Europe - Video

Disputes over the regional order in post-Soviet Europe and Eurasia are at the core of the breakdown in Russia-West relations, and have created major security and economic challenges for the states caught in between: first and foremost Ukraine, but also Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Current policy approaches toward the regional order—i.e., the set of rules, norms, and institutions that govern the region—have exacerbated today's disorder and instability. The authors of a new report offer a comprehensive proposal for revising the regional order. The proposal, which addresses the security architecture, economic integration, and regional conflicts, was devised by four groups of experts convened by the RAND Corporation and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung's Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe. Each group included representatives from the West, Russia, and the states in between. This event is made possible by the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

At 11:00 PM on January 31st, the UK will formally withdraw from the European Union. How will the UK's foreign and security policy change? What security challenges will it prioritize? And will leaving the European Union bring the UK closer to the United States? Please join us for a conversation with former UK Secretary of State for Defense (2010-2011), former Secretary of State for International Trade (2016-2019), and Conservative MP from North Somerset Dr. Liam Fox. Dr. Fox will offer his reflections on the vitally important role NATO must play in the future, the role of values in national security, the security challenges that Russia and China pose to the UK, the impact of cyber warfare, and the role of non-state actors and proxy groups in fueling future conflicts. This event is made possible through generous support from the Stuart Family Foundation

Please join us for a conversation with Finland's Minister of Defense Antti Kaikkonen. As an EU member state, NATO partner, Arctic nation, and neighbor to Russia, Finland offers a unique perspective on security in the High North and transatlantic security challenges. The Minister will reflect on the state of transatlantic relations, the regional security situation, and the way forward for bilateral defense cooperation. He will also outline his views on an emerging defense agenda, particularly in new technology areas, and provide an update on Finland's defense priorities for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union (through December), which include development and integration of new technologies; improving counter-hybrid capabilities; and advancing cooperation with partners. Minister Kaikkonen has served as a Member of Parliament since 2003. This event is made possible through generous support from the Stuart Family Foundation.

In partnership with the Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding (CPRDU), CSIS is pleased to invite you to the eighth annual Transatlantic Forum on Russia. This year's conference will examine transatlantic policy towards Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova five years after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and military incursion into eastern Ukraine. The Transatlantic Forum on Russia is part of a broader effort to formulate an enduring transatlantic policy framework towards Russia, with an examination of regional security, political, and economic developments. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. AGENDA   8:30-8:50am Registration and Light Breakfast     9:00am Welcoming Remarks:          Ms. Heather A. Conley, Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic, CSIS Dr. Ernest Wyciszkiewicz, Director, Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding (CPRDU)   9:10-10:00am             Keynote Address: U.S. Policy toward Russia: A View from Congress Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) 10:00-11:30am           Panel One: Five Years After the Annexation of Crimea and Military Incursion into the Donbas: Where Does the Transatlantic Community Go from Here?   Panelists: Dr. Pawel Kowal, former Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland (2005-2007), Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences Dr. Maria Snegovaya, Adjunct Fellow, Center for European Policy (CEPA) Dr. Alina Polyakova, Director, Global Democracy and Emerging Technologies, Brookings Jonathan D. Katz, Senior Fellow, German Marshall Fund   Moderator: Dr. Ernest Wyciszkiewicz, Director, Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding (CPRDU)   11:30-11:45am            Coffee Break   11:45-1:15pm             Panel Two: Belarus, Moldova and Georgia: What Does the Future Hold?   Panelists: Dr. Adam Eberhardt, Director, Center for Eastern Studies, Warsaw Iulian Groza, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova (2013-2015) Executive Director, European Institute of Politics and Reforms, Chișinău Alex Johnson, Chief of Staff, U.S Helsinki Commission Dr. Mamuka Tsereteli, Senior Fellow, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at AFPC   Moderator: Ms. Heather A. Conley, Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic, CSIS   1:15pm                       Buffet Lunch                                     1:45pm                       Journalist Roundtable: The White House and the Evolution of U.S. Policy toward Russia   Panelists: Peter Baker, White House Correspondent, New York Times Susan Glasser, Staff Writer, The New Yorker Rene Pfister, Washington Bureau Chief, DER SPIEGEL   Moderator:  Ms. Heather A. Conley, Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic, CSIS This event is made possible through generous support from the Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding.

