What: Savannah Council on World Affairs Lecture Series

Topic: A New Storm is Gathering; Can we Prevent the Next War?

When: Wednesday, May 22, 7:00pm-8:30pm

Where: Skidaway Community Church, 50 Diamond Causeway

Speaker: Ambassador Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, former Executive Director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, and former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations

Program Abstract: Russia continues its attacks in Ukraine, supported by Iran and North Korea. Iran is emboldened to attack Israel, with Russian approval. China maintains its designs on Taiwan. North Korea obtains missile technology from Russia in exchange for giving Moscow artillery shells to attack Ukraine. Authoritarians sense a lack of resolve in the West and are coordinating their actions. It may be the most dangerous time our generation has seen. How should we prevent a major war? What role can NATO play in helping do so? What results should the U.S. seek from the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington in July? Ambassador Kurt Volker, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, former Executive Director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, and former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, will provide his analysis and recommendation on these critical issues.

Speaker bio:

Ambassador Kurt Volker is a leading expert in U.S. foreign and national security policy with over 35 years of experience in a variety of government, academic, and private sector capacities.  He served as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017 to 2019, and as U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 2008-2009.  Ambassador Volker is President and Founder of Alliance Strategic Advisors, LLC, which provides strategic advice and services to a diverse range of business clients with interests in Europe and Eurasia. He co-founded the American University Kyiv in 2022 and serves as co-Chair of its Supervisory Board.  He also serves as Senior International Advisor at BGR Group, which provides government relations, public relations, and business advisory services to a wide array of clients.  

In June 2020, Ambassador Volker was named a Distinguished Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).  From 2012-2019, Ambassador Volker was the founding Executive Director of The McCain Institute for International Leadership, a part of Arizona State University based in Washington, DC.  He remains a Senior Advisor at the Atlantic Council; a Trustee of the American College of the Mediterranean in Aix-en-Provence, France; a Trustee of the Hungary Foundation; a member of the GLOBSEC International Advisory Board; and a member of the International Advisory Board of the U.S. Institute for Peace.  He has taught Transatlantic Relations at The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs and is a member of that School’s Board of Advisors.  He contributes regularly to public policy debates, through op-eds, articles, speeches, and television appearances for a wide variety of outlets.

Sponsors:  Critz Auto Group, Morris & Templeton Insurance, Daily Chatter.