Wilson Center

The creation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in 2004 changed the conversation on how best to deliver smart US foreign assistance around the world. In the 20 years since its creation, MCC has demonstrated that focused investments promoting economic growth, democracy, infrastructure, reducing poverty, and strengthening institutions can have far reaching positive effects. In the face of current challenges around the world, how can the MCC model continue to help democracies across the globe deliver for their people? At this event, MCC CEO Alice Albright and Wilson Center CEO Ambassador Mark A. Green will discuss what comes next for MCC and how the model can be used to face today's challenges in the foreign affairs arena. Please join us for this timely and critical discussion. 

Five years ago, Nicaragua's authoritarian leaders, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, cracked down on protests, killing 355 individuals between April 2018 and July 2019. In response, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights established the Special Follow-up Mechanism for Nicaragua (MESENI) to investigate the regime's abuses. MESENI has interviewed victims and met with local human rights groups and other civil society organizations that are documenting human rights abuses. Despite the international scrutiny, the regime continues to repress the democratic opposition. In February, it expelled 222 political prisoners to the United States. It has also targeted the Catholic Church, breaking off diplomatic relations with the Vatican, banning Easter processions, and unjustly sentencing Bishop Rolando José Álvarez to 26 years in prison. To learn more about the deteriorating human rights conditions in Nicaragua and the implications for the United States and the region, please join us for our conversation. The dialogue is part of the Wilson Center's Hemisphere of Prosperity and Freedom series.

Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has transformed the landscape of HIV treatment and prevention. It is estimated that this program, which works to accelerate progress toward achieving HIV and AIDS epidemic control in over 50 countries globally, has saved over 20 million lives, prevented transmission to 5.5 million babies, and enabled countries to surpass UNAIDS' 90-90-90 treatment targets. PEPFAR has also played a vital role in addressing other global health challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding care to marginalized groups such as adolescent girls and young women, key populations, pregnant people, children, and displaced persons. PEPFAR released its new five-year strategy in December 2022, which sets bold priorities in the effort to eliminate HIV and AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Advocates globally seek to ensure that more global health sectors are included in PEPFAR's mission to provide integrated services, and that PEPFAR programming is inclusive of all people.  

The international system as we know it has been forced to grapple with a multitude of disruptions on various fronts, be it the global COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on societies, economies and health systems, or the most recent conflict in Ukraine that has taken a heavy toll on humanity in the loss of innocent lives, forced displacement of millions, and the food and energy insecurity crises it has provoked. At a time of extreme distress on the international system, global leadership is key to addressing the myriad challenges our world faces, especially to restore hope and rebuild trust amongst our communities and societies to move forward towards international cooperation and responsibility sharing.  One of the world's most poised and effective leaders Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan joined Ambassador Mark Green to tackle these critical issues.

West Asia-North Africa is in a race against time. Within the next thirty years, increasing air pollution and climate change-induced heatwaves and droughts will push the region closer to uninhabitability, triggering unprecedented levels of human insecurity and large-scale displacement. In the face of rapid environmental degradation and intractable conflicts, the pursuit of a dignity-based approach to security becomes vital. Wilson Center President & CEO Ambassador Mark Green spoke with HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan about pressing climate change concerns in the region and need to implement a 'human dignity' approach to solutions.

What does success look like? As Russia's unprovoked war in Ukraine enters into its fifth month, it is clear that the military campaign will not end any time soon and that the potential terms of a successful resolution to the conflict are murky. Neither side appears willing, or indeed able, to agree to terms less than victory. While over half of the world measured by GDP have denounced Russia and/or support Ukraine in this conflict, over half of the world by population have not denounced Russia and take no side in the conflict, other than a desire to see it end. Only four countries – Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, and Syria – voted in support of Russia in the UN General Assembly at the onset of the war. Now the consequences of war are felt beyond the battlefield, as energy prices soar worldwide and the Russian blockade of Ukrainian grain and fertilizer shipments threatens global food security. In the coming months, millions of additional refugees from Ukraine and other parts of the world are expected to emerge, fleeing conflict as well as economic and food insecurity. Those who succeed in reaching Europe and the United States will put additional stresses on those societies, potentially threatening political and social stability. Former U.S. Special Representative to Ukraine, Ambassador Kurt Volker joined Wilson Center CEO and Director Ambassador Mark Green in a conversation to review these threats, consider what the West might define as a successful resolution to the conflict, and discuss policy options available to the United States in the coming months.