CSIS is pleased to welcome the Honorable James Risch (R-ID), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for a discussion on China's growing economic and political influence in Europe and the need for a cohesive transatlantic strategy and policy response. Recent high-level visits to China by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron highlight the urgent need for a transatlantic approach; Chinese strategic economic investments in Europe, through its Belt and Road Initiative, the 17+1 format, and focus on acquiring European firms, as well as its increasingly dominant telecommunications position, challenge NATO as well as transatlantic security and intelligence cooperation. As Beijing exerts influence over EU and non-EU members alike, Beijing has been able to exploit policy differences between the United States and Europe. Following Senator Risch's opening remarks, he will be joined in a moderated discussion with CSIS Senior Vice Presidents Heather Conley and Michael Green to dive more deeply into the policy challenges of countering China's foothold in Europe and developing a common transatlantic approach.   Featuring This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

While countering terrorism financing may be prioritized by national governments, it is the rise of illicit finance and money laundering that constitutes a grave threat to national security and democratic institutions. As extensive research identified in the Kremlin Playbook and the Kremlin Playbook 2 demonstrated, illicit financial flows are increasingly used to influence policies and erode democratic systems. Anti-money laundering (AML) directives, Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) legislation as well as other transparency initiatives in the EU and U.S. can help safeguard democratic institutions.  Prior to the 2013 financial crisis, Cyprus and the Cypriot financial system was frequently cited as a main conduit of illicit financial flows, particularly from Russia. Cyprus responded by implementing important AML and banking reforms in recent years, such as a register for beneficial ownership for trusts and enhanced compliance and due diligence policies. We welcome the leaders of the two largest banks in Cyprus, as well as Eric Lorber, Director for the Center for Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, for a public discussion on what lessons were learned during this period as well as what more work needs to be done in the U.S. and the EU to prevent malign economic influence from penetrating Western financial systems.  This event was made possible through ­­­­­­­­­­­general support to CSIS.

Please join us at CSIS for a conversation with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Audun Halvorsen on Norway's Arctic security strategy. For Arctic littoral states such as Norway, changing dynamics in the Arctic as a result of climate change and increased commercial activity will bring new challenges in the future. Deputy Foreign Minister Halvorsen will offer his perspectives on the effects of a shifting geopolitical climate on the Arctic and the implications for Norwegian foreign and security policy, for NATO efforts to enhance deterrence and defense in the High North and North Atlantic, and for Arctic governance.  Mr. Halvorsen previously served as a Political Advisor to the Minister of Defense and a Political Advisor to the Conservative Party Parliamentary Group. This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.  

Please join us for a conversation with Minister of National Defense of Portugal João Gomes Cravinho. Portugal offers a unique perspective on the importance of transatlantic relations given its Atlantic geography as well as its membership in both NATO and the EU. Minister Cravinho will share his thoughts on the most pressing issues for transatlantic security and defense, including Russia, China, and security challenges along Europe's Southern borders. Minister Cravinho will also discuss the future of US-EU security and defense cooperation in a post-Brexit environment as Lisbon plays a more proactive role in the selection of new EU leaders. Minister Cravinho previously served as EU Ambassador to New Delhi, EU Ambassador to Brasília, and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. This event is made possible by general support to CSIS. 

Please join us for a conversation with Latvian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Dr. Artis Pabriks, who will discuss Russia's malign influence and how Latvia's national efforts compliment broader NATO and U.S. posture in the era of major power competition. Bringing a wealth of experience and insights from his distinguished public service in Latvia and the European Parliament, Dr. Pabriks will also offer his reflections on the state of U.S.-European relations on the eve of the European Parliament elections. This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.

On April 23, 2019, the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies will be hosting a discussion on pre-existing and emerging threats to U.S. space systems. The event will kickoff with a keynote from Steve Kitay, DASD for Space Policy. Following Mr. Kitay's remarks, an expert panel will discuss recent global counterspace developments. This event highlights the Aerospace Security Project's new report, Space Threat Assessment 2019, and the Secure World Foundation's new report, Global Counterspace Capabilities. Following the discussion, please join us for a screening of a new documentary, Commanding Space: The Story Behind the Space Force, produced by the CSIS Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab. To celebrate the launch of both the new report and the documentary, we invite you to stay after the screening for a networking reception. This event is made possible through general support to CSIS. 

Please join us for an insightful conversation with Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell where topics such as the future of the European Union and upcoming European parliament elections, Brexit, the celebration of NATO's 70th anniversary and transatlantic relations as well as the upcoming Spanish general elections on April 28 (which Minister Borrell has described as being of “existential importance”) will be explored in an engaging and very topical dialogue. This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

A fragmented model of digital governance is emerging. Data regulation, technical and ethical standards, and market leadership are all in flux, raising questions about whose rules, if any, will become the global standard. This CSIS Simon Chair event will look at the evolution of technology and digital governance in the world's major economies – the United States, Europe, China, and Japan – and how competing visions and differing priorities are shaping national and regional approaches to digital governance.  Featuring a keynote address from Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA) Closing remarks from former Deputy US Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Holleyman Expert panel featuring: Peter Fatelnig, Minister Counsellor for Digital Economy Policy, Delegation of the European Union to the United States Naoki Ota, Founder, New Stories Ltd. Former Special Adviser to the Minister, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan  Diane Rinaldo, Deputy Assistant Secretary, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Department of Commerce Paul Triolo, Practice Head, Geotechnology, Eurasia Group Shaundra Watson, Director, Policy, BSA | The Software Alliance  Stephanie Segal (Moderator), Simon Chair Senior Fellow and Deputy Director, CSIS This event was made possible by support from the Japanese Embassy.

