Commemorating 200 Years of U.S.-Liberia Ties: Moving Forward Together

Thursday, Feb. 27 // 4–5:15 p.m. (ET)

Two hundred years ago, in 1822, a group of free black men, women, and children from the United States established a settlement on Providence Island in what would become the city of Monrovia and, in 1847, the Republic of Liberia. As two of the oldest continuous republics in the world, the United States and Liberia share a unique and significant history, offering both lessons learned and sustained successes.

The Wilson Center’s Africa and History and Public Policy Programs are jointly hosting Commemorating 200 Years of U.S.-Liberia Ties: Moving Forward Together, featuring reflections by five former U.S. Ambassadors to Liberia who served during the country’s post civil war years. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield will provide opening remarks, followed by a panel discussion to include distinguished Ambassadors John W. Blaney, Donald E. Booth, Deborah R. Malac, and Christine A. Elder. Ambassador Michael A. McCarthy will offer closing remarks.

Managing Crisis and Competition in the Coming Decade between Russia and the United States

Tuesday, Feb.22 // 2–3 p.m. (ET)

Negotiations concerning Russia’s buildup of military forces surrounding Ukraine have put renewed attention on existing and future challenges in U.S.-Russian relations. Dr. Gregory Hall, Associate Professor at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, University of Kentucky, will join us to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the dissonance of perspectives among its actors, and its potential impact on present and future arms control and nonproliferation discussions.

An Updated Approach to Capitalism: New Opportunities for Japan-U.S. Cooperation

Wednesday, Feb. 23 // 9–10:00 a.m. (ET)

Join us for a discussion on Prime Minister Fumio administration’s new economic agenda and prospects for cooperation between Japan and the United States bilaterally and across the Indo-Pacific.

Public Opinion in the Divided Donbas: Results of a January 2022 Survey on Both Sides of the Contact Line

Wednesday, Feb. 23 // 12–1:00 p.m. (ET)

Experts John O’Loughlin, Gwendolyn Sasse, and Gerard Toal will present key results from a large representative phone survey of 4025 respondents from both sides of the territorial divide. Blame for the ongoing conflict as well as the current escalation, preferences for final status options for the region, reactions to a possible Russian invasion, trust in political leaders, and war experiences are analyzed.

Unpacking the U.S. Role in Global Plastic Waste: A Green Tea Chat with the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Margaret Spring

Wednesday, Feb. 23 // 3–3:30 p.m. (ET)

We invite you to join this conversation with Margaret Spring, the Chief Conservation and Science Officer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Ms. Spring is the chair of the committee that wrote the National Academies of Science plastic report, and will share insights into the U.S. plastic challenge and key interventions to policies to reign in plastic.

Tunisia’s Digital Future: A Conversation with the Minister of Communication Technologies

Thursday, Feb. 24 // 10–11:00 a.m. (ET)

As the fourth industrial revolution sweeps across the MENA region, Tunisia proves to be a tech leader. To discuss Tunisia’s progress over the last decade and road ahead, the Middle East Program hosts Dr. Nizar Ben Neji, Tunisia’s Minister of Communication Technologies.

A Conversation with Turkish Ambassador Mercan on the Ukraine Crisis

Friday, Feb. 25 // 9–10:00 a.m. (ET)

The Wilson Center hosts Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Murat Mercan to discuss Turkey’s role in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, and likely steps forward should a Russian advance take place.