From 12–16 May 2025, the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies hosted the annual Silk Road Future Leaders Seminar in Washington, D.C., under the theme “Strategic Leadership for National Security.” The immersive five-day program brought together 23 emerging military officers and government officials from 11 countries across the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and South Asia to deepen their understanding of national security decision-making and to strengthen regional and international networks.

Guided by Professor Brianne Todd and joined by distinguished scholar-practitioners, participants explored how leadership, cooperation, and strategy intersect in today’s complex security environment. Sessions on leadership and civil-military relations reinforced the principles of readiness and professional identity, while discussions on critical minerals and the future of warfare highlighted the technologies and resources essential for next-generation defense.

Throughout the seminar, participants contributed regional perspectives that enriched the dialogue. Participants emphasized the importance of balancing among great powers while safeguarding sovereignty, underscoring the need for strategic leadership that protects both immediate territorial security and long-term national interests. Others drew attention to the link between resource security and stability, noting that competition over critical minerals is shaping regional geopolitics as much as traditional security concerns. Still others stressed the urgency of coordinated cooperation to address radicalization, violent extremism, and disaster response. Taken together, these exchanges underscored that each country faces distinct risks, but shared priorities unite them.

Program highlights included the National Security Crisis Exercise, where participants applied their knowledge in managing a simulated border security emergency. Lessons in strategic communications and intelligence integration during the exercise illustrated how strategic decision-making strengthens deterrence. A field study visit to Capitol Hill further broadened perspectives by offering firsthand exposure to the U.S. legislative process and its impact on security policy.

As with past iterations, the seminar was conducted under the Chatham House Rule to ensure open and frank discussion. Participants departed with enhanced skills in strategic thinking, expanded awareness of regional and global dynamics, and strengthened professional networks that will continue to serve them, their countries, and the United States in the future.

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