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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260409T140000
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DTSTAMP:20260506T083938
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SUMMARY:Critical Rare Earth Minerals & Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
DESCRIPTION:Competition on critical rare earth minerals has moved to the forefront of the global geopolitical landscape with many policy leaders and industry experts contending that this issue could be the defining feature of the international security and economic system for decades ahead. In April 2026\, the World Affairs Council of Austin in collaboration with the Department of International Affairs/Political Science at St. Edward’s University will feature a two-part forum exploring the role of critical rare earth minerals and global geopolitics and risk. \nLeading expert speakers from policy and industry will offer perspectives on forming optimal government and business strategies for managing and mitigating risk in rare earths. Discussion will range from consequences of distribution of\nresources\, processing and production\, supply chains\, sustainable development and potential for global competition and cooperation. In part two of the forum\, St. Edward’s University students will share research insights on critical rare earths throughout various regions of the world with the Austin World Affairs Council community. \nModerated by Dr. Sharyl Cross\, Distinguished Professor of Political Science/International Affairs\, St.\nEdward’s University \nPanelists:\n-Steve Clemons\, Editor at Large\, The National Interest & Co-Founder of PRISM\n-Melissa Sanderson\, Director\, American Rare Earths Limited & Co-Chair\, Critical\nMinerals Institute\n-Rodger Baker\, Chairman S4GEO-Society for Geopolitics \nThe second follow-up session will be held on Thursday April 16 at 12:00 noon where St. Edward’s University Geopolitical Risk students will present their regional semester project team research (Latin America\, Africa\, Europe-Eurasia) on Geopolitics and Critical Earths.  This session will be co-sponsored by World Affairs Council Austin in cooperation with the St. Edward’s University student Global Affairs Group (St. Edward’s University campus\, in the St. Andre multipurpose room) \n  \n \nPanelists \nSteve Clemons  \nSteve Clemons is Editor at Large of The National Interest and has served as Editor at Large of The Hill\, The Atlantic and Semafor as well as in senior editorial roles at National Journal and Quartz. He is also editor and publisher of the popular political blog\, The Washington Note\, and host of “The Bottom Line” which airs on the global network of Al Jazeera English. Clemons serves on the Advisory Board of Future U.S. and CareLab\, and is Chairman & CEO of Widehall LLC\, a strategic communications and global policy events firm that translates ideas into high-traction impact.  Steve recently co-founded PRISM aimed to facilitate optimal policy and strategy development in priority areas including critical rare earths. Clemons writes and speaks frequently on politics of all sorts and matters of foreign policy\, defense\, and domestic and international economic policy. He was Founder and Senior Fellow of the American Strategy Program at the New America Foundation\, where he previously served as Executive Vice President. He has also served as Executive Vice President of the Economic Strategy Institute\, Senior Economic & International Affairs Advisor to Senator Jeff Bingman (D-NM) in the US Senate and was founding Executive Director of the Nixon Center (now the Center for the National Interest). He serves on the GLOBSEC International Advisory Board. \n  \nMelissa Sanderson \nBringing extensive experience in both policy and industry\, Melissa “Mel” Sanderson served in the US Foreign Service contributing to shaping policy across Latin America\, Europe\, and Africa and played an instrumental role in re-establishing US-DRC relations post-conflict while stationed at the American Embassy in Kinshasa\, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the mining industry\, Mel served as Vice President for Africa operations and subsequently Director of International Affairs for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. developing and executing global strategies that merged government relations with sustainable development initiatives. Her work extended to managing Freeport’s engagement with Indigenous communities in North America\, ensuring that corporate activities aligned with best practices in Environmental Social Governance/ESG and stakeholder relations.  In 2020\, Mel founded Sanderson Consulting LLC\, where she advises companies on sustainable development and ESG solutions. In addition to her consulting work\, Mel serves as a Director for American Rare Earths Limited\, where she focuses on government relations\, ESG\, and strategic vision. As the company’s Interim President for North America in 2023\, she led a business transformation\, enhancing investor relations and expanding the company’s profile within the critical minerals sector. Her leadership has positioned American Rare Earths as a key player in the rare earths value chain\, with an emphasis on sectors such as defense and technology.  Melissa has contributed to The Wall Street Journal\, Financial Times\, Reuters and spoken throughout the international community reflecting her standing as a leading expert in critical minerals and geopolitics. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Critical Minerals Institute (CMI)\, where she drives innovation and policy in the critical minerals sector\, focusing on securing sustainable supply chains and advancing ESG principles. \n  \nRodger Baker \nRodger Baker\, based in Austin\, is the Executive Director of Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics.  Rodger guides the company’s analytical process\, to include the development of their understanding and application of Stratfor’s proprietary methodology grounded in the study of applied geopolitics and intelligence analysis.  