Anna Avanesyan

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href="https://www.cnas.org/reports">Reports</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/articles-multimedia">Articles & Multimedia</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/articles-multimedia?type=congressional-testimony">Congressional Testimony</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/articles-multimedia?type=commentary">Commentary</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/articles-multimedia?type=video">Video</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/articles-multimedia?type=podcast">Podcast</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu__pane -c10"> <h3 class="menu__heading" data-toc-skip>Research Areas</h3> <ul class="menu__list"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/defense">Defense</a> <ul class="hide-on-mobile"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/defense/hard-choices-in-defense">Hard Choices in Defense</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/defense/the-future-of-warfare">The Future of Warfare</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/defense/strengthening-deterrence">Strengthening Deterrence</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/defense/wargaming">The Gaming Lab</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/defense/defense-discussions">Defense Discussions</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/indo-pacific-security">Indo-Pacific Security</a> <ul class="hide-on-mobile"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/indo-pacific-security/china">The China Challenge</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/indo-pacific-security/regional-alliances-and-partnerships">Regional Alliances and Partnerships</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/indo-pacific-security/the-india-opportunity">The India Opportunity</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/indo-pacific-security/north-korea">The North Korea Threat</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/military-veterans-and-society">Military, Veterans & Society</a> <ul class="hide-on-mobile"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/military-veterans-and-society/military">Military</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/military-veterans-and-society/veterans-1">Veterans</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/military-veterans-and-society/society">Society</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/transatlantic-security">Transatlantic Security</a> <ul class="hide-on-mobile"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/transatlantic-security/russia">Russia</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/transatlantic-security/confronting-threats-to-democracy">Confronting Threats to Democracy</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/transatlantic-security/nato-and-european-security">NATO and European Security</a> </li> <li> <a 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href="https://www.cnas.org/research/congress-and-national-security/key-national-security-issues">Renewing the National Security Consensus</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div id="experts-menu" aria-hidden="true" class="megamenu"> <div class="menu"> <button type="button" class="megamenu__close x-button" data-js="close"> <span class="megamenu__close__flex"> <span class="screenreader-only">Close</span> <span class="x"></span> </span> </button> <div class="menu__pane -c6"> <h3 class="menu__heading" data-toc-skip>Resident Experts</h3> <ul class="menu__list"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/experts">All Resident Experts</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="menu__list"> <li class="break"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/anna-avanesyan">Anna Avanesyan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jakob-barlow">Jakob Barlow</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/molly-campbell">Molly Campbell</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/vivek-chilukuri">Vivek Chilukuri</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/carrie-cordero">Carrie Cordero</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/lisa-curtis">Lisa Curtis</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/michael-depp">Michael Depp</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/bill-drexel">Bill Drexel</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/janet-egan">Janet Egan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/joshua-fitt">Joshua Fitt</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/richard-fontaine">Richard Fontaine</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/geoffrey-gertz">Geoffrey Gertz</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/noah-greene">Noah Greene</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/carlton-haelig">Carlton Haelig</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/sam-howell">Sam Howell</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/kate-johnston">Kate Johnston</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/andrea-kendall-taylor">Andrea Kendall-Taylor</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/emily-kilcrease">Emily Kilcrease</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/katherine-kuzminski">Katherine L. Kuzminski</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/nicholas-lokker">Nicholas