Asia-Pacific Expert Abraham Denmark Joins CNAS as Fellow

WASHINGTON, DC, May 12, 2009  - The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is pleased to announce that Abraham M. Denmark has joined CNAS as a Fellow. Denmark, who brings years of experience working in the U.S. intelligence community and for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, adds to the growing list of CNAS experts focused on the Asia-Pacific and U.S. national security strategy.

In his latest piece, "Deja Vu All Over Again," published in the Korea Times today, Denmark argues that President Obama should seize the opportunity to re-examine the utility of the six-party talks, and the U.S. reliance on China to resolve the crisis. "If North Korea conducts additional missile tests or another nuclear test, the U.S. and its allies should conclude that the talks have failed and that relying on China's influence and willingness to abide by international agreements was a mistake," he writes.

Next week, Denmark will provide expert testimony to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission regarding China's interests in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the implications for the United States. The hearing, titled "The Impact of China's Economic and Security Interests in Continental Asia on the United States," will take place on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, from 10:45-12:15 PM in Room 562, Dirksen Senate Office Building. It is open to the public. 

Mr. Denmark is an editor and contributor to the forthcoming CNAS publication China's Arrival: A Framework for a Global Relationship.  He co-directs the Contested Commons project, dedicated to analyzing how the challenges within the global commons will impact America's national security strategy and defense priorities.  Mr. Denmark also works on the Asia Initiative '09 and a range of CNAS defense strategy and planning projects. 

Prior to joining CNAS, Mr. Denmark was Country Director for China Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he was responsible for developing and implementing strategies and plans vis-à-vis China and the Asia-Pacific region.  Previously, Denmark was an East Asia specialist in the United States Intelligence Community.

He is the recipient of numerous government recognitions, most recently an Award for Excellence from the Office of the Secretary of Defense in January 2009. 

Denmark received a master's degree from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and studied History and Political Science at the University of Northern Colorado.   He has also studied at China's Foreign Affairs College and Peking University.