With presidential elections set for the spring, Ukraine's election season is in full-swing. Candidates from across the political spectrum are running, and, as in many previous Ukrainian elections, the outcome is not foreordained. Will incumbent Petro Poroshenko seek re-election—and if so, does he have a chance of winning? Will Yulia Tymoshenko complete her political renaissance? And what are the implications of the election for Ukraine's future, including the conflict in the Donbas? This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.

This discussion, following the midterm elections, will assess what we saw--and didn't see--in those elections.  It will also examine foreign influence operations that go beyond elections to undermine other democratic institutions, such as our justice system, and democracy itself.   Finally, we will discuss ways to counter this national security threat. This event is made possible with the help of the American Bar Association Committee on Law and National Security and the financial support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Democracy Fund.

Please join us for the seventh joint conference of CSIS and the Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding (CPRDU), entitled, the "Transatlantic Forum on Russia."  Since 2012 CSIS and CPRDU have partnered to examine the impact of Polish-Russian reconciliation and its wider regional and transatlantic implications.  Following Russia's 2014 illegal annexation of Crimea and military incursions into eastern Ukraine, and its military and covert operations in Syria, Salisbury, and elsewhere, the Forum's focus has turned to formulating a long-term transatlantic policy framework towards Russia. The Forum convenes five months after the U.S.-Russia Summit in Helsinki, nine days after the U.S. mid-term elections, and four days after President Trump's meeting with Russian President Putin in Paris on the margins of the centenarian commemoration of the end of the First World War.  Regional and U.S. experts will assess the role that history plays in shaping both Russia's and the West's narrative as well as to examine the success that Russian malign influence has had in undermining confidence in democratic institutions and leaders in Europe and the United States. This event is made possible through support from Center for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding.

The CSIS Europe Program is delighted to host a conversation with U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation. With the conclusion of the U.S. midterm elections, we will discuss what the future holds for U.S. policy toward NATO and European security, Russia, the Western Balkans, as well as the U.S.-EU trade relationship from a Congressional perspective. Following Senator Murphy's remarks, CSIS experts will assess the impact that the new Congress will have on foreign and national security policy, and discuss the issues they will be keeping their eyes on in the 116th Congress. This event was made possible through general support to CSIS.

Join Muriel Domenach, Secretary General of the French government's Inter-ministerial Committee for the Prevention of Delinquency and Radicalization (CIPDR), as she discusses France's ongoing efforts to counter radicalization and violent extremism. "Prevent to Protect," the plan released by CIPDR in February 2018, offered 60 measures to refocus France's policy of prevention around five key themes: After Ms. Domenach's remarks, Seth G. Jones, Harold Brown Chair and Director of the CSIS Transnational Threats Project, will host a moderated armchair discussion comparing and contrasting the French and American perspectives on the issues of returning foreign fighters, counter-narrative efforts, and building community resilience. This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.

The CSIS Transnational Threats Project cordially invites you to a book launch event for John J. Mearsheimer's newly released The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities (Yale University Press). A limited number of copies of The Great Delusion will be sold at the event, and Dr. Mearsheimer will sign them following the discussion.   Moderated by Seth Jones Harold Brown Chair Director, Transnational Threats Project Senior Adviser, International Security Program  Charles Glaser Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs Director, Institute for Security and Conflict Studies With John J. Mearsheimer R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago   In this major statement, the renowned international-relations scholar John Mearsheimer argues that liberal hegemony, the foreign policy pursued by the United States since the Cold War ended, is doomed to fail. It makes far more sense, he maintains, for Washington to adopt a more restrained foreign policy based on a sound understanding of how nationalism and realism constrain great powers abroad.   It is widely believed in the West that the United States should spread liberal democracy across the world, foster an open international economy, and build institutions. This policy of remaking the world in America's image is supposed to protect human rights, promote peace, and make the world safe for democracy. But this is not what has happened. Instead, the United States has ended up as a highly militarized state fighting wars that undermine peace, harm human rights, and threaten liberal values at home. Mearsheimer tells us why this has happened. This event was made possible through support from CSIS.