He established the widely accessed RANE analysis platform bringing insights to the defense community\, industry and academics on critical geopolitical developments and risk assessment.   Rodger leads the MacKinder Forum on Geopolitics and the S4GEO Society for Geopolitics.  He teaches in the area of Applied Geopolitics at Florida Atlantic University.  Baker is a leading expert on North Korea and Asian/Indo-Pacific geopolitics\, defense and geoeconomics.   He has dedicated extended periods living and working in and around the Korean peninsula. His core emphasis is the multidisciplinary approach to geopolitics and the evolution of international relations to develop mid- and long-term forecasts to assist companies\, governments and other globally engaged organizations in making informed decisions. Rodger holds a master’s degree in military history from Norwich University and regularly engages with academic institutes and research groups around the world briefing executives and corporate boards as well as delivering keynote addresses to a wide range of industry groups. He regularly appears in media including CNN\, BBC\, CBC\, CNBC International\, The Wall Street Journal\, The New York Times\, The Economist\, Reuters and The Associated Press. \n  \nSharyl Cross\, Session Moderator \nDr. Sharyl Cross is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University.  She served previously in the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch Germany\, U.S. Air War College at Maxwell AFB and as Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the United States Air Force Academy.  Professor Cross earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California\, Los Angeles with concentrations in international relations\, comparative politics (Soviet Union/Russia/ Eurasia/Eastern Europe and Latin America regional concentrations)\, and American foreign and security policy. She held appointments as a U.S. Fulbright Visiting Senior Research Scholar and Professor at the Institute of USA and Canada Studies and Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)\, Visiting Professor of Transatlantic Security and International Political Studies at Science-Po Lille\, Kennan Institute Woodrow Wilson Center\, post-Doctoral Fellowship Scholar at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and resident fellowship scholar and consultant at the RAND Corporation.  Dr. Cross published China\, Russia\, and Twenty First Century Global Geopolitics co-authored with Paul J. Bolt Oxford University Press and has published extensively on issues of international security\, foreign policy and geopolitics in leading professional peer reviewed journals.  She is offering a new course in 2026 on Applied Geopolitical Risk in support of a certificate concentration for the programs in Political Science and International Affairs at St. Edward’s University. Her students\, engaged this semester in regional research initiatives exploring the relevance of rare earth minerals to global geopolitics and risk\, will present their conclusions next week at a session sponsored by World Affairs Council Austin in cooperation with the Global Affairs Society at St. Edward’s University.
URL:http://wacaustin.org/event/rare-earth-minerals-geopolitical/
LOCATION:ONLINE
CATEGORIES:Geopolitics
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacaustin.org/wp2015/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/minerals-geopolitical-risk.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260416T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260416T130000
DTSTAMP:20260506T083938
CREATED:20251220T221342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260409T230142Z
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SUMMARY:Student Presentations on Critical Rare Earth Minerals & Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
DESCRIPTION:Join the World Affairs Council of Austin along with others interested in geopolitics\, political risk\, and critical rare earth mineral issues to hear from St. Edwards University students as they present conclusions from their semester-long major projects on geopolitical risk. \nGiven the turbulence in today’s world\, governments & businesses are increasingly prioritizing assessing geopolitical risks & seeking strategies for mitigation & management of potential crisis\, shock or destabilizing circumstances that might adversely impact policy\, diplomacy or business investment. A general consensus exists among experts in political risk that neither qualitative or quantitative approaches provide absolute certainty as tools of prediction. However\, there is much that focused analysis of geopolitical conditions\, national level circumstances & trends can offer as resources in considering development & management of policy & strategy in any given regional or domestic context. \nThe St. Edwards students have studied the complex array of interconnected transnational trends in geopolitics\, economics\, socio-cultural & environmental conditions that could be consequential for stability at the global & regional levels or within specific nation-state contexts. Factors such as major power competition & conflict\, cyber & hybrid challenges\, propensity for societal polarization\, corruption\, terrorism\, crime\, legislation within nations restricting investment or leading to expropriation\, sanctions\, debt\, vulnerability to environmental devastation are all issues that can affect stability & policy execution\, markets & investment. \nThe students’ coursework also took into account material & reputational risks generated by non-state actors & individuals with increasing capacity to rival even nation-states in presenting threats to policy & business engagement throughout the world. Student presentations will focus on perspectives from both academics & industry\, country case studies & form regional project teams assessing reciprocal geopolitical risk in rare earth minerals during the forum sponsored in cooperation with World Affairs Council Austin. \n 
URL:http://wacaustin.org/event/risk/
