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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In the News 8 of 113 results

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Nicholas Szechenyi appearance on CBC Listen — October 28, 2025

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2026 U.S.-Japan Security Seminar

Join the CSIS Japan Chair in collaboration with The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) for the 2026 U.S.-Japan Security Seminar

Event — January 23, 2026

Indo-Pacific Forecast 2026

Please join the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy (GFP) Department's annual preview of political, economic, and security developments across the region.

Event — January 14, 2026

Strengthening National Security Resilience in Japan

Japan has many strengths that give it tremendous potential for resilience. However, further investments are required to bolster relatively undeveloped elements of national security resilience that China or another foe may seek to exploit.

Report by Daniel Byman, Nicholas Szechenyi, and Riley McCabe — December 18, 2025

Responding to Trump’s New Foreign Policy Paradigm

Please join the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy (GFP) Department for a discussion of the ways in which U.S. allies and partners around the world are navigating the Trump administration’s policies.

Event — October 6, 2025

After Ishiba: What’s Next for Japanese Politics?

The CSIS Japan Chair analyzes the results of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)’s October 4 leadership race, the road ahead in Japanese politics, and the potential implications for Japanese foreign policy.

Event — October 6, 2025

Audio Briefs

Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Likely New Leader

An audio version of “⁠Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Likely New Leader⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Nicholas Szechenyi. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Nicholas Szechenyi — October 6, 2025

Audio Briefs

Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Likely New Leader

On October 4, Japan’s ruling party elected Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, and she will likely become Japan’s first female prime minister. Nicholas Szechenyi breaks down her likely policy priorities and the implications for Japan’s strategic trajectory.

Commentary by Nicholas Szechenyi — October 6, 2025

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Steps Down

On September 7, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba stepped down amid mounting pressure within his party. The upcoming race to select his successor will signal whether the Liberal Democratic Party can provide strong leadership at home and abroad in an increasingly unpredictable domestic and international environment.

Critical Questions by Kristi Govella, Nicholas Szechenyi, and Yuko Nakano — September 8, 2025

Audio Briefs

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Steps Down

An audio version of “⁠Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Steps Down⁠,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Kristi Govella, Nicholas Szechenyi, and Yuko Nakano. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Kristi Govella, Nicholas Szechenyi, and Yuko Nakano — September 8, 2025

Audio Briefs
State of Play

Are U.S.-Japan relations at a turning point?

Kristi Govella and Nick Szechenyi join to discuss whether U.S.-Japan ties are shifting amid tariffs and political change.

Podcast Episode by Will Todman, Kristi Govella, and Nicholas Szechenyi — August 7, 2025

Photo: iLab/CSIS