Lokker</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jonathan-lord">Jonathan Lord</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/gibbs-mckinley">Gibbs McKinley</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/carisa-nietsche">Carisa Nietsche</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/stacie-pettyjohn">Stacie Pettyjohn</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/ruby-scanlon">Ruby Scanlon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/paul-scharre">Paul Scharre</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/philip-sheers">Philip Sheers</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jacob-stokes">Jacob Stokes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/taren-sylvester">Taren Sylvester</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/adam-h-tong">Adam H. Tong</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/constanza-m-vidal-bustamante">Constanza M. Vidal Bustamante</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/josh-wallin">Josh Wallin</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/becca-wasser">Becca Wasser</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/caleb-withers">Caleb Withers</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/robert-work">Robert O. Work</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="menu__pane -c6"> <h3 class="menu__heading" data-toc-skip>Adjunct Experts</h3> <ul class="menu__list"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/experts#adjunct">All Adjunct Experts</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="menu__list"> <li class="break"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/manpreet-singh-anand">Manpreet Singh Anand</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/brandon-j-archuleta">Brandon J. Archuleta</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/lt-gen-robert-ashley-jr-ret">Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, Jr. (Ret.)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/christian-beckner">Christian Beckner</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/samuel-bendett">Samuel Bendett</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/paul-benfield">Paul Benfield</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/rachel-brandenburg">Rachel Brandenburg</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/dr-jonathan-brewer">Dr. Jonathan Brewer</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/josh-campbell">Josh Campbell</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/pablo-chavez">Pablo Chavez</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/richard-connolly">Richard Connolly</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/john-costello">John Costello</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/eitan-danon">Eitan Danon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/richard-j-danzig">Richard J. Danzig</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jason-dempsey">Jason Dempsey</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/yaya-j-fanusie">Yaya J. Fanusie</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/ryan-fedasiuk">Ryan Fedasiuk</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/david-feith">David Feith</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/edward-fishman-1">Edward Fishman</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/tim-fist">Tim Fist</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/greg-grant">Greg Grant</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/dr-erik-lin-greenberg">Dr. Erik Lin-Greenberg</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/michael-greenwald">Michael Greenwald</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/hamzeh-hadad">Hamzeh Hadad</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/hon-robert-f-hale">Hon. Robert F. Hale</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/heli-hautala">Heli Hautala</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/franz-stefan-gady">Franz-Stefan Gady</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jeannette-gaudry-haynie">Dr. Jeannette Gaudry Haynie</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/jacob-helberg">Jacob Helberg</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/michelle-holko-phd-pmp">Michelle Holko, PhD, PMP</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/john-hughes">John Hughes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/kyleanne-hunter">Dr. Kyleanne Hunter</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/ltg-anthony-r-tony-ierardi-usa-ret">LTG Anthony R. "Tony" Ierardi, USA (Ret.)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/akira-igata">Akira Igata</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/elsa-b-kania">Elsa B. Kania</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/robert-kaplan">Robert D. Kaplan</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/duyeon-kim">Dr. Duyeon Kim</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/christopher-d-kolenda">Christopher D. Kolenda</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/margarita-rita-konaev">Margarita "Rita" Konaev</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/steven-kosiak">Steven Kosiak</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/dr-andrew-f-krepinevich-jr">Dr. Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr.</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/thomas-krueger">Thomas Krueger</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/people/peter-l-levin">Peter L. 