U.S. Ambassador Clint Williamson draws on an unparalleled career investigating alleged war crimes and criminal activity from Cambodia to Kosovo, investigating cases on behalf of the European Union, the United Nations, and the Hague. Ambassador Williamson now leads a major U.S.- and EU-backed effort to respond to suspected war crimes in Ukraine. As we mark the third month of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ambassador Williamson and Wilson Center President and CEO Ambassador Mark Green discuss holding war criminals to account.

In this conversation with Ambassador Mark Green, President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan spoke of her vision for her country and the future  of the of U.S.-Tanzania relationship.

Ambassador Mark Green, president and CEO of the Wilson Center, held a conversation with Baroness Catherine Ashton, the European Union's first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, discussing the impact Russia's war on Ukraine is having on Europe and the role of Vladimir Putin. Baroness Ashton has spent time with the Russian leader and has valuable insights to share.

This event, part of the Wilson Center's Hindsight Up Front initiative, features a conversation—moderated by Wilson Center President, Director, and CEO Mark Green—with Gen. David Petraeus and Sir John Scarlett, co-chairs of the Wilson Center's Global Advisory Council and two of the world's foremost public intellectuals. They will evaluate the current situation in Afghanistan, six months after the U.S. withdrawal. Their discussion will include security, economics, refugees, human rights, and the performance of the Taliban regime. They will also revisit their earlier Wilson Center conversation, held in July 2021, that focused on the implications of the U.S. withdrawal.

Hindsight Up Front: Ukraine | A Conversation with Gen. David Petraeus and Sir John Scarlett

As Russia continues to amass troops on its border with Ukraine, the United States and NATO are considering its options to deter a possible conflict. The Wilson Center hosted a conversation with Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy examining the details of the situation on the ground in Ukraine, the prospects of deterrence, and the impact this crisis will have on America's security interests.

The Wilson Center President Ambassador Mark Green and Wilson Fellow Hope M. Harrison joined in a conversation with State Minister Tobias Lindner of Germany's Foreign Office about Germany's position in the stand-off between Russia and Ukraine, coordination within NATO, potential sanctions, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz' visit at the White House.

The ongoing crisis on the Russian-Ukrainian border has brought new attention to how Washington and Moscow navigated the end of the Cold War thirty years ago. Today, Russian officials justify aggression against Ukraine by claiming that NATO had reneged on an assurance President Bush had provided to Gorbachev that NATO would not expand eastward. Wilson Center President and CEO, Ambassador Mark Green hosted a discussion with the Honorable Robert Zoellick, who was a direct participant in these talks, to explore what was and was not promised in 1991, and the consequences of any attempt to revisit the post-Cold War settlement.

Latin American Program Director Dr. Cindy Arnson and Ambassador Mark Green hear from Colombian President Iván Duque and have a conversation with him about the challenges in South America and in dealing with migrants from Venezuela.

Nearly one year ago on September 15, 2020, the United States, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain signed the historic Abraham Accords. With this accomplishment, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain charted a new course in the history of Arab-Israeli relations by recognizing the State of Israel and normalizing diplomatic relations. Later that year, two other Arab nations, Sudan and Morocco, followed suit and joined the Abraham Accords, raising the number of Arab States with formal diplomatic ties to Israel from two to six. Today, with the new coalition government in Israel led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, there are new political realities at play. This discussion brought together some of the Ambassadors from the Abraham Accords signatory countries for their perspective, one year later. This important diplomatic initiative is key to maintaining and strengthening peace and stability in the region while collaborating on areas of mutual interest. We also broadcast a special video message of Ambassador Gilad Erdan, Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. and United Nations.

The withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces from Afghanistan, the rapid deterioration of the Afghan government and military, and the return of the Taliban will have profound implications for the future of South Asia. Check out our “Afghanistan: Hindsight Up Front” initiative as we discuss the future of the region with leading journalists, former diplomats, and thought leaders from India and Pakistan.

This event, part of Hindsight Up Front, the Wilson Center's new Afghanistan initiative, features a discussion with H.R. McMaster, a national security adviser in the Trump administration and currently the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. The conversation—moderated by Wilson Center President, Director, and CEO Mark Green—will assess nearly 20 years of U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, focus on the U.S. withdrawal and its implications, and consider options for future U.S. policy. The discussion will also explore immediate policy recommendations for the Biden administration, and what can be done to ensure that U.S. interests in Afghanistan continue to be advanced.

This event kicked off Hindsight Up Front, the Wilson Center's new Afghanistan initiative, with a discussion between Gen. David Petraeus and Sir John Scarlett, co-chairs of the Wilson Center's Global Advisory Council and two of the world's foremost public intellectuals. Their conversation—moderated by Wilson Center President, Director, and CEO Mark Green—focused on the implications of the withdrawal for Afghanistan and the world.

The Wilson Center was honored to host a dialogue between Baroness Cathy Ashton, former EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and current member of the British House of Lords, and the Honorable Nasser Judeh, Senator in Jordan's Parliament and former Foreign Minister, on the present and future of Euro-Mideast relations. 

Marina and David Ottaway bring together fifty years of experience observing the Arab world, and a wealth of first-hand information gathered from living and traveling extensively in the region. A Tale of Four Worlds is an indispensable analysis of the profound upheavals that have shaken—and continue to transform—Arab and global politics.

Washington is torn between two futures for US foreign policy: one of engagement and intervention, another of retrenchment and retreat. The 2020 presidential election will provide an opportunity for the American public to critically assess the Trump administration’s America First foreign policy. The Wilson Center and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs released the 2019 Chicago Council Survey, a detailed look into Americans’ views on today’s vital issues, including the value of trade and military alliances, the threats posed by China, Iran, Russia, and other rivals, and how America should respond to immigration and climate change.

The Greenland Representation in Washington DC and the Wilson Center's Polar Institute and Global Europe Program hosted another session in the Greenland Dialogues. Experts discussed the findings and recommendations of a National Science Foundation workshop that explored ways to strengthen and enhance research collaborations between the U.S. and Greenland.

The Greenland Representation in Washington DC and the Wilson Center's Polar Institute and Global Europe Program hosted another session in the Greenland Dialogues. Experts discussed the findings and recommendations of a National Science Foundation workshop that explored ways to strengthen and enhance research collaborations between the U.S. and Greenland.

Wilson Center President & CEO Jane Harman sits down for a conversation with Assistant Secretary of State for Educational & Cultural Affairs Marie Royce about her bureau’s impact on foreign policy and efforts to empower women to achieve leadership roles both in the public and private sector.  

The first 100 days of the Bolsonaro administration have been marked by political paralysis, in large part due to the successive crises generated by the President’s own inner circle, if not by himself. Amidst the political noise, Vice President Hamilton Mourão has emerged as a voice of reason and moderation, capable of providing direction in domestic and foreign affairs alike. Vice President Mourão has taken over management of the crisis in Venezuela and has been increasingly sought after by officials from China, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as the business community, to act as an interlocutor for the government. The former four-star general has also become a favorite of Brazilian journalists—who are frequently critical of the new administration—for his willingness to engage with the media and for his important remarks on the need for government to value a diversity of opinions. 

America isn’t optimizing its digital defenses. Although there are many positive initiatives underway, the current environment can be characterized more as independent actions with brittle boundaries than a sufficiently empowered government organization. Looking forward, government, industry, and the security research community must work better collectively to defend systems, share threat information in real time, and respond sufficiently to incidents, as the numbers and capabilities of cyber-threat actors increase.