At a time of great global change, European nations, Russia included, are rethinking security institutions and interests, including their relationships with one another and with the United States. At the same time, Russia itself is a crucial factor in its neighbors' and others' decision calculus about how security on the European continent might be best attained and preserved. Join us as we bring together some of Russia, Europe, and America's top analysts to discuss what might happen, and how Russia is likely to affect and be affected by the evolving European security order. This event is made possible by the generous support of Carnegie Corporation of New York.

CSIS Transnational Threats Project cordially invites you to a book launch event for Director Seth G. Jones' newly released A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle In Poland. (W. W. Norton & Company)   Moderated by Kathleen H. Hicks Senior Vice President; Henry A. Kissinger Chair; Director, International Security Program   With Seth G. Jones Harold Brown Chair; Director, Transnational Threats Project; and Senior Adviser, International Security Program   December, 1981—the CIA receives word that the Polish government has cut telephone communications with the West and closed the Polish border. The agency's leaders quickly inform President Ronald Reagan, who is enjoying a serene weekend at Camp David. Within hours, Prime Minister Wojciech Jaruzelski has appeared on Polish national television to announce the establishment of martial law. A new era in Cold War politics has begun: Washington and Moscow are on a collision course. In this gripping narrative history, Seth G. Jones reveals the little-known story of the CIA's subsequent operations in Poland, which produced a landmark victory for democracy during the Cold War. While the Soviet-backed Polish government worked to crush a budding liberal opposition movement, the CIA began a sophisticated intelligence campaign, code-named QRHELPFUL, that supported dissident groups. The most powerful of these groups was Solidarity, a trade union that swelled to a membership of ten million and became one of the first legitimate anti-Communist opposition movements in Eastern Europe. With President Reagan's support, the CIA provided money that helped Solidarity print newspapers, broadcast radio programs, and conduct a wide-ranging information warfare campaign against the Soviet-backed government. QRHELPFUL proved vital in establishing a free and democratic Poland. Long overlooked by CIA historians and Reagan biographers, the story of QRHELPFUL features an extraordinary cast of characters—including spymaster Bill Casey, CIA officer Richard Malzahn, Polish-speaking CIA case officer Celia Larkin, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, and Pope John Paul II. Based on in-depth interviews and recently declassified evidence, A Covert Action celebrates a decisive victory over tyranny for U.S. intelligence behind the Iron Curtain, one that prefigured the Soviet collapse. This event was made possible through support from CSIS.

Blockchain is increasingly recognized as a potentially transformative technology for business transaction infrastructure with its decentralized and transparent networks which form nodes or “blocks” linked by cryptography. Although its decentralized networks make blockchain less vulnerable to cyberattacks, it poses challenges for governments seeking to understand the technology's many applications and develop appropriate regulatory “rules of the road.” How are governments thinking about the increased use of blockchain technology and its regulatory environment? How are businesses viewing the future of blockchain? What are the future trends in this space? Please join us on September 12th as our distinguished panel of experts will discuss the future of blockchain technology. This event is made possible by the generous support of the Embassy of Lichtenstein.

With the growth of social media, disinformation has become an increasingly potent political tool. State and non-state actors from various countries, among them Russia and China, have become adept at manufacturing and spreading disinformation or using covert campaigns to influence public perception and political outcomes in democratic countries around the world. Responding to this threat requires policy makers to integrate insights from different countries and from academic fields that are too often siloed, including communications, computer science, and social psychology. This event is made possible by the generous support of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

The essential partnership between the European Union and the United States is based on decades of shared values and prosperity but has been largely taken for granted for much of the past 20 years. Today, the transatlantic partnership is experiencing challenging times as tariffs and trade rebalancing measures are imposed and America's security commitment to Europe is at times contested. Following his meeting with President Donald J. Trump, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will offer his vision of Europe and transatlantic relations in a changing world.

Please join us on Thursday, July 19 for a timely conversation with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Co-Chairs of the Senate NATO Observer Group and members of the U.S. delegation to the July 11-12 NATO Summit, for post-summit analysis as well as a discussion of the vital role that bipartisan Congressional leadership plays in tackling transatlantic security challenges.  Our speakers will share details about the specific role the newly constituted Senate NATO Observer Group will play in providing Congressional support for NATO and U.S. strategic interests in Europe. This event was made possible through generous support from The Lillan and Robert D. Stuart Jr. Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies.

Please join us on Wednesday July 11 for a timely conversation with Heather Conley and Michael J. Green who will share thoughts on the future of U.S. alliances in Europe and Asia after the G7 and Singapore Summits and on the eve of the NATO Brussels Summit. This event is made possible through Stuart Family Foundation.

