Week Eight

This week was all about sanctions work, which was so exciting for me as I could use my previous experience working in the national security field! As I briefly mentioned last week, NCSC is working on a proposal for an initiative with the State Department that would focus on helping other countries prevent local industries from being used as mechanisms to evade US sanctions by China or Russia. This project is uniquely fascinating for me in two ways.

First, it's rare to participate in the proposal process for government funding considering the current administration's stance on foreign assistance and even more so with the State Department beginning mass layoffs across the board this week. When I first began my internship at NCSC, the team explained that most of the work they are doing is shuttering initiatives and wrapping up projects, with no proposals in the pipeline. Because this initiative's goal is closely aligned with the administration's interests, it gives NCSC the incredible opportunity of receiving funding and grant money in this political environment. 

Second, I was asked to help sketch out the current sanctions evasion network across the world, which was a great way to learn about a lot about hidden industries and transnational crime. For example, I had no idea that since the Ukraine war, the Maldives has increased their trade with Russia from practically nothing to a huge industry, which primarily focuses on importing and re-exporting semiconductors to Russia, strengthening their resources for the war in Ukraine. I was mainly focused on how Russia is exploiting the Balkan countries' weak financial crime regulations, history of corruption, and instability in the region to money launder oil revenues or receive dual-use technologies from other countries. If NCSC gets this project, the execution of the goals and subgoals would also be interesting. The organization would focus on working with local government and private sector partners such as countries' Financial Investigations Units or local Chambers of Commerce. They would hold workshops for all relevant stakeholders and educate them on how Russia is taking advantage of their country's current situation, whether that's through the country's lenient real estate market, weak financial banks and regulations, or low industry entry barriers. Overall, this project was a great way for me to get some experience in the field working with sanctions and transnational criminal organizations. 

As I look towards the remaining two weeks, I've begun to think about wrapping up all of my projects and have also turned to working on my final presentation, which will be done during the last week. I'll be presenting on how two of the administration's executive orders, the ones on foreign assistance and targeting law firms, can affect the rule of law in the country. I'm excited to tell y'all more about it next week!