Meeting

2025 International Affairs Fellowship Conference: Diplomacy in a Changing World

Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Umit Bektas/Reuters
Speakers

President and Chief Executive Officer, Brzezinski Global Strategies; Former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden (2011-2015); Former U.S. Ambassador to Poland (2022-2025); Former IAF (1999-2000); CFR Member (speaking virtually)

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations; Former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa (2004-2005); Former IAF (1998-1999)

Executive Director, Maritime Humanitarian Aid Foundation; Former U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia (2007-2011); Former IAF (1975-1976); CFR Member

Presider

Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of Fellowship Affairs, Council on Foreign Relations, Former IAF (1995-1996)

Introductory Remarks

President, Council on Foreign Relations

Former U.S. ambassadors and IAF alumni reflect on the challenges of representing American interests amid rising authoritarianism, strained alliances, and shifting trade and security priorities—as well as how diplomacy is adapting and what it continues to get right.

The International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) Keynote is made possible through a generous gift from Janine and J. Tomilson Hill in support of CFR’s flagship International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) program. For more information, please visit CFR’s Fellowship Affairs Page

A special series of summer meetings will follow this session, featuring a selection of CFR’s recent IAFs, IAFs in Canada, IAFs in India, IAFs in Indonesia, IAFs in Japan, IAFs for Tenured International Relations Scholars, and IAFs in European Security. Information about the summer sessions will be announced at a later date.

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