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class="svgsprite"> <title>Email</title> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#email"></use> </svg> </span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="progress-header"> <div class="progress-container"> <div class="progress-bar" id="myBar"></div> </div> </div>  </header> <main id="content" role="main"> <div class="wrapper -full profile-header"> <div class="profile-header__photo"> <picture> <source srcset="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/thumbnails/_753x769_scale_center-center_100_none/Anna-Avanesyan-web-thumbnail.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 1px) and (max-width: 767px)" > <img class="block" src="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/thumbnails/_440x450_scale_center-center_100_none/Anna-Avanesyan-web-thumbnail.jpg" srcset="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/thumbnails/_440x450_scale_center-center_100_none/Anna-Avanesyan-web-thumbnail.jpg 1x" > </picture> </div> <div class="profile-header__content blue-box"> <h1 class="page-title white">Anna Avanesyan</h1> <p class="dark medium margin-top-half-em">Research Assistant, Defense Program</p> <ul class="profile-meta"> <li> <span class="sprite -email "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#email"></use> </svg> </span> <span>Press: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0a69656767794a69646b792465786d">[email protected]</a></span> </li> <li> <span class="sprite -camera "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#camera"></use> </svg> </span> <a href="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/portraits/Anna-Avanesyan-full.jpg" type="image/jpeg" title="High-res Photo for Anna Avanesyan">View High-res Photo</a> </li> </ul> <p class="overlap-label margin-top"> <span class="overlap-label__underline">Research Areas</span> </p> <ul class="category-list-columns"> <li> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/research/transatlantic-security"> Transatlantic Security <span class="chevron -right -gray"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="wysiwyg margin-vertical"> <p>Anna Avanesyan is a research assistant for the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).</p> <p>Before joining the Defense Program, Avanesyan worked as a Joseph S. Nye, Jr. National Security Research Intern and Program Administrator with the CNAS Transatlantic Security Program. She also interned as a Democratic Resilience Intern at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) in Washington, D.C., and held research assistant positions at the University of Wisconsin Law School and the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center.</p> <p>Avanesyan has a BA from Haverford College, where she received high honors in the history major and completed minors in Russian and Spanish.</p> </div> <p class="center"><a href="https://cnas.secure.force.com/donate" class="button -solid">Support CNAS</a></p> </div> <section class="publications-block wrapper -extra-large margin-vertical-2x"> <h2 class="section-title -custom -related margin-bottom-half-em"> <span class="custom-text"> <span>Recent</span> Publications & News </span> </h2> <div class="wrapper -custom"> <ul class="entry-listing"> <li class="-with-image"> <div class="labeled-image"> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/sharper-nato-75" target="" aria-label="Sharper: NATO 75 - image link"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" srcset=" https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/_165x110_crop_center-center_none/240129a-017_rdax_775x440s.jpg 165w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/_285x190_crop_center-center_none/240129a-017_rdax_775x440s.jpg 285w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/_400x267_crop_center-center_none/240129a-017_rdax_775x440s.jpg 400w" sizes="(min-width: 600px) 285px, (min-width: 430px) 400px, calc(100vw - 30px)" width="400" height="267" class="desaturate" alt=""> </a> <span class="label">Commentary</span> </div> <ul class="entry-listing__meta"> <li>Sharper</li> <li>April 17, 2024</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/sharper-nato-75" target="" class="sans-serif fz16 bold margin-top-half-em">Sharper: NATO 75</a> <p class="fz15 margin-top-1em"> <span class="screenreader-only">By</span> Anna Pederson, Anna Avanesyan & Charles Horn </p> </li> <li class="-with-image"> <div class="labeled-image"> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/the-eu-should-do-more-to-help-armenia-shake-off-russia" target="" aria-label="The EU Should Do More to Help Armenia Shake Off Russia - image link"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" srcset=" https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/hero/_165x110_crop_center-center_none/EU-Kaplan-Hero.jpg 165w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/hero/_285x190_crop_center-center_none/EU-Kaplan-Hero.jpg 285w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/hero/_400x267_crop_center-center_none/EU-Kaplan-Hero.jpg 400w" sizes="(min-width: 600px) 285px, (min-width: 430px) 400px, calc(100vw - 30px)" width="400" height="267" class="desaturate" alt=""> </a> <span class="label">Commentary</span> </div> <ul class="entry-listing__meta"> <li>World Politics Review</li> <li>January 29, 2024</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/the-eu-should-do-more-to-help-armenia-shake-off-russia" target="" class="sans-serif