
February 23, 2021
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The 2020-2021 Foreign Policy Forum Series is presented by Hitachi Healthcare Americas.
Multiple issues surround the U.S.-Iran relationship and now face the Biden Administration. A primary policy consideration is Iran’s nuclear program and the possibility of restoring the 2015 nuclear agreement. How can the Biden Administration work to prevent a Iranian nuclear weapons program and increase security in the Middle East through relations with Iran? How will the Biden Administration choose to engage with Iranian counterparts? Outside of bilateral and nuclear issues, multilateral diplomacy will likely be a central focus for how the United States will engage with Iran and others in the Middle East. What might U.S. multilateral diplomacy look like in a region filled with challenging actors?
On February 23, the Cleveland Council on World Affairs will host Paul Pillar and Kelsey Davenport for a dynamic conversation about the challenges facing the Biden Administration’s policy towards Iran and the Middle East.
Paul Pillar is a Nonresident Senior Fellow of the Center for Security Studies in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a Fellow of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He had a 28 year career in the U.S. intelligence community and most recently served as National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia. Earlier he served in analytical and managerial positions, including as chief of analytic units at the CIA covering portions of the Near East, the Persian Gulf, and South Asia.
Kelsey Davenport is the Director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association, where she focuses on the nuclear and missile programs in Iran, North Korea, India, and Pakistan. She also reports on developments in these areas for Arms Control Today and runs the Arms Control Association’s project assessing the effectiveness of multilateral voluntary initiatives that contribute to nonproliferation efforts. Prior to joining the Arms Control Association, she worked at a think tank in Jerusalem researching Middle East security issues.
Registration for this event is now closed. The podcast recording will be posted in our podcasts section after the event.

ADMISSION
Documentary songwriting is a powerful vehicle for telling women's stories. It turns difficult experiences into beautiful music, and through collaboration it creates lasting bonds between participants. These real, truthful stories can help connect even more people.
ACTIONS
An Uneasy Ambiguity: A New Path for U.S. – China Relations
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Ivan Kanapathy is the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. From 2018 to 2021 he served on the White House’s National Security Council staff as director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia and deputy senior director for Asian affairs.
Why America’s Army Can’t Win America’s Wars: Ukraine, Afghanistan, and the Future of Conflict
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
John Nagl is Associate Professor of Warfighting Studies at the Army War College. A West Point graduate and retired Armor officer, he attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, earning his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in International Relations. His doctoral dissertation was published as “Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam.”
Nigeria: What is At Stake for Africa’s Largest Economy Facing Challenging 2023 Elections?
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Oge Onubogu is senior program officer for Africa Programs at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) where she leads programming in Nigeria. In this position, she provides leadership, strategic management, and oversees the design and implementation of projects to promote inclusion and community security by partnering with policymakers, civic leaders, and organizations in Nigeria.
Brazil’s Presidential Elections and Implications for U.S. – Brazil Bilateral Relations
Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Liliana Ayalde is Senior Adviser in the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. In her 38-year career as a Foreign Service Officer, she was dedicated to foreign affairs, development, defense and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. She served as the U.S. ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil from 2013-2016.
The Evolving World Order: How Geopolitics Shape American Security
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Richard Fontaine is the Chief Executive Office of the Center for a New American Security. Prior to CNAS, he was foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain and worked at the State Department, the National Security Council (NSC), and on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Topic: U.S. – Saudi Arabia Relations
Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Dr. Courtney Freer is Visiting Assistant Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Emory University. Her academic work focuses on the domestic politics of the Arab Gulf states and Islamism.
What if…?: Scenarios for the Future of Ukraine
Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 5:45 PM | The Union Club
Liana Fix is a Resident Fellow, German Marshall Fund; Professor, International Affairs, Koerber Foundation in Berlin. She is a historian and political scientist, and her work focuses on Russia and Eastern Europe and European security.
Topic: Global Food Security
Date in May to be determined
Speaker: To be announced in the new year
Foreign Policy Forum COVID-19 Guidelines
In light of the ongoing evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, the health and safety of our members, speakers, and staff remain a priority for the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. We ask that all Foreign Policy Forum attendees agree to maintain vigilance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by:
- Refraining from attending Foreign Policy Forum events if you:
– Have had recent contact with an infected person
– Are experiencing symptoms or feeling unwell - Maintaining a vaccination and booster schedule appropriate for your own risk level and health implications.
- Continuing to follow local health authorities’ guidelines in an evolving environment.
- Agreeing to comply with requests, such as masking, if necessary, made by CCWA staff to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Questions? Contact Amy Moniot, Manager of Programming at amoniot@ccwa.org or 216.255.9006.
VENUE INFORMATION
Who Am I As a Leader?
Cleveland and the Global Economy
Social & Political Change Around the Globe
Diplomatic Toolkit in Action
Who Am I As a Leader?
Cleveland and the Global Economy
Social & Political Change Around the Globe
Diplomatic Toolkit in Action