The Coalition You’ve Never Heard Of—But Can’t Afford to Ignore

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In this Memorial Day edition of At the Boundary, host Jim Cardoso sits down with Colonel Allan Peterson, the Danish senior national representative to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the new chairman of its 35-nation military coalition. Based in Tampa, Florida, this enduring coalition was born out of the post-9/11 fight against terrorism—but its mission has since evolved dramatically.

Colonel Peterson offers a rare insider’s look at how partner nations are collaborating on today’s most pressing security challenges, from freedom of navigation in the Red Sea to the uncertain futures of Iraq and Syria. As global attention shifts to the Indo-Pacific and Ukraine, why does the Middle East still demand a dedicated multinational presence? And what makes this coalition, quietly operating inside MacDill Air Force Base, such a strategic asset?

If you're interested in defense policy, military coalitions, or U.S. foreign relations in the Middle East, this episode delivers timely insight into a vital—but often overlooked—pillar of American national security strategy. 

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.

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