From the North Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific, the French navy is responsible for securing the world's second-largest maritime domain. In a discussion moderated by ISP Senior Advisor Mark Cancian, Admiral Prazuck will discuss the challenges the French navy faces and the role that it plays in France's defense and national security strategies. This event is made possible by general funding to CSIS and the International Security Program.

Please join us on Wednesday, May 16 for a conversation with H.E. Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland. Iceland sits at a critical geostrategic position for both NATO and the transatlantic community: an entry point the North Atlantic and adjacent to the Arctic Circle. With NATO's recent commitment to create an Atlantic Command and as the alliance prepares for its July Summit in Brussels and upcoming Trident Juncture exercise in Norway, Iceland will play a key role in maintaining a secure North Atlantic. Minister Thórdarson will also speak to Iceland's priorities as the next Chair of the Arctic Council, as well as China's growing economic influence in the North. This event is made possible by generous support from the Stuart Family Foundation.

Four years after the U.S. and EU first imposed sanctions against Russia in response to its annexation of Crimea in March 2014, how effective have these sanctions been in changing the regime's behavior?   In 2014, Russia experienced a deep recession as global energy prices precipitously dropped. But in 2018, the World Bank projects that Russia will experience GDP growth of around 1.7 percent and the Central Bank of Russia has effectively managed price stability. However, Russia is having to make painful budget choices and turning increasingly to China for infrastructure financing. As Russia continues its military interventions in Eastern Ukraine and Syria, its malign influence operations across Europe and in the United States, and recently deployed a chemical weapon on NATO territory, it appears that four years of Western sanctions has not altered Russian behavior in its neighborhood and beyond. If anything, Russia has used Western sanctions as a domestic policy tool to nationalize industries while retaining access to the Western financial system. This half-day event will explore the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia and their impact on Russian foreign and security policy. Please join the CSIS Simon Chair in Political Economy and the Europe Program on the afternoon of Monday, May 7 for two expert panel discussions exploring the impact of sanctions on the Russian economy and its foreign policy, followed by keynote remarks by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD). This event is part of the Simon Chair's Economic Statecraft Speaker Series, a forum to highlight the strategic role of economics in foreign policy and to explore the making of international economic policy. It is made possible by the generous support of Arconic Foundation. AGENDA 12:30pm  Lunch Served 1:00pm  Panel One: Sanctions and the Russian Economy  Sergey Aleksashenko Nonresident Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Brookings and Former Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia Elizabeth Rosenberg Senior Fellow and Director, Energy, Economics and Security Program, Center for a New American Security  David Murray Former Director of the Office of Illicit Finance, Treasury Department Moderated by: Matthew P. Goodman  U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, Department of State Ambassador Kurt Volker  Panel Two: Sanctions and Russian Foreign Policy 2:30pm  William E. Simon Chair in Political Economy and Senior Adviser for Asian Economics, CSIS  Olga Oliker Heather A. Conley  Moderated by: Senior Adviser and Director, Russia and Eurasia Program, CSIS Senior Vice President for Europe, Eurasia, and the Arctic; and Director, Europe Program, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD)  Keynote Speech 3:45pm  CSIS Senate Committee on Foreign Relations  

Senator Warner's keynote begins at 1:22:20. When G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors met last month in Argentina, they highlighted the “immense economic opportunities” provided by transformative technologies. They also acknowledged, however, the attendant challenges, including changes to labor markets, the importance of adequate skills training, and the risk of increased inequality. Technological change, like globalization, will transform the future of work and education, underscoring the need to prepare labor markets and labor forces for future disruptions. While the benefits from trade and technology are tangible, so are the disruptions they produce. These changes are “equal opportunity” in the sense that workers across all sectors and skill levels will be affected, requiring policymakers to develop appropriate responses. Please join the CSIS Simon Chair in Political Economy and the Project for Prosperity and Development on the morning of Friday, April 20 for an expert panel discussion exploring opportunities and challenges facing public and private sector participants as they consider the future economy, followed by keynote remarks by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). This event is made possible by support from the Royal Embassy of Denmark. Welcome and Introduction 9:00am   AGENDA 9:05am  Panel Discussion Kristian Jensen Minister for Finance of Denmark   Bruce Reed Co-Chair, Future of Work Initiative, Aspen Institute   Susan Lund Partner, McKinsey & Company and McKinsey Global Institute E. Wayne Holden President and Chief Executive Officer, RTI International   Moderated by: Stephanie Segal Senior Fellow and Deputy Director, Simon Chair in Political Economy, CSIS 10:30am Keynote Speech  Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) Introduced by: John Hamre President and CEO, CSIS  

Central Europe's reintegration with the West and its commitment to democracy and the rule of law were signature foreign policy achievements in the post-Cold War era for the United States. Increasingly, European and U.S. policymakers question whether Central Europe is really committed to democratic values and principles. Corruption, nativism, anti-Semitism, and weak institutions and civil society contribute to the drift of some NATO and EU members in Central Europe toward illiberalism. Please join us on Tuesday, April 17 for a timely conversation on what policy tools Washington and Brussels can use to address democratic backsliding in Central Europe. This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.

