Nicholas Szechenyi

Vice President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Senior Fellow, Japan Chair
Nicholas Szechenyi

Nicholas Szechenyi is vice president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and senior fellow with the Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He also served as deputy director of the Japan Chair from 2005 to 2022. His research interests include Japanese politics and foreign policy, U.S.-Japan relations, and U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific region. Prior to joining CSIS in 2005, he was a news producer for Fuji Television in Washington, D.C., where he covered U.S. policy in Asia and domestic politics. He holds an MA in international economics and Japan studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a BA in Asian studies from Connecticut College. He lived in Japan for six years and speaks fluent Japanese.

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Ishiba Shigeru: Japan’s New Leader

On September 27, Japan’s ruling party elected Ishiba Shigeru as its new leader and next prime minister. Nicholas Szechenyi and Yuko Nakano of the CSIS Japan Chair summarize the campaign, Ishiba’s priorities, and the potential implications for U.S.-Japan relations. 

Critical Questions by Nicholas Szechenyi and Yuko Nakano — September 27, 2024

The Global Impact of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

Please join us for the inaugural event of the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department to discuss a collection of essays by CSIS scholars assessing the meaning of the election for Europe, Russia, Eurasia, the Indo-Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. 

Event — September 26, 2024

Japan: An Indispensable Partner in the Indo-Pacific

Japan is watching the U.S. election with a keen interest in furthering the U.S.-Japan alliance. The CSIS Japan Chair addresses Japan’s policy priorities and the potential implications of the election outcome for cooperation on a range of regional and global challenges.

Commentary by Christopher B. Johnstone and Nicholas Szechenyi — September 26, 2024

Kishida Steps Aside

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan announced on August 14 that he will not seek reelection as leader of the ruling party, effectively ending his tenure as prime minister. The CSIS Japan Chair addresses his legacy and next steps in a period of political transition.

Critical Questions by Christopher B. Johnstone, Nicholas Szechenyi, and Yuko Nakano — August 16, 2024

Audio Briefs

Kishida Steps Aside

An audio version of “Kishida Steps Aside,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Christopher B. Johnstone, Nicholas Szechenyi, and Yuko Nakano. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Christopher B. Johnstone, Nicholas Szechenyi, and Yuko Nakano — August 16, 2024

Audio Briefs

Building a Mutually Complementary Supply Chain between Japan and the United States

Japan’s recent increases in defense spending and relaxation of defense export rules have prompted a new era of opportunity in defense industrial cooperation with the United States, specifically in the realm of uncrewed aerial systems and electro-optical sensors.

Report by Christopher B. Johnstone, Cynthia Cook, Audrey Aldisert, Leah Klaas, Christine Michienzi, Gregg Rubinstein, Gregory Sanders, and Nicholas Szechenyi — August 15, 2024

Alliance Online: The Evolution of the U.S.-Japan Security Partnership

A short history, supplemented by timelines of key events, a repository of official documents, and interviews with experts, to document the remarkable evolution of this partnership from 1951 to 2024.

Digital Report by Nicholas Szechenyi, Christopher B. Johnstone, and Leah Klaas — July 11, 2024

Operationalising Japan’s security role in Asia

The CSIS Japan Chair and the United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney surveyed national security experts regarding Japan’s new defense strategy. This survey report assesses key priorities and expectations for Japan’s leadership role in security.

Report by Christopher B. Johnstone and Nicholas Szechenyi — April 29, 2024