January 2026 Newsletter
Inaugural Sedona Forum – Tokyo Highlights Importance of U.S.-Japan Alliance
The McCain Institute and the International House of Japan (I-House) hosted the inaugural Sedona Forum – Tokyo on January 15, marking the first international expansion of the McCain Institute’s Sedona Forum. The theme, “The U.S.-Japan Alliance — Advancing Freedom, Innovation and Security in Asia and Beyond,” covered topics ranging from China and Taiwan, global and diplomatic security challenges, technology and energy, national security, and more.
January Highlights
McCain Institute’s NSCT Fellowship Concludes 2025 Program with United Kingdom Module
The 2025 McCain Institute National Security & Counterterrorism Fellows concluded their final module of the year in the United Kingdom. Read more.
McCain Institute Now Accepting Applications for 2026 McCain Global Leaders Program
McCain Global Leaders 2026 applications are now open. Entering its fifth year, the MGL program supports character-driven leaders from around the globe who embody Senator John McCain’s legacy of serving a cause greater than oneself. Read more.
McCain Institute Co-hosts Event at Hudson Institute: “Why Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Matter for America”
A panel of experts, including McCain Institute's Alexis Mrachek, discussed how Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia can continue to provide comprehensive information access following a funding battle in the United States. Read more.
McCain Institute Releases Videos from Sedona Forum – Tokyo
All panel videos from the McCain Institute’s inaugural Sedona Forum - Tokyo are now available to view online. Read more.
ICYMI: Josh Rogin’s Latest Washington Post Intelligence Column Highlights McCain Institute’s Inaugural Sedona Forum – Tokyo
Washington Post Intelligence’s Josh Rogin wrote about how the McCain Institute united U.S. and international experts with Japanese officials, lawmakers, journalists, and academics to discuss the U.S.-Japan economic relationship at the inaugural Sedona Forum - Tokyo: Read more.
Africa and Middle East McCain Global Leaders Visit Kenya to Explore Regional Approaches to Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
The McCain Global Leaders visited Kenya to explore how community leaders and policymakers maintain Kenya’s relatively young democracy through conflict resolution. Read more.
Blog: Sixteen Were Freed. More Than 1,600 Remain — and They Will Shape Russia’s Future
The more than 1,600 political prisoners Russia fears tell us more about Russia than its rulers do, write McCain Institute's Pedro Pizano and Free Russia Foundation's Natalia Arno in a new blog. Read more.
Sedona Forum – Tokyo Agenda and Speakers Announced
The McCain Institute and the International House of Japan (I-House) released the agenda and speaker lineup for the Sedona Forum – Tokyo Read more.
Blog: Strength of Character – A McCain Leadership Experience
“To get things done, you need to be of unquestionable character.” In a new blog, McCain Global Leader Ajay Krishnan reflects on his MGL Leadership Experience. Read more.
McCain Institute & Human Rights Organizations Submit Case of Abducted Ukrainian Children to UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
The McCain Institute and global partners have submitted the case of more than 20,000 abducted Ukrainian children to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Read more.
McCain Institute Congratulates Its Courage & Leadership Awardee for Receiving Nobel Peace Prize
The McCain Institute congratulates María Corina Machado, a fearless leader of Venezuela’s democratic movement, for being awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Machado was awarded the McCain Institute's Courage & Leadership Award at the 2025 Sedona Forum. Read more.
January Media
Dr. Evelyn Farkas joined C-SPAN's Dasha Burns to recount some of the biggest foreign policy stories of 2025.
SPOTTED in Politico Playbook: The McCain Institute's inaugural Sedona Forum - Tokyo.
McCain Institute's Amb. Cindy Dyer joined other former Combatting Human Trafficking U.S. Ambassadors-at-Large to discuss the need for renewed bipartisanship to fight human trafficking.
"Our allies help us extend our power globally," said McCain Institute's Evelyn Farkas on Arizona Horizon, discussing the importance of strong international partnerships, where the U.S. stands on Greenland, and possible new tariffs on U.S. allies.
"The smart way to go if you want international credibility...is to get other countries on board," said McCain Institute's Evelyn Farkas on Arizona Horizon on PBS, discussing how U.S. actions in Venezuela may shape future foreign policy.
On Bloomberg's Balance of Power, McCain Institute Executive Director Evelyn Farkas analyzed recent actions of the U.S. government in Venezuela.
"I don't have any reason to believe that this trilateral will force Russia to compromise," said Evelyn Farkas on Sunrise on The Hill, discussing the U.S. effort to strengthen Ukraine’s position ahead of upcoming diplomatic talks.
“Russia has shown no willingness to compromise,” said McCain Institute’s Evelyn Farkas on NewsNation, discussing that a resolution to Russia's incursion on Ukraine, “involves a compromise that involves security for Ukraine and Ukraine is not going to give up territory that they are still fighting for.”
McCain Institute's Evelyn Farkas joined BBC News to discuss the latest movements toward creating lasting peace in Ukraine.
Events:
Register for the
Sedona Forum Livestream
Bringing Americans Home
On Wednesday, July 24, the McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) co-sponsored the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation’s release of its sixth annual edition of “Bringing Americans Home,” an independent research report that provides new information about the ongoing crisis of Americans taken hostage abroad by terrorists or wrongfully detained by nation-states.
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