LOCATION:St Edwards University St Andre Apartments Multipurpose Room\, 3001 South Congress Avenue\, Austin\, TX\, 78704\, United States
CATEGORIES:Geopolitics
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacaustin.org/wp2015/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Political-Risk-2026.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260420T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260420T200000
DTSTAMP:20260506T083939
CREATED:20260327T233353Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260328T001335Z
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SUMMARY:World Now: The Iran War - What We Know\, What Comes Next
DESCRIPTION:With the U.S. and Iran now in open conflict and the world’s energy supply under threat\, the stakes could not be higher – or more uncertain. \nJoin us on WorldNow with Jim Falk as we sit down with Steven Cook\, senior Middle East expert at the Council on Foreign Relations; Amb. Deborah Jones\, U.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya; and Beth Sanner\, CNN National Security Contributor and former Deputy Director of National Intelligence. \nWe’ll explore what’s happened so far in the conflict with Iran\, what may happen next\, and the war’s long-term impact on the region and beyond. \nThe details:\nWhen: Monday\, April 20th | 7pm CDT\nWhere: Zoom Webinar\nREGISTER HERE\n  \nAs this program will be simulcast with KSFR’s The Forum\, it will begin one hour later than our usual start time. The Zoom link will open at 7:00 PM CDT\, and the program will get underway at 7:04 PM CDT. \n\nFeaturing\n \nSteven A. Cook \nSenior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies\, Council on Foreign Relations \nSteven Cook is Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies and director of the International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). He is an expert on Arab and Turkish politics as well as U.S.-Middle East policy. Cook is the author of The End of Ambition: America’s Past\, Present\, and Future in the Middle East.  \n\nAmb. Deborah Jones\nU.S. Ambassador (ret.) to Kuwait and Libya \nAmbassador Deborah Jones retired from the U.S. Department of State in 2016 with the rank of Career Minister following a 34-year diplomatic career that included assignments in Argentina\, Iraq\, Tunisia\, Syria\, Ethiopia\, the United Arab Emirates\, and Turkey\, as well as service as U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait and Libya. \n\n \nBeth Sanner\nDeputy Director of National Intelligence (2019-2021)\, National Security Contributor for CNN \nBeth Sanner\, a leading commentator and analyst of global affairs\, is a national security contributor for CNN\, director of geopolitics and strategy at International Capital Strategies. As Deputy Director of National Intelligence from April 2019 to March 2021\, Beth was the nation’s top intelligence analyst and also served as President Trump’s intelligence briefer during his first term. \nIn an intelligence career spanning three decades\, she was director of the President’s Daily Brief\, vice chair of the National Intelligence Council\, and a senior executive in CIA’s Directorate of Analysis\, before being appointed DDNI. She also served on the White House National Security Council staff and at the State Department. \nIn 2021\, Beth received the Presidential Rank Award\, the highest honor granted to civil servants\, for her leadership role in support of U.S. national security and the Distinguished Intelligence Service Medal\, the Intelligence Community’s highest award. \n\nModerated by\n\nJim Falk is President Emeritus of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. Now residing in Santa Fe\, NM\, he is Vice Chairman of the Board of Global Santa Fe. Inaddition to hosting WorldNow with Jim Falk\, Jim produces and hosts The Forum\, a weekly talk show on KSFR-FM\, Santa Fe Public Radio. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. \n\nPresented by\n \n 
URL:http://wacaustin.org/event/world-now-the-iran-war-what-we-know-what-comes-next/
LOCATION:ONLINE
CATEGORIES:Geopolitics,Middle East
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://wacaustin.org/wp2015/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Portrait-Amb-Deborah-Jones.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="World Affairs Council of Connecticut":MAILTO:info@ctwac.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260422T200000
DTSTAMP:20260506T083939
CREATED:20260406T204212Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T223700Z
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SUMMARY:Globalist Coffeehouse: Rare Earth Minerals and Global Geopolitics
DESCRIPTION:REMs (Rare Earth Minerals) and REEs (Rare Earth Elements) and their role in the global economic system and even national security will be defining issues in the decades ahead. The terms are used interchangeably. But the name is a misnomer\, as they are not rare. It is the mining and\, most importantly\, the processing into a component in magnets that can be effectively used in everything from EVs to data centers and AI\, which is complicated. Also\, there are national security issues; for example\, a single F-16 carries 100 lbs. of  REMs. \nThe mining process is very destructive\, but in Africa\, it is also economically viable for multinational corporations. What does it mean that the US has essentially pulled out of Africa and access to this resource? Currently\, the supply chain is on the other side of the world. China dominates the market\, producing 90% of the refined product and effectively setting the price. What are the implications of this situation? How does this play into the larger national security issue? \n\n\nPlease join us for a very interesting and surprisingly relevant discussion.
URL:http://wacaustin.org/event/globalist-coffeehouse-rare-earth-minerals-and-global-geopolitics/
LOCATION:5280 Burger and Taphouse\, 7032 Wood Hollow Dr\, Austin\, TX\, 78731\, United States
CATEGORIES:Geopolitics,Member Social,Security
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