaughton highlight the growing importance of energy security, critical minerals, and resilient supply chains as pillars of economic and national security.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Ambassador David MacNaughton is a veteran Canadian diplomat, business leader, and public affairs strategist who served as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States from 2016 to 2019. Over a career spanning more than four decades, MacNaughton has been a central figure in Canadian public policy and cross-border economic relations. Prior to his diplomatic service, MacNaughton led strategy in Canadian public affairs and investment banking. Following his tenure in Washington he served as President of Palantir Canada from 2019 to 2025.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Value of the 'Linchpin' Alliance Between the US and South Korea with Ambassador Chung Eui-yong | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Join Chung Eui-yong, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the future of the US–ROK alliance in the face of North Korea’s accelerating weapons programs, the implications of a growing Russia–North Korea partnership, and how Washington and Seoul can strengthen deterrence while preserving space for diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Chung Eui-yong is the former minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Korea. Minister Chung joined South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1971. He later served in the National Assembly and contributed to deliberations over the US–Korea Free Trade Agreement. In 2017, President Moon Jae-in appointed him director of the National Security Office, where he coordinated South Korea’s national security strategy. He went on to serve as foreign minister from 2021 to 2022, helping steer South Korea’s alliance management, North Korea policy, and regional engagement.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Cultivating Agency, Character, and Citizenship: A Visit to Vertex Partnership Academies | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Join Ian Rowe, cofounder of Vertex Partnership Academies and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Hoover senior fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss education reform and the importance of cultivating agency, character, and civic understanding in young people. Recorded at Vertex Partnership Academies in the Bronx, the conversation explores how education can help students develop responsibility, meaning, and moral discernment.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Ian Rowe is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where his work centers on education, upward mobility, family formation, and adoption. Mr. Rowe holds degrees from Cornell University and Harvard Business School. He is the author of Agency: The Four Point Plan (F.R.E.E.) for All Children to Overcome the Victimhood Narrative and Discover their Pathway to Power. The FREE acronym stands for Family, Religion, Education and Entrepreneurship. Rowe is cofounder of Vertex Partnership Academies, a network of virtues-based International Baccalaureate public charter high schools launched in the Bronx in 2022.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Israel's Wars and Prospects for Peace in the Middle East | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Join Mr. Zohar Palti, former director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau at Israel’s Ministry of Defense, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss Israel’s security posture after the October 7 attacks, strategic lessons of the war in Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and beyond, and the implications of the Trump-brokered peace agreement for Israel, the broader Middle East, and global security. Drawing on decades of experience within Israel’s security and intelligence community, Palti assesses the prospects for regional stability, the future of Hamas in Gaza, emerging opportunities and risks in Lebanon and Syria, and the critical role of U.S.–Israel cooperation in countering Iranian aggression. Palti reflects on the necessity of sustained American engagement in the Middle East and the shared responsibility of democratic nations to confront terrorist and proxy threats while upholding the democratic principles they seek to protect.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Zohar Palti is the former Director of the Policy and Political-Military Bureau at Israel’s Ministry of Defense. He previously led the Mossad Intelligence Directorate and served as the agency’s Chief of Counterterrorism, following twenty-five years in the Israel Defense Forces Intelligence Corps. Mr. Palti has also been a senior research fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center and is currently a fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded him the Medal for Distinguished Public Service for strengthening U.S.–Israel strategic defense cooperation.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Inside Iran’s Islamic Republic: Myths, Failures, and What Comes Next | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Join Dr. Ali Ansari, Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they examine the nature of the Islamic Republic, Western misunderstandings about the regime and why engagement strategies have repeatedly failed, and the widening gap between the regime’s propagandized image of strength and the vulnerabilities revealed in recent conflicts. Drawing on recent events, including the 12-day Israeli campaign exposing profound intelligence and air-defense failures, Ansari examines the IRGC’s struggles to reconstitute its terrorist and militia proxies in the region while confronting severe financial and economic crises at home, including shortages of electricity and a growing water crisis in the capital city of Tehran. Despite these mounting pressures, Ansari reflects on Iran’s potential futures, from the emergence of new leadership to the enduring resilience of the Iranian people.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Ali Ansari is a Professor of Iranian History, the Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews, and a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. As a leading historian of modern Iran, Dr. Ansari combines archival research with a deep understanding of Iranian political culture and nationalism. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and President of the British Institute of Persian Studies. His books include Modern Iran since 1797 and Confronting Iran.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Restoring Agency: President Sagasti on Peru and Latin America’s Future | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Join Dr. Francisco Sagasti, former President of Peru, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss lessons from Sagasti's leadership, regional challenges to freedom and prosperity in Latin America, and his latest books, which explore the life and relevance of Sir Francis Bacon’s philosophy for today’s international system. Reflecting on Peru’s turbulent political landscape and its role in a new era of geopolitical competition, Sagasti shares his perspective on the recent ouster of President Dina Boluarte and his advice to the interim leadership. He explores the roots of popular discontent in Peru, the demands of citizens seeking accountable governance, and his concerns about sovereignty from an economic and cognitive warfare perspective. Despite these pressures, Sagasti discusses his continued confidence in democracy and the qualities that must be rekindled in political leadership to sustain it for future generations.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dr. Francisco Sagasti served as President of Peru from November 2020 to July 2021. Sagasti previously served in the Peruvian Congress where he headed his party’s parliamentary caucus and chaired the Science, Technology, and Innovation Committee. He has been Head of Strategic Planning at the World Bank and President of the United Nations Council on Science and Technology.  Sagasti has taught at the Wharton School, IE Business School, and the University for Peace in Costa Rica. Sagasti is currently a professor at Pacífico Business School in Lima. He is the founder of the Peruvian think tank GRADE.  He is a prolific scholar who has authored over 25 books and hundreds of academic papers. Sagasti holds engineering degrees from the National Engineering University in Peru and Penn State University, as well as a PhD in operations research and social systems sciences from the University of Pennsylvania.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