As NATO and its partners prepare for the 2018 Summit, challenges from Russia are manifesting in multiple domains, including the waters of Northern Europe. Join this moderated discussion of the threats and capabilities shaping the region's maritime landscape, featuring the Navy Chiefs of Sweden and Germany. The panel will discuss key highlights and recommendations in CSIS's recently published report, Contested Seas: Maritime Domain Awareness in Northern Europe. This event is made possible by generous support from Saab AB.

Please join the Project on Prosperity and Development at CSIS for a public conversation with Dr. Benn Steil on Wednesday, April 4 at 10:00 AM to discuss his new book, The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War. Dr. Steil's new book brings to life the most ambitious development undertaking in history: The Marshall Plan. Born out of post-war realignment, the Marshall Plan focused on a trifecta of objectives: the reconstruction of Europe, preventing the spread of Communism, and defining the contours of a new global liberal order.   The Marshall Plan resulted in the creation of NATO and the European Union, the thriving economies of Western Europe, and the enduring idea that enlightened foreign intervention was possible. But the recovery program, which included aid equivalent to $800 billion today as a percentage of U.S. output, was not easy nor unifying. It accelerated the collapse of U.S.-Soviet relations, precipitating the Prague coup, the Berlin blockade, and the division of Germany.   Today, with Russian assertiveness in global affairs on the rise, and a U.S. commitment to the alliances and multilateral institutions it created on the wane, the Marshall Plan is again one of the most important case studies in American Grand Strategy. Please join as Dr. Steil recounts the history of the Marshall Plan and the ways in which it echoes into today's global contexts. This event is made possible through general support from CSIS.

In partnership with the Danish Embassy in the United States, the Project on Prosperity and Development will be publishing a report entitled Blended Finance and Aligning Private Investment with Global Development.   Over the past few decades, the composition of development finance has flipped from being primarily funded through public-sector resources to intensified interest and investment from the private sector. Blended finance is one method to unlock private capital for development, referring to structuring global development investment deals with a mixed portfolio of public and private funds to spread and smooth risk-reward profiles, “crowd in” catalytic private investment in sustainable financing, and create markets in developing and new contexts. Blended finance aims to manage, transfer, or mitigate the risk inherent or perceived in the developing world, while also producing a return and creating jobs and growth through investments that otherwise would not exist. Some estimates place the global market size for blended finance at $50 billion, with projections to double over the next few years. Now, the Project on Prosperity and Development launches this new report to evaluate the impacts, opportunities, and challenges for blended finance in global development. Please join us for this timely conversation on development finance. This event is made possible through generous support from the Royal Embassy of Denmark.

Please join us on Tuesday, March 13 for a conversation with Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the leader of Greece's center-right opposition New Democracy Party. As Greece emerges from eight years of being under the restrictions of three bailout packages, continues to confront a migration crisis, becomes an important logistics hub for China, addresses growing tensions in Cyprus, and is re-engaging with Skopje to negotiate an agreed name for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Athens is increasingly becoming a critical actor in the Eastern Mediterranean region. As opposition leader, Mr. Mitsotakis will share his insights on the most critical issues facing Greece today, the importance of the U.S.-Greek bilateral partnership and transatlantic relationship to bring greater stability to the region, and the future prospects for Greek parliamentary elections. This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.

As Europe disappears, Asia coheres. The supercontinent is becoming one fluid, comprehensible unit of trade and conflict, as the Westphalian system of states weakens and older, imperial legacies – Russian, Chinese, Iranian, Turkish – become paramount. Please join the Simon Chair's Reconnecting Asia Project for a conversation with Robert D. Kaplan about his new book, The Return of Marco Polo's World: War, Strategy, and American Interests in the Twenty-first Century, to discuss how Eurasia's coherence impacts the U.S. ability to influence the power balance in Eurasia.  Featuring: Robert D. Kaplan Author of  The Return of Marco Polo's World Moderated by: Matthew P. Goodman William E. Simon Chair in Political Economy, CSIS The event will be followed by a brief reception. Light refreshments will be served.  This event is made possible by general funding to CSIS.

In light of Section 881 of the National Defense Authorization act for Fiscal Year 2017 that expanded the definition in U.S. law of the National Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB) to include the United Kingdom and Australia, this report informs the NTIB partners on barriers and opportunities for effective NTIB integration. The expansion of the NTIB is based on the principle that defense trade between the United States and its closest allies enables a host of benefits including increased access to innovation, economies of scale, and interoperability. In order to reap the greatest benefits of a new era of NTIB, this report uses the lessons learned from study of the present state of integration to identify areas of opportunity for policy reforms and greater cooperation. The Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group would like to thank the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the United Kindom for their generous support for this research.

