ACDIS: Arms Control & Domestic and International Security

Abstract:

Thomas Wuchte will discuss his experience at the Department of Defense & State, the importance of “soft power,” and in what concrete ways does strategic foresight help to counter transnational threats – particularly in Africa. His presentation will discuss the reluctance to embrace right-sized preventive diplomacy as it applies to intra- and interstate conflicts. By tampering with international development models – we will never get to strategic foresight if we lose focus on the need to empower Africa and other rising regions.

The new US National Security Strategy (NSS) landed in early December (2025). Since its release, it has been clear this strategy makes a radical departure from those before it – serving as a good example of the challenge of developing strategic foresight which complements past administrations. After 20+ years focused on the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) as the main transnational threat, the new strategy resurrects concepts such as the Monroe Doctrine, ends direct criticism of the war in and around Ukraine, focuses on a perceived need for change in Europe, and says too little about Africa. How will this affect long-term engagement and particularly Africa where much of the GWOT focus remains? His seminar will focus on 4 questions:

1. Africa, and specifically the Sahel, is a region about which few Americans care, and it is peer competitors who often provide the frameworks of institutional support. Does this matter in the fight against terrorism?

2. Maintaining strategic foresight with Africa: Despite the overwhelming hope that the rule of law and humanitarian approaches would be better received in Africa, has our (lack of) strategic foresight left the international order without direction for Africa?

3. The way forward is multilateralism: The ramifications of fragility shifts are most extreme in regions and countries which are both environmentally marginal and where governance is weakest – particularly in the Sahel. What can we do to overcome these barriers?

4. Supporting future foresight: Considering peer competitors as partners in Africa and the Sahel. Under the GWOT launched after 9/11, strategy and policy focus remain incomplete. Can we perhaps think about partnering again with Russia as this rules-based international order changes?

Thomas Wuchte is the founder of the Center for Multilateral Leadership, based in Washington, DC. His focus is on empowering multilateral collaboration for emerging security challenges -- working to balance resources for these new issues. The work is raising awareness among the competing interests that often overlook the conditions conducive to fragility at the expense of hard security. Tom is asking whether there can be a re-balancing of resources towards emerging challenges like climate fragility, water scarcity, future pandemics, and the impact of the loss of natural habitat. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and received a post-graduate degree in International Relations and Russian Studies from the University of Illinois. Tom has served in a variety of multilateral diplomatic postings related to arms control, nonproliferation, terrorism, mediation negotiations, and regional confidence building measures. Tom is the recipient of the U.S. Department of State's Highest Award for Excellence in International Security Affairs for his efforts to work collaboratively with international partners regarding nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction within the context of Security Council Resolution 1540.

Bio:

Mr. Thomas Wuchte is the Founder of the Center for Multilateral Leadership, based in the Washington, DC and Bangkok. He recently completed his assignment as the Executive Director for the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ) located in Valletta, Malta.  He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and received a post-graduate degree in International Relations and Russian Studies from the University of Illinois. He speaks German and Russian and Tom has served in a variety of multilateral diplomatic postings to arms control, nonproliferation, terrorism, mediation negotiations, and regional confidence building measures. Before the IIJ, he led counterterrorism efforts for the 57 participating States in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, Austria.  This work maintained and strengthened the role of the organization as an effective framework for addressing security issues surrounding fragile governments, and in close co-ordination with the United Nations and Russia as well as China. He has worked with Eurasian colleagues on a variety of partnership efforts on both military and diplomatic cooperation. Tom is the recipient of the U.S. Department of State's Highest Award for Excellence in International Security Affairs for his efforts to work collaboratively with international partners regarding nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction within the context of the Security Council Resolution 1540. His current focus is on empowering multilateral collaboration on emerging security issues such as climate. Raising awareness among the competing interests that often overlook fragility at the expense of hard security resources.