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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Nicholas Szechenyi appearance on CBC Listen — October 28, 2025

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Japan’s Prime Minister Steps Aside

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan is stepping aside, setting the stage for a leadership race ahead of parliamentary elections this fall. The Japan Chair explains next steps and the broader implications for Japanese politics and U.S.-Japan relations.

Critical Questions by Michael J. Green and Nicholas Szechenyi — September 3, 2021

The Return of the Quad: Will Russia and China Form Their Own Bloc?

A flexible Quad with an affirmative agenda can preserve space for Russia to remain an independent actor in the Indo Pacific, tempering Moscow’s gravitational pull toward Beijing.

Commentary by Michael J. Green, Nicholas Szechenyi, Heather A. Conley, and Cyrus Newlin — April 6, 2021

Reflections on the 10th Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake

March 11 marks the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The Japan Chair reflects on Japan’s resilience in the aftermath of that tragedy and some of the lessons learned from a 2011 CSIS task force on ways the U.S. could support the process of recovery.

Commentary by Michael J. Green, Nicholas Szechenyi, and Kiyoaki Aburaki — March 9, 2021

Asia Forecast 2021

Join CSIS experts for our annual preview of political, security, and economic developments across Asia.

Event — January 26, 2021

Yoshihide Suga—Japan’s New Leader

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected Yoshihide Suga to succeed Shinzo Abe as prime minister. The CSIS Japan Chair previews Suga’s likely priorities and assesses the potential for continuity during a period of transition in Japanese politics.

Critical Questions by Michael J. Green and Nicholas Szechenyi — September 14, 2020

Online Event: Japan After Abe: Legacy and Next Moves

Please join us for an online panel discussion where CSIS experts will assess Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's legacy across a range of policy areas including security, diplomacy, and economics, as well as Japan’s political and strategic trajectory.

Event — September 1, 2020

Shinzo Abe’s Decision to Step Down

On August 28, 2020, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan announced he would resign due to a recurring illness. The CSIS Japan Chair assessed next steps for Japanese politics and the prospects for carrying forward Abe’s main legacy: demonstrating that Japan can lead.

Critical Questions by Michael J. Green and Nicholas Szechenyi — August 28, 2020