Please join us on Thursday, March 8 for a timely conversation with Jüri Luik, Minister of Defense of Estonia. The United States and its allies are approaching an important NATO Summit in Brussels in July 2018, and Estonia is at the forefront of major questions of European security. Estonia is one of the NATO allies dedicating above 2% of its GDP to defense and hosts a UK-led multinational battlegroup as part of NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence, yet there is much work still to be done to create an Enhanced Deterrence in the North, including improving military mobility and NATO-EU cooperation. Minister Luik has unique experience in these matters, from Estonia's EU presidency in 2017 when EU leaders agreed to pursue strengthened defense cooperation (PESCO), and having served in cabinet-level positions on multiple occasions. This discussion will shed light on vital transatlantic issues, and we hope you will join us. This event is made possible by generous support from the Stuart Family Foundation.

Why did the German army continue to fight the Allies even in the face of certain defeat? Following the Battle of Stalingrad and defeats on other fronts in 1943, the tide had turned against the German war machine – and most German officers knew it. The Wehrmacht's Last Stand chronicles the final campaigns of WWII in Europe from January 1944 until the Wehrmacht's ultimate collapse and the storming of Berlin by the Red Army in May 1945. Join us as Dr. Citino traces the “death ride” of the German army and explains why millions of men kept fighting in the face of increasingly hopeless odds.

Please join the Human Rights Initiative for a discussion about civil society resiliency and sustainability. The current phenomenon of closing civic space prompts civil society actors to explore alternative programmatic and funding models and approaches to sustain their work. It also urges donors to find ways that mutually respond to the challenges confronted by civil society organizations and to their funding priorities. During this event, experts will discuss adaptability challenges both donors and civil society organizations face within restrictive environments, and how best to address them. Panelists will also present on recent reports published through the International Consortium on Closing Civic Space. This event is made possible by support from the Oak Foundation and the Mott Foundation.

The Eastern Mediterranean forms a geostrategic seam between Europe and the Middle East. For over seventy years, the region represented a strategic anchor for the United States, which understood its importance both to strengthening Europe and to limiting instability in the Middle East. Today, the United States and its allies are struggling to adapt a coherent Eastern Mediterranean regional policy that acknowledges dramatically new economic, political, and security realities while ensuring that the region remains transatlantically anchored.  As Syria enters its seventh year of conflict, Russia and Iran deepen their military footprints in the region, and NATO ally Turkey radically alters its domestic and external policies, the strategic importance of the region to the United States is growing while U.S. influence there appears to be waning. To assess regional security challenges and discuss NATO and U.S. Navy operational approaches to the Eastern Mediterranean, we are pleased to host Admiral James G. Foggo, III, commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples; commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; and commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa, for a timely conversation. Jon Alterman and Heather Conley will offer reflections and observations on a recently concluded CSIS research project on the Eastern Mediterranean. This conversation is made possible by support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Please join us on Wednesday, February 7 for a timely conversation with Mr. Timo Soini, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland. As Finland's chairmanship of the Arctic Council approaches the one year mark, Minister Soini will provide an update on Finland's priorities, including environmental protection, strengthening connectivity, meteorological cooperation, and education. A critical partner of the United States in the High North, Finland continues to explore the Arctic's economic potential and advocate for the region's sustainable development, while also assuring the protection of the climate and ecosystems. Minister Soini will also discuss the increasing engagement of non-Arctic states in Arctic cooperation. This conversation is made possible by support from the Stuart Family Foundation.

Please join us on Monday, February 5 for the release of a new report, Enhanced Deterrence in the North: A 21st Century European Engagement Strategy. CSIS has concluded a year-long study that assesses Russia's military capabilities for the next decade; examines the existing "web" of bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral security and defense cooperation agreements stretching from the North Atlantic to the Barents and Baltic Seas; and outlines a new and more streamlined framework for enhancing deterrence in Northern Europe. Following keynote remarks from former SACEUR General Philip M. Breedlove (Ret.) on the need for greater enhanced security and defense measures in Northern Europe, our subsequent panel will discuss specific new measures to improve maritime and air power capabilities, as well as strengthen defense and security cooperation with non-NATO members Sweden and Finland. This conversation is made possible by support from Actagon. 

Please join CSIS for a conversation about America's rise to hegemony and its role in the world today with Dr. Kori Schake, author of Safe Passage: The Transition from British to American Hegemony. She is a distinguished research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, a contributing editor at The Atlantic, and a regular commentator on Deep State Radio.

