TNWAC This Week
July 14, 2021
Dear Members and Friends:
It’s Bastille Day, the national day celebration in France. It’s observance, so close to our celebration of Independence, reminds us of the connections our two countries have had since the beginning of our Republic. It easily comes to my mind, having once served aboard the missile submarine USS Lafayette. It was named to honor the French Marquis who played a decisive role commanding American troops at the 1781 Battle of Yorktown alongside French troops commanded by Rochambeau. Few US Navy ships are named for foreign officers.
We’re pleased to share for your consideration the words of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken who marked this year’s Bastille Day celebration:
“We have an enduring and close relationship with France, our oldest Ally. In the spirit of “Liberté, Égalité, and Fraternité,” the United States cherishes its relationship with France, defined by our shared values and belief in democracy and human rights. We fought side by side through two World Wars and worked together in the aftermath to create a more prosperous and secure Europe. We recognize and appreciate French contributions to global security, including in Africa and in the Middle East, and applaud French leadership on climate, including the Paris Agreement. The United States is committed to working with France to combat the climate crisis and to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our nations’ partnership is extensive and multifaceted, and we highly value France’s contributions to creating a more peaceful and prosperous world. Best wishes to the people of France for a joyous national day and a successful year ahead.”
Hear! Hear!
Wishes for a safe and prosperous week.
Sincerely,
Patrick W. Ryan
Founding President, TNWAC
MARK THE CALENDAR
- Afghanistan and Iraq: What’s Ahead – Ambassadors Robert Ford and Ronald Neumann | Sep 16 | With PAWAC | Save the Date
- Global Security Forum | Oct 1-2 | In partnership with CT WAC | Registration/Details
- National Conference of the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA’s 35th Anniversary) | Nov 17-19
UNDERSTANDING US-RUSSIA RELATIONS AFTER THE SUMMIT
Tuesday evening TNWAC hosted a conversation on the meeting between President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin last month in Geneva. Professor Andrei Korobkov and Professor Mark Katz, two eminent scholars on Russian foreign policy, shared insights and perspectives on the context for the summit, the leaders’ agendas and the path ahead for this important and contentious strategic relationship. We invite you to watch or listen to the “Global Dialogue” with Korobkov and Katz. It’s archived (along with scores of top quality programs) on our YouTube.com/TNWAC channel and as a Podcast on SoundCloud.com/TNWAC, and wherever you get your Pods (look for “Global Tennessee”).
RUSSIA’S AMBASSADOR TALKS WITH TNWAC | FLASHBACK
Speaking of US-Russia relations, the conversation this week with Professors Korobkov and Katz reminded us of our Ambassadorial Speakers’ program with Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak in January 2016. You may recall he was a principal actor in the early days of the Trump Administration and was the Russian official who spoke with General Michael Flynn, the newly appointed National Security Advisor. Flynn’s denials to FBI agents of those conversations resulted in his indictment and subsequent travails. When Ambassador Kislyak was with us in Nashville for a TNWAC hosted public events agenda he spoke with Dr. Mimi Barnard at a Global Town Hall at Belmont University. We invite you to watch the conversation between Barnard and Kislyak, before he became a celebrity, as context for where the relationship between Moscow and Washington has been, as you consider where it is now.
VOLUNTEERS
The Tennessee World Affairs Council invites you to consider becoming a volunteer. TNWAC programs, development and administration are managed by a (very) small staff. We’re always on the lookout for people who are interested in our mission — bring the world to our fellow citizens — and have an opportunity to share their time and talents. There’s a great need so if you’re interested drop us an email. [[email protected]]
COMPETING FOR THE FUTURE
Your World Affairs Council is pleased to be a partner with the Connecticut World Affairs Council in offering the 2021 Global Security Forum: Competing for the Future, coming to you on October 1-2, 2021. At this forum generals, experts, and foreign leaders will convene to address the most critical global security issues of today and the opportunities of tomorrow. Learn more about the GSF and register for this terrific opportunity. HERE.
YOU SHOULD SPONSOR THESE PROGRAMS
We invite businesses, organizations and individuals to sponsor these events. It is through your support that we are able to bring quality global affairs programs to the community. Your sponsorship also highlights your commitment to education and global affairs awareness in the community. For information about sponsoring other programs and series of events contact Patrick Ryan, TNWAC President @ 931-261-2353, [email protected]
THIS WEEK AROUND THE NETWORK OF WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS
- WorldBoston hosts Theodore Johnson, Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of Law, to discuss his book When the Stars Begin to Fall.
- World Affairs Council of Greater Reading hosts Rebecca Pincus, U.S. Naval War College, for “Emerging Great Power Competition in the Arctic.”
- World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth hosts Rachel Vogelstein, Director of the Women and Foreign Policy Program, and Meighan Stone, Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy, both at the Council on Foreign Relations, for “Awakening: #MeToo and the Global Fight for Women’s Rights.”
- World Affairs Council of Atlanta hosts Tal Schneider, Political Correspondent for The Times of Israel, for “Israel’s (New) Political Landscape.”
- World Affairs (Northern California) hosts Jeffrey Garten, Dean Emeritus at Yale School of Management and author, for “The Nixon Shock: How Three Days at Camp David Changed Financial History.”
- World Affairs Council of Sonoma County hosts Surjit Bhalla, Executive Director for India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan at the International Monetary Fund, for “The New Wealth of Nations: Education.”
- World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area hosts Andrew Bacevich, Founder and President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, for “After the Apocalypse: America’s Role in a World Transformed.”
- World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky hosts Eavan Cully, Foreign Service Officer at U.S. Consulate Nuuk, for “Working in the Arctic: A U.S. Diplomat’s Story.”
- Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosts Jocelyn Tetel, VP of Advancement at the Skirball Cultural Center, for a “Private Members-Only Tour of the Ai Weiwei: Trace Exhibition.” (In-Person)
- World Affairs Council of Greater Houston hosts Khaled Elgindy, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, for “Israel, Palestine & the US’s Role in a Possible Plan for Peace.” (In-Person)
- World Affairs Council of Orange County hosts John Sganga, Knobbe Martens Partner, Vladimir Lozan, Knobbe Martens Partner, Baraa Kahf, Knobbe Martens Partner, and Johnson Ge, Managing Partner at Uni-Intel, for “Obtaining and Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights Worldwide: A View from the Frontline.”
- World Affairs Council of St. Louis hosts British Deputy Ambassador Michael Tatham and Consul General Alan Gogbashian for “A Virtual Visit with Michael Tatham and Alan Gogbashian.”
THANKS TO THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCILS OF AMERICA FOR COORDINATION OF WEEKLY PROGRAMS FROM AROUND THE NETWORK
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH
THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS IN GLOBAL AFFAIRS AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH
THE MISSION of the nonprofit, nonpartisan Tennessee World Affairs Council is to promote international awareness, understanding and connections to enhance the region’s global stature and to prepare Tennesseans to thrive in our increasingly complex and connected world.
THE VISION of the Tennessee World Affairs Council is a well-informed community that thinks critically about the world and the impact of global events.
