"What Should Keep You Up At Night? Top Geopolitical Threats and Trends"

Beth Sanner, Former Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration

In her comments at our May dinner, Anne Marie Slaughter posed the question of what shape the world of the 21st century might take, and what role the US might play in its leadership.  As one would expect, she proved again to be prescient.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February set off a series of geopolitical changes around the world. NATO switched almost immediately from declining cohesion and relevance to strategic centrality and expansion.  Tensions with China increased as did their apparent interest in Taiwan.  OPEC, contrary to prior practice, did little to stem the rise in oil prices, even as they (along with disruptions to supply chains and food exports) brought the dual threats of inflation and recession.

Our September speaker, Beth Sanner, is particularly well positioned to give us an overview of threats and trends around the world, having served from 2017-2019 as the President’s Intelligence Briefer.

During a 35-year intelligence career, Ms. Sanner served in a wide range of leadership, staff, policy, and analytic positions in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council, and the U.S. Department of State.  She ended her government career in 2021, having served as the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Mission Integration for two years, during which she oversaw collection, analysis, and program oversight throughout the Intelligence Community Previously Ms. Sanner was the Director of the President’s Daily Brief, Vice Chair of the National Intelligence Council, and a senior leader in CIA’s Directorate of Analysis.  She is currently a senior fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, a professor-in-practice at University of Maryland’s Applied Research Lab for Intelligence and Security, and a CNN national security analyst.

She holds degrees from The American University and the Naval War College.