The CSIS Energy & National Security Program is pleased to host Peter Fraser, Head of Division for Gas, Coal, and Power Markets at the International Energy Agency, for the U.S. launch of the IEA's Coal 2017: Analysis and Forecasts to 2022. The future of coal - the world's dominant fuel for more than a century - continues to be one of the most pressing questions in the energy sector. Coal is under pressure in many regions of the world for its contribution to greenhouse gases. In power generation, fast-growing renewables and cheap, abundant natural gas have also complicated coal's future. The IEA's Coal 2017 report provides a comprehensive analysis of recent trends and forecast through 2022 of coal demand, supply, and trade at both a global and regional level. The report's insights help to explain the current developments in coal markets and provide a window into the fuel's future over the next five years.

The CSIS Energy & National Security Program is pleased to host the launch of the Global CCS Institute's annual 2017 Global Status of CCS. The past year saw the successful startup of two new, large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities, while others in Canada, China, and Australia moved closer to completion as they continue to grow. For CCS to play a major role in meeting the Paris Agreement's two-degree warming limit, adoption of CCS must accelerate in the next decade. The 2017 Status of CCS highlights key determining factors for the role of CCS in meeting these climate targets. Innovative technologies, improving markets for CO2 utilization, and reducing industrial emissions with CCS are all positive trends, but government policies at the federal, state, and local levels—along with international cooperation—remain critical for the path forward.

Serhii Plokhy, professor of history at Harvard University, links five centuries of Russian history to contemporary affairs in his new book Lost Kingdom: The Quest for Empire and the Making of the Russian Nation. In an endorsement of the book, Garry Kasparov writes, “In Lost Kingdom, Serhii Plokhy does for Russia what only great historians can do—make the connections between the distant past and vital present feel relevant and alive.” Please join us for a discussion of this compelling new history.

We are pleased to host Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for a discussion on ending the scourge of modern slavery. The United States, international partners, and the United Nations are waging a multidimensional campaign, which combines efforts to counter illicit and terrorist financing, weapons and narcotics smuggling, and the trade in foreign fighters. The criminal activities which support and facilitate modern slavery make the United States more insecure, undermine the rule of law, and shatter the lives of the individuals and their families caught up in this lethal nexus. Following the conversation with Senator Corker, our expert panel will discuss how these networks interact and will offer pragmatic recommendations to combat modern slavery. This conversation is made possible by generous support from the Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Please join us on Friday, October 20 for a timely conversation with H.E. Florence Parly, Minister for the Armed Forces of France. Minister Parly will discuss the key findings of France's recently released "Strategic Review of Defense and National Security." As a critical defense partner to the United States and NATO ally, France is addressing an increasingly complex and diverse set of defense and security challenges which include transnational terrorism, cyber and information warfare, and an erosion of the international rules-based system, which are testing transatlantic security. Today, France and the United States have deployed forces to the Baltic Sea region to deter Russian aggression, to the Sahel in order to confront terrorism and instability in the region, and to the Middle East to defeat Daesh. Minister Parly will address France's greatest security challenges and how Paris is working with the Trump administration, NATO, and EU partners to counter these threats.

As you know, there are an unprecedented 65.6 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes worldwide, and growing at a rate of 20 people per minute. The complexity and volume of this modern-day displacement often traverses previously defined categories and roles of migration formulated in the years around World War II. An estimated 1.3 million people sought asylum in the European Union (E.U.) in 2015 alone, surpassing the peak record of 670,000 following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 1990s Yugoslavia conflict. Many European nations have incurred significant costs from migration movements. A small nation of 9.5 million, Sweden is expected to have taken in a number of refugees totaling nearly two percent of its population, more acceptances per capita than any other European nation. The fiscal cost of asylum seekers reached 1.0 percent of Sweden's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016. In the same year, Denmark spent 0.57 percent of its GDP, and Germany spent 0.35 percent of its GDP on asylum seekers. It is generally understood that this level of displacement has had a profound and unprecedented level of impact in the humanitarian, security, and economic spaces in Europe. How can European governments and multilateral stakeholders in the region work cohesively to develop an effective and sustainable approach to migration?

DFIs are coming of age. CSIS in partnership with the association of European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI) wrote a report last fall on the evolving role of DFIs. DFIs have had to adjust to a dynamic and changing economy. As EDFI celebrates their 25th anniversary, it is important to look at events over the past year that have influenced the development finance environment. The global economy has changed drastically and DFIs are needed now more than ever. EDFI's total portfolio has expanded to represent close to $50 billion, becoming a major player in emerging markets. This discussion will address the challenges and opportunities in the short and long-term in emerging markets.