29
September 2015
Past Event
Does Putin’s Move on Syria Make Russia the New Middle East Power Broker?

Does Putin’s Move on Syria Make Russia the New Middle East Power Broker?

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
September 29, 2015
Default Event Image
29
September 2015
Past Event

1015 15th Street, N.W., 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Speakers:
Lee Smith

Former Senior Fellow

michael_doran
Michael Doran

Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East

Tony Badran
Tony Badran

News Editor, Tablet

In coordination with Iran, Russia has been steadily building up its position inside of Syria. President Vladimir Putin has sent combat planes, ships, technicians, engineers, marines, and special forces units. Although American policymakers have suggested that the Russians are there to fight the Islamic State, Moscow has made its intentions clear—they are there to defend Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. And by building an air force base and expanding its current naval facility at Tartus, Putin’s larger purpose appears to challenge the United States as the Middle East's power broker.

How will Russia’s incursion into Syria shape the ongoing conflict? How will it affect the three American allies on Syria’s borders, Israel, Jordan, and Turkey? Does Putin’s increasingly assertive behavior signal the erosion of American influence in the Middle East? If so, how would the next White House change course?

On September 29th, Hudson Institute hosted a timely discussion of these issues with an expert panel moderated by Lee Smith and featuring Michael Doran, Hannah Thoburn, and Tony Badran.

Related Events
02
September 2025
Virtual Event | Online Only
The Sudan Conflict: Causes, Ripple Effects, and Current Trajectory
Featured Speakers:
Susan Stigant
Ambassador Nureldin Satti
Dr. Haim Koren
Moderator:
Joshua Meservey
Getty Images
02
September 2025
Virtual Event | Online Only
The Sudan Conflict: Causes, Ripple Effects, and Current Trajectory

Hudson Institute, in collaboration with the Israel-Africa Institute, is conducting a series of webinars analyzing the East Africa region. 

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Susan Stigant
Ambassador Nureldin Satti
Dr. Haim Koren
Moderator:
Joshua Meservey
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Freeing China’s Political Prisoners
Featured Speakers:
Sarah Makin
Corey Jackson
Frances Hui
Jewher Ilham
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
Getty Images
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Freeing China’s Political Prisoners

Join Hudson for a discussion on the situation of political prisoners across China, what the US can do to advance their cause, and potential reforms to Washington’s political prisoner advocacy framework.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Sarah Makin
Corey Jackson
Frances Hui
Jewher Ilham
Moderator:
Olivia Enos
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Digital Front Line: Building a Cyber-Resilient Taiwan
Featured Speakers:
Jason Hsu
Congressman Rob Wittman
Admiral (Ret.) Legislator Richard YK Chen
Dr. Anshu Roy
Joseph Saunders
taiwan flag cyber
04
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Digital Front Line: Building a Cyber-Resilient Taiwan

Join Hudson Senior Fellow Jason Hsu for a discussion with Congressman Rob Wittman on the role of cyber resilience in the defense of Taiwan.

taiwan flag cyber
Featured Speakers:
Jason Hsu
Congressman Rob Wittman
Admiral (Ret.) Legislator Richard YK Chen
Dr. Anshu Roy
Joseph Saunders
09
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Southeast Europe’s Growing Role in European Energy Security
Featured Speakers:
Zhecho Stankov
Dr. Robert D. Atkinson
Marius Koeppen
Ruslan Stefanov
Moderator:
Matthew Boyse
Getty Images
09
September 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Southeast Europe’s Growing Role in European Energy Security

Join Hudson Senior Fellow Matt Boyse for an event with Bulgarian Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation President Dr. Robert D. Atkinson, and Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) Energy and Climate Program Analyst Marius Koeppen. 

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Zhecho Stankov
Dr. Robert D. Atkinson
Marius Koeppen
Ruslan Stefanov
Moderator:
Matthew Boyse