The Future of the US-UK 'Special Relationship'
Seventy-five years after Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech, a panel of experts discusses the features and challenges that define the UK-US relationship.
About This Event
Seventy-five years ago, Winston Churchill came to the Midwest to decry the Soviet Union’s "iron curtain" and celebrate the "special relationship" between the United States and United Kingdom. As President Biden’s administration outlines its foreign policy priorities, both countries are discussing ways to further collaborate on combatting climate change, battling the COVID-19 pandemic, and bolstering their already robust trade ties. What will UK-US ties look like under the Biden administration? And, as tensions and a pandemic again divide the world, what lessons can we draw from Churchill's speech?
Event Schedule
| Time | Agenda |
|---|---|
| 2:30 p.m. | Fireside chat with Ambassadors Ivo Daalder and Karen Pierce |
| 2:45 - 3:30 p.m. | Panel Discussion |
About the Speakers
CEO, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Ivo H. Daalder served as the US ambassador to NATO from 2009 to 2013. He joined the Council as president in 2013 and took on the new role of CEO in 2023. Previously, he was a senior fellow in foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution and served as director for European affairs on President Bill Clinton’s National Security Council. He is the author or editor of 10 books.
Laurence Geller
Chairman, Geller Capital Partners
Laurence S. Geller CBE is an accomplished businessman and entrepreneur, having led multi-national hospitality and tourism corporations. He is the chairman of the board of trustees for the International Churchill Society. Geller has over 50 years of experience in lodging and has received numerous awards for service to the industry and his civic endeavors.
British Consul General, Chicago
Alan Gogbashian was appointed Her Majesty’s Consul General for Chicago in January 2020 and leads the UK’s engagement across 14 states in the Midwest. He has been a member of the British diplomatic service since 2008. His most recent roles have included deputy ambassador to Morocco and Mauritania, deputy director Americas, and head of international human resources.
Historian and Author
Catherine Grace Katz is a writer and historian from Chicago. She is the author of "The Daughters of Yalta," the untold story of the three intelligent and glamorous young women who accompanied their famous fathers to the Yalta Conference in February 1945.
British Ambassador to the United States
Prior to arriving in DC, Ambassador Karen Pierce was the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York since March 2018. Prior to this role, Pierce served as the director general for political affairs and chief operating officer of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
Midwest Correspondent, The Economist
Adam Roberts is the Midwest correspondent for The Economist covering politics, policy, and social affairs in America. Previously, he was the European Business and Finance correspondent based in Paris.
Crown Center Content
This content is produced by the Lester Crown Center, which aims to shape debates and inform decisions on important US foreign policy and national security issues.
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