Brendon J. Cannon is Assistant Professor International Security at the Institute of International and Civil Security (IICS) at Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science with an emphasis on International Relations from the University of Utah, USA (2009). His research interests include contextualizing domestic, regional and international relations in eastern Africa, regional security in the Middle East and western Indian Ocean region, the political economy of ports, bases and airports, as well as the Quad’s Indo-Pacific strategy as contrasted by China’s BRI in eastern Africa. His is the author of multiple articles and books, with publications appearing in African Security, Terrorism and Political Violence, The Journal of Strategic Security, Insight Turkey, and African Security Review.