This trip is especially unique given that we’re partnering with the German Marshall Fund’s “GMF Across America” program for this visit.
Kansas City, MO
April 8-10, 2019
CNAS and GMF had two great days of conversations and panels lined up in Kansas City, MO!
First up, we stopped at the Missouri International Trade and Investment Office to meet with Ann Pardalos, John Hensley, and Ruth Tucker where we talked about some of the economic drivers of both Kansas City and Missouri more broadly. Next, we went to the International Relations Council for an on-the-record lunch discussion on the Future of US-European Relations, where we discussed issues like trade, Missouri's role in foreign policy, and the US role in the world.
Afterward, we stopped at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for a panel discussion with students and faculty on the Transatlantic relationship and some of the challenges facing the United States today. The student questions were fascinating, and focused heavily on Iran, climate change, and the US sanctions regime. Next, we met with KC's Mayor Pro-Tem, and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City's Director of International Affairs, Narbeli Galindo to talk about some of the local issues on the ground in Missouri.
Finally, CNAS and GMF wrapped up the trip with the grand finale: a public event and reception at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. Given that this trip took place less than a week after NATO marked its 70th anniversary with a Foreign Ministerial in Washington, the topic of the Discussion was “NATO at 70.” We were thrilled to talk to members of the community about their thoughts on the trajectory of the transatlantic relationship, as well as other foreign policy issues on the minds of Missourians today.
NATO at 70
Public program in honor of the 70th anniversary of NATO featuring a panel discussion on the alliances history and continued role in the 21st century.
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Meet The Panel
Derek Chollet
Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Derek Chollet is Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor for security and defense policy at The German Marshall Fund of the United States. He served in senior positions during the Obama administration at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon, most recently as the U.S. assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs.
Floreta Faber
Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the U.S.
Floreta Faber is the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the U.S. Ambassador Faber has a combined dynamic experience in cooperating with American, international and Albanian business, diplomatic and government environments.
Richard Fontaine
Chief Executive Officer
Center for a New American Security (CNAS)
Richard Fontaine currently serves as the President of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has been an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Jamie Fly
Senior Fellow and Director, Future of Geopolitics, Asia Program
The German Marshall Fund of the United States
Jamie Fly is a senior fellow and director of the Future of Geopolitics and Asia programs at The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). He also works with the Alliance for Securing Democracy at GMF. He served as counselor for Foreign and National Security Affairs to Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) from 2013–2017, serving as his foreign policy advisor during his presidential campaign.
Dr. Andrea Kendall-Taylor
Senior Fellow and Director, Transatlantic Security Program, CNAS
Andrea Kendall-Taylor is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.
Piotr Wilczek
Ambassador of Poland to the U.S
A prolific literary scholar, intellectual historian, writer, and translator, he graduated in 1986 from the University of Silesia in Katowice, where he also received his Ph.D. (1992) and Habilitation (2001).