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In this episode of the “At the Boundary” podcast, GNSI’s Jim Cardoso and retired Lieutenant General Michael Plehn break down the newly released 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS) from the Trump administration, and why it places unprecedented focus on the Western Hemisphere.

They explore why this NSS dedicates four full pages to the region, far more than any previous version, and what that means for U.S. national security.

The conversation examines: The expanding role of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and security cooperation, China’s growing influence in Latin America and the Caribbean through the Belt and Road Initiative, and why the U.S. military must be better educated, technologically adaptive, and ready for rapidly evolving threats.

This episode provides a clear, accessible breakdown of a major shift in U.S. strategy — and what it means for policymakers, practitioners, and the future of Western Hemisphere security.

Links from the Episode:

• Northeastern University Global Leadership Summit 2025: GLS 2025 - An Aerial View of U.S. and Latin American Relations on Vimeo

Other noteworthy links:

• GNSI Tampa Summit 6: Cracks in the Lamp: Freeing the Nuclear Genie

• 2026 International Security Experience

• Sign up for the GNSI Newsletter

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of At the Boundary, GNSI Research Fellow Dr. Guido Rossi sits down with Terry Guild, a former senior U.S. Army intelligence officer with a 30–year military career and five years of experience in the defense industry at CAE and Intrinsic Ventures. Together, they unpack one of the most controversial policy debates shaping the future of U.S. military readiness: the Warrior Right to Repair Act of 2025.

For decades, military policy has restricted what soldiers can repair in the field—even when they have the skill to do so. Broken equipment often must be shipped out or serviced by contractors, creating delays, increasing costs, and reducing operational flexibility. The proposed Right to Repair Act seeks to change that by empowering warfighters to fix more of their own gear. What does this mean for proprietary source code or intellectual property?

Dr. Rossi and Guild explore:

· Why the military has historically limited soldier-level repairs

· How contractor dependence affects readiness on modern battlefields

· The cultural, logistical, and security concerns driving debate

From wartime efficiency to industrial politics, this episode breaks down what’s really at stake for America’s fighting forces — and whether the Pentagon is ready for a fundamental shift in how the U.S. maintains its equipment.

Links From the Episode:

• GNSI Tampa Summit 6: Cracks in the Lamp: Freeing the Nuclear Genie Pre-Registration

• “Military Right to Repair Reform Could Reshape Readiness and Innovation” Article Featuring GNSI’s Dr. Guido Rossi

• 2026 Intelligence and Tech Conference

• 2025 Warsaw Security Forum Recap

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of At the Boundary, retired four-star General Frank McKenzie joins USF’s Dr. Tad Schnaufer to break down one of the most pressing national security questions today: Can the United States build a true “Golden Dome” to defend the homeland from nuclear missile attack?

Together, they explore how America’s past missile defense systems—from Nike and Sentinel to THAAD—shaped today’s strategic landscape, and why emerging technologies may finally make boost-phase interception realistic. The conversation dives into the potential of space-based missile defense, the growing threat of hypersonic weapons, and what future U.S. policy and NATO cooperation would require keeping pace with rapidly advancing adversaries.

General McKenzie provides a candid assessment of the U.S.–China nuclear competition, the limits of current deterrence, and what it would take to shield the American homeland in a future strategic conflict.

A must-listen episode for anyone tracking U.S. defense strategy, missile defense innovation, and global security trends.

Links from the Episode:

• Pre Register for GNSI Tampa Summit 6

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.