This Week's Reads: Will Trump's Pulling of Troops from Syria Prove to Be a Historic Blunder?

Against the advice of his entire national security team, President Donald Trump has ordered the full withdrawal of 2,000 US ground troops from Syria within 30 days. Council President Ivo Daalder writes in the Chicago Tribune about what this means for the US Syria policy.

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North American Cities Taking Action on Climate

On December 4–6, 2017, the city of Chicago hosted the North American Climate Summit. The summit was the first US climate convening following President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, and brought together over 50 cities drawn from ten countries, representing over 60 million people, to sign the Chicago Climate Charter.

Read the report

Deep Dish: Chinese Cyber Attacks and Industrial Espionage

The massive Marriott records breach was the latest in a series of economic espionage cases attributed to China. Top cyber security experts Lesley Carhart and Adam Segal join this week's Deep Dish podcast to discuss the evolving tactical and policy challenges involved in managing international cyber space.

Listen to the podcast

Wait Just a Minute: David Sanger on Cybersecurity

Our web series Wait Just a Minute asks experts to answer complex questions about global affairs in 60 seconds. In this episode, national security correspondent and senior writer for the New York Times David Sanger answers questions on cyberattacks, why they've become the new weapon of choice for foreign adversaries, the most likely suspects behind the next cyberattack, and who he'd most like to interview on the subject.

Watch the video.

Policy and Politics

How Trump Made War on Angela Merkel and Europe

Looking back on the last two years of President Trump's approach to and relations with European allies, Council president Ivo Daalder tells The New Yorker "“...the allies spent all of 2017 trying to figure out how they could entice him into more of a traditional relationship, and they collectively absolutely failed...by 2018, they were starting to realize this was the real Trump.”

Global Economy

Can the New NAFTA Pay for Trump's Wall?

President Trump walked back his threat to shut down the government if he did not receive funding for the border wall from Congress, and Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the funding could come from the new USMCA trade deal. Phil Levy analyzes in Forbes if this claim is conceivable, and the possible results to the United States and the trilateral deal if they do so.

Pandemic Panic: Protecting an Interconnected World

On Thursday, January 17, learn how we can strengthen our health systems, prepare our global cities, and educate our communities to prevent the next pandemic.

Thursday, January 17, 2019
Doors open: 5:15 pm
Event: 5:30 pm

Chicago Council on Global Affairs Conference Center
130 East Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601

Register Today

Registration closes January 17.

Pandemic Panic: Protecting an Interconnected World

America Engaged

The Trump administration has made bold attempts to reshape US foreign policy. Is the American public on board? Take a look at the findings of the 2018 Chicago Council Survey.

Membership

The Council offers globally minded Chicagoans opportunities to go behind the headlines and learn about what is happening around the world without leaving Chicago. Membership contributions also support the important work the Council does to connect Chicago to the world. Join today.


The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization that provides insight – and influences the public discourse – on critical global issues. We convene leading global voices, conduct independent research, and engage the public to explore ideas that will shape our global future. The Council on Global Affairs is committed to bringing clarity and offering solutions to issues that transcend borders and transform how people, business, and governments engage the world.