The Strength of Alliances: Australia’s Crucial Role in a Free and Open Indo-Pacific | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Join Justin Bassi, Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and former National Security Advisor to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss threats to international security, Australia’s role in the Indo-Pacific, and opportunities for Canberra and Washington to work together to promote peace and prosperity. Viewing China’s military and technological rise as Australia’s top security threat, Bassi discusses the ambitions of the Chinese Communist Party leaders and how Australia and its allies can compete more effectively to counter CCP aggression and prevent a war with China. The US and Australia sharing a deep history since World War I, Bassi reflects on how more recent internal debates are playing out within Australia regarding Trump administration policies, how we can promote a positive agenda to advance our mutual interests, and his views on the future of AUKUS – the alliance between Australia, the US and the UK to strengthen defense and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Justin Bassi is the Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. From 2015 to 2018, Bassi served as National Security Adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, where he was responsible for security policy and operations, including counter terrorism, foreign interference, and cyberspace. He then served as the Cyber Intelligence Mission Manager at the Office of National Intelligence, and later as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne. Prior to this role, Bassi served as National Security Adviser to the Attorney-General. He spent over a decade in the Australian Public Service, including in the intelligence community and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

 

Nando Parrado: Resilience, Rugby, and Leading Your Life | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Join Fernando “Nando” Parrado, businessman, author, and internationally recognized speaker, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster as they discuss endurance, crisis leadership, and the remarkable will to survive. Surviving one of the most harrowing events of the twentieth century: the 1972 crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, tragically losing his mother, sister, and many rugby teammates, Parrado reflects on how the values and work ethic his family engrained in him, which was nurtured on the rugby pitch, helped build the resilience needed to withstand 72 days in extreme conditions and lead a mission across the Andes to save the remaining survivors. Author of international best-seller, Miracle in the Andes, Parrado describes why he chose to publish the book 36 years after the ordeal, how he went on to create a second life after the trauma, why rugby instills life lessons like no other sport in the world – moral clarity, collective responsibility, self-confidence, and his inspiring advice for young people today.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Fernando “Nando” Parrado is a businessman, author, and internationally recognized speaker whose extraordinary life story began with one of the most harrowing survival events of the twentieth century: the 1972 crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 in the Andes Mountains.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

 

Iceland: A Strategic Ally in the North Atlantic | Today's Battlegrounds | H.R. McMaster | Hoover Institution

Join Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Iceland’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they discuss the evolving U.S.-Iceland relationship, Icelandic-European relations, and the continued security challenges of the Arctic. Appointed as the Special Envoy of Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine, Gylfadóttir provides an insight into her vital role in raising awareness of the challenges facing the children of Ukraine, the driving forces behind Putin’s behavior, and why sustained support for Ukraine from Europe and the US is critical. Iceland a founding member of NATO, Gylfadóttir discusses the importance of NATO to transatlantic security from an Icelandic perspective, the importance of the transatlantic relationship in the fight against Russia, China, North Korea and Iran, as well as current priorities for the US-Iceland relationship and why Americans should experience a visit to the country of Iceland.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir is the Special Envoy of Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine. Gylfadóttir previously served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2021 to 2023 and once more in 2024, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs from November 2023 to April 2024, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation from 2017 to 2021. She was the youngest woman to serve as a minister. Since 2016, Gylfadóttir has represented the Independence Party in Iceland’s parliament, the Althing, and was appointed vice-chairman of the party in 2018. She holds a master’s degree in law from Reykjavik University.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

President Pavel On How Europe And America Can Build A Better Future | Today's Battlegrounds | Hoover Institution

Join Petr Pavel, President of Czechia, and Hoover Senior Fellow, H.R. McMaster, as they discuss Czechia’s evolving role in European security, opportunities to restore peace to Europe and prevent future conflicts, and a vision of a positive agenda for a transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe. Reflecting on the importance of collective defense, Pavel provides his thoughts on the transatlantic response necessary to counter Chinese aggression and the shadow war Russia is waging against Europe, the crucial role the US plays in NATO, as well as the importance of the European Union to Czechia, what we can expect from Poland’s presidency in the Council of the EU and why Americans should be interested in European security.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

President Petr Pavel is a retired army general and former chairman of the NATO Military Committee. President Pavel previously served as the highest-ranking officer in the Army, Chief of the General Staff. In 2022, Pavel ran for president as an independent nominated by citizens. Since taking office in 2023, he has prioritized national security, European integration, and bolstering Czechia’s role in global affairs. President Pavel graduated from the Army College in Vyškov in 1983 and holds a Master’s from King’s College, London.

H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 25^th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.