TDCSI 2026

Topic

Assessing U.S. Strategy in the Black Sea and Eastern Europe

About the committee

Amid escalating tensions between NATO allies and the Russian Federation, the Senate faces a critical decision on the direction of U.S. strategy in Eastern Europe. Russian militarization of the Black Sea, hybrid warfare tactics, and energy coercion have challenged the post-Cold War order. Senators must weigh the costs and benefits of increasing U.S. military presence, strengthening regional alliances, and reinforcing deterrence, while avoiding escalation that could trigger a broader conflict. This session will examine diplomatic, economic, and defense options to secure American interests and maintain stability along NATO’s eastern flank.

Chair

• Schienille Nicolas

Countries

Topics

1. Reassessing U.S. Aid to Israel and Palestine
2. Evaluating the Economic and Security Impacts of U.S. Involvement in the Middle East

About the committee

With tensions in the Middle East continuing to rise, questions have emerged in Congress over the effectiveness and ethics of U.S. involvement in the region. The House must evaluate whether American aid and military cooperation have achieved long-term stability or fueled further dependence and conflict. As the largest provider of foreign assistance to both Israel and the Palestinian territories, the U.S. faces growing domestic and international scrutiny over how taxpayer funds are being used. This committee will debate the economic, humanitarian, and security implications of U.S. policy, determining whether the nation’s involvement continues to serve its strategic interests or demands a fundamental re-assessment.

Chairs

• Aman Kumar Mishra
• Dania Anees
• El Kari Amira

Countries

Topic

The Shifting Sands: Middle East Escalation 2026

About the committee

Situation Room Attendees – Middle East Crisis Executive Branch • President of the United States – Donald J. Trump -Chair (Not MUN Chair) • Vice President – J.D. Vance • White House Chief of Staff – Jeff Zients • National Security Advisor (Acting) – Marco Rubio Cabinet Members • Secretary of State – Marco Rubio • Secretary of War – Pete Hegseth • Secretary of the Treasury – Scott Bessent (for sanctions planning & economic impact) • Attorney General – Pam Bondi (legal options, international law) • Secretary of Homeland Security – Kristi Noem • Secretary of Energy – Chris Wright (nuclear intelligence & threat assessment) • Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Doug Collins (impact on military personnel) Intelligence Community • Director of National Intelligence (DNI) – Tulsi Gabbard • CIA Director – John Ratcliffe • NSA Director – General Paul Nakasone (signals intelligence & cyber threat) • FBI Director – Christopher Wray (domestic threat monitoring) Military Leadership • Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff – General Mark Milley • Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff – General John Hyten • Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) – General Michael Kurilla • Commander, U.S. Cyber Command – Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh • Commander, U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet – Vice Admiral Brad Cooper Regional Ambassadors (Middle East Focus) • U.S. Ambassador to Israel – Tom Nides • U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia – Michael Ratney • U.S. Ambassador to Iraq – Alina Romanowski • U.S. Ambassador to Jordan – Henry Wooster • U.S. Ambassador to UAE – Lana Zaki Nusseibeh • U.S. Ambassador to Turkey – Jeff Flake • U.S. Ambassador to Qatar – Sheba Crocker • U.S. Ambassador to Iran (Interest Section, Switzerland) – Abram Paley, Deputy Special Envoy (liaison via Swiss Embassy) Special Advisors • Senior Middle East Advisor – Brett McGurk • Cybersecurity & Technology Advisor – Anne Neuberger • Nuclear Policy Advisor – Laura Holgate • UN Liaison – Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Chair

• Yug Agarwal

Countries