fz16 bold margin-top-half-em">The EU Should Do More to Help Armenia Shake Off Russia</a> <p class="fz15 margin-top-1em"> <span class="screenreader-only">By</span> Nicholas Lokker & Anna Avanesyan </p> </li> <li class="-with-image"> <div class="labeled-image"> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/sharper-ukraine-counteroffensive" target="" aria-label="Sharper: Ukrainian Counteroffensive - image link"> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" srcset=" https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/hero/_165x110_crop_center-center_none/ukraine-counter-offensive.jpeg 165w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/hero/_285x190_crop_center-center_none/ukraine-counter-offensive.jpeg 285w, https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/hero/_400x267_crop_center-center_none/ukraine-counter-offensive.jpeg 400w" sizes="(min-width: 600px) 285px, (min-width: 430px) 400px, calc(100vw - 30px)" width="400" height="267" class="desaturate" alt=""> </a> <span class="label">Commentary</span> </div> <ul class="entry-listing__meta"> <li>Sharper</li> <li>September 20, 2023</li> </ul> <a href="https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/sharper-ukraine-counteroffensive" target="" class="sans-serif fz16 bold margin-top-half-em">Sharper: Ukrainian Counteroffensive</a> <p class="fz15 margin-top-1em"> <span class="screenreader-only">By</span> Anna Pederson, Anna Avanesyan & Charles Horn </p> </li> </ul> <p class="margin-top-1em"> <a href="/reports?author=anna-avanesyan" class="button">View All Reports <span class="screenreader-only">by Anna Avanesyan</span></a> <a href="/articles-multimedia?author=anna-avanesyan" class="button">View All Articles & Multimedia <span class="screenreader-only">by Anna Avanesyan</span></a> </p> </div> </section> </main> <footer class="footer"> <div class="footer__inner"> <dl class="footer__contact-info"> <dt class="screenreader-only">Address:</dt> <dd> <span class="sprite -pin "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#pin"></use> </svg> </span> <span> Center for a New American Security<br> 1701 Pennsylvania Ave NW<br> Suite 700<br> Washington, DC 20006 </span> </dd> <dt class="screenreader-only">Phone:</dt> <dd> <span class="sprite -phone "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#phone"></use> </svg> </span> <span>(202) 457-9400</span> </dd> <dt class="screenreader-only">Email:</dt> <dd> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6a03040c052a09040b194405180d"> <span class="sprite -email "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#email"></use> </svg> </span> <span><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="026b6c646d42616c63712c6d7065">[email protected]</span></span> </a> </dd> </dl> <ul class="footer__social-nav"> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/cnasdc"> <span class="sprite -twitter "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#twitter"></use> </svg> </span> <span>Twitter</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-a-new-american-security/"> <span class="sprite -linkedin "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#linkedin"></use> </svg> </span> <span>LinkedIn</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/CNASdc"> <span class="sprite -youtube "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#youtube"></use> </svg> </span> <span>YouTube</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://instagram.com/cnasdc"> <span class="sprite -instagram "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#instagram"></use> </svg> </span> <span>Instagram</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CNASdc"> <span class="sprite -facebook "> <svg width="16" height="16" class="svgsprite"> <use xlink:href="/assets/images/icons.svg?v=2#facebook"></use> </svg> </span> <span>Facebook</span> </a> </li> </ul> <ul class="footer__supplementary-nav"> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/mission">About</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/events">Events</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/careers/internships">Internships</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/careers">Careers</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/support-cnas">Support CNAS</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/join">Subscribe</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/press">Press</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.cnas.org/contact">Contact</a></li> </ul> <p class="footer__copyright"> © 2025 Center for a New American Security. </p> </div> <div class="return-top"> <a href="#top" title="Return to top"> <img class="return-top-icon" alt="Return to top" src="/assets/images/return-top-white.png"> </a> </div> </footer> <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script src="https://www.cnas.org/assets/javascripts/app-83c83bd3c129aa526fb9.js"></script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"http://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","author":{"@id":"#identity"},"copyrightHolder":{"@id":"#identity"},"copyrightYear":"2023","creator":{"@id":"#creator"},"dateCreated":"2023-08-17T11:04:31-04:00","dateModified":"2025-02-19T16:14:56-05:00","datePublished":"2023-08-17T11:01:00-04:00","description":"Anna Avanesyan is a research assistant for the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). 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