On August 6 at 9 am PT, dial in for a discussion on the proposed closure of U.S. embassies around the world as part of a broader effort by the government to reduce State Department spending. This conversation will address the potential effects on U.S. national security, foreign policy priorities, and the country’s ability to influence international affairs. Members will hear from Darrell Blocker, a Former American Intelligence Officer and Founder of DMB Consulting Services, Michelle D. Gavin, Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and Dr. Lisa Saum-Manning, Associate Director of the International Security and Defense Policy Program and a Senior Political Scientist at RAND, and a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy.

Hear from Tyler Beckelman, Former Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, USAID, Ebenezer Obadare, Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for African Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and Ornella Nsoki, DRC Program Manager at PAEMA (Preventing and Ending Mass Atrocities), on July 25 at 8 am PT, for a dialogue addressing the longstanding tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Pacific Council is excited to host an intimate roundtable discussion with Ryan Hass, one of the nation’s foremost experts on U.S.-China relations and Director of the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings in Washington, D.C., on June 12 at 5 pm PT.

Raise a glass with us as we launch Cocktails With A Consulate, a new in-person event series hosted in collaboration with members of the Los Angeles Consular Corps. Each gathering will pair uniquely themed cocktails with a conversation on the global discourse, creating space to strengthen Los Angeles’ diplomatic relationships.