Name: Trilateral Ambassador Discussion on the Euro-Atlantic Relationship Following Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine — Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress
Start: 2022-09-09T10:00:00-0400
End: 2022-09-09T11:30:00-0400

Trilateral Ambassador Discussion on the Euro-Atlantic Relationship Following Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Russia’s war in Ukraine has reinvigorated the Euro-Atlantic system of alliances and reinforced the importance of multi-lateral relationships in this era of strategic competition. While the final outcome of the war in Ukraine is unknown, it is known that the United States, United Kingdom, and France will have a key role in helping shape that post-war environment through NATO, the European Union, and their bilateral relationships. On September 9, CSPC will bring together three former ambassadors to Russia—Ambassador Thomas Pickering (U.S.), Ambassador Sir Roderic Lyne (UK), and Ambassador Stanislas de Laboulaye (France)— to discuss the present and future state of Euro-Atlantic political and security environment as well as the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In particular, the ambassadors will provide their thoughts on the current state and future of the transatlantic relationship, the West’s relationship with Russia, and Russia’s government under President Vladimir Putin as they have been shaped by Russia’s Ukraine invasion.

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Speakers

Ambassador Thomas Pickering (U.S.) currently serves as Chairman of CSPC’s Board of Trustees and as Vice Chairman of Hills and Company, which provides advice and counsel to a number of major US enterprises. Pickering previously served as U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and was Senior Vice President International Relations at Boeing until his retirement in 2006. Pickering holds the personal rank of Career Ambassador, the highest in the U.S. Foreign Service. In a diplomatic career spanning five decades, he was U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation (1993–1996), India (1992–1993), the United Nations (1989–1992), Israel (1985–1988), El Salvador (1983–1985), Nigeria (1981–1983), and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (1974–1978). Early in his diplomatic career, Pickering was assigned to posts in Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and served as an assistant to Secretaries of State William P. Rogers and Henry Kissinger. In 1983 and in 1986, Pickering won the Distinguished Presidential Award and, in 1996, the Department of State’s highest award – the Distinguished Service Award.

Ambassador Sir Roderic Lyne, KBE CMG (UK) is a former British diplomat who previously served as Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister (1993-1996), UK Ambassador to international organizations in Geneva (1997-2000) and UK Ambassador to Russia (2000-2004). Lyne was a member of the British Diplomatic Service began his diplomatic career in 1970, variously serving in the Soviet Union, Senegal, and with the UK’s delegation to the UN. Before becoming an advisor to Prime Minister John Major, Ambassador Lyne served as head of the Soviet and what was then the Eastern Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as well as in the role of Head of Chancery at the British Embassy in Moscow. From 2005 to 2007 Roderic was a member of the Task Force of the Trilateral Commission on Russia, and co-authored the commission’s report entitled ‘Engaging with Russia: The Next Phase.”

Ambassador Stanislas de Laboulaye (France) is a French diplomat who previously served as French Ambassador to the Holy See (2009-2012), Ambassador to Russia (2006-2009), Ambassador to Madagascar (2000-2002), and as Consul-General of France in Jerusalem (1996-1999). Ambassador de Laboulaye began his career as a French diplomat in 1980. Before becoming an ambassador, de Laboulaye saw service in postings at the French Foreign Ministry, the French delegation to the European Communities, and France’s embassy in Madrid. Ambassador de Laboulaye’s family has a long history in French diplomatic service, including with his father, François de Laboulaye, and André de Laboulaye, who both served as Ambassadors to the United States, in addition to other postings. In 2019, De Laboulaye was appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron to coordinate international cooperation in the reconstruction of Paris’ fire-damaged Notre Dame cathedral.