Events

Each year CFR organizes more than one hundred on-the-record events, conference calls, and podcasts in which senior government officials, global leaders, business executives, and prominent thinkers discuss pressing international issues.  
  • United States

    David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), presents the new IRC Emergency Watchlist report, highlighting the countries at highest risk of humanitarian crises in 2025 and examining where the international community has made progress or fallen short. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
  • United States

    In a special event copresented by the Council on Foreign Relations and The Lancet, panelists discuss priorities for improving public health in the United States and abroad. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website. Members may bring a guest to this event.
  • Ukraine

    Dmytro Kuleba discusses Ukraine’s strategic position in the war with Russia, and evaluates how the incoming Donald Trump administration might influence Ukraine’s international relations and policies. This meeting is part of the Council Special Initiative on Securing Ukraine’s Future and is part of the Wachenheim Program on Peace and Security. The program is made possible by the generous support of the Sue and Edgar Wachenheim Foundation. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
  • Syria

    CFR experts discuss the latest news out of Syria, including what the fall of Bashar al-Assad means for the future of the country and the wider region.
  • United States

    In response to new fractures and flashpoints in the global economy and heightened strategic competition, the United States and countries around the world are recalibrating their approaches to economic policy. This includes the U.S. government prioritizing economic statecraft  – including affirmative measures that bring mutual economic and security benefits to the United States and our international partners. Building on decades of work supporting inclusive economic growth, USAID is now accelerating its efforts to strengthen economic resilience in low- and middle-income countries to increase debt sustainability, create jobs, and connect with U.S. and allies’ critical supply chains. Please join us for a conversation with USAID Administrator Samantha Power and CFR President Michael Froman on USAID’s policy and programmatic efforts to meet the moment for U.S. economic and national security interests by delivering responsive development cooperation and a strengthened U.S. value proposition for low- and middle-income countries.   For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website. This meeting is presented by RealEcon: Reimagining American Economic Leadership and is made possible by the generous support of the Amy Falls and Hartley Rogers Foundation.
  • United States

    Please note that the CFR meeting with Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines on Thursday, December 5, 2024, will now be held from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. (EST) due to a change in the speaker’s schedule. The lunch will begin at 12:15 p.m. Avril Haines discusses strategic competition with China and the operations of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, including her focus on collaboration with the private sector and the intelligence community’s recruitment needs. For those attending virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.  
  • Israel

    A year after Hamas’s devastating October 7 attack, Israel faces a seven-front war and deepening divisions between its military and Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is dire. This joint symposium between CFR and the Institute for National Security Studies (Israel) will bring together a broad range of regional and military experts to reflect on a year of war in the Middle East and how the change in U.S. administrations could shape evolving regional dynamics. The sessions will cover the present state of the war in Gaza, the future of Middle East peace processes, and U.S. strategy towards Iran. Click here to download the full agenda for the symposium.  Members may bring a guest to this symposium.
  • Ukraine

    Petro Poroshenko discusses Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia and the role of U.S. and NATO support. Please note there is no virtual component to the meeting. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
  • United States

    Dr. Mandy K. Cohen reflects on her time as CDC director, highlighting the progress and accomplishments of the Biden administration both domestically and globally. 
  • United States

    Panelists discuss U.S.-Latin America relations during the Biden administration, potential changes under the Trump administration, and opportunities to develop more effective U.S. policies in the region.
  • United States

    Vice Admiral Frank ‘Trey’ Whitworth, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), explores the NGA’s current initiatives and how AI is transforming the field of geospatial intelligence. Please note there is no virtual component to this meeting. The audio, video, and transcript of this virtual meeting will be posted on the CFR website.
  • United States

    Panelists discuss the potential technical and economic benefits provided by blockchain technology, including Web3 and cryptocurrencies, their effect on democratic institutions, financial inclusion, and national security, as well as the role of regulation in promoting transparency, mitigating risks, and encouraging innovation. Please note there is no virtual component to this meeting. The audio, video, and transcript of this meeting will be posted on the CFR website. This meeting is part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Meeting Series on Democracy.
  • United States

    CFR Military Fellows discuss ways their respective branches are meeting the challenges of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, climate change, and an evolving global threat landscape. The CFR Young Professionals Briefing Series provides an opportunity for those early in their careers to engage with CFR. The briefings feature remarks by experts on critical global issues and lessons learned in their careers. These events are intended for individuals who have completed their undergraduate studies and have not yet reached the age of thirty to be eligible for CFR term membership. We are pleased to extend this invitation to you through the recommendation of a CFR member. If you no longer wish to receive these invitations, please let us know by replying to this email. If you wish to attend virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and the transcript of this hybrid meeting will be posted on the CFR website. 
  • Ukraine

    CFR experts discuss the implications of President Joe Biden authorizing Ukraine to use U.S. long-range missiles against targets inside of Russia, and the prospects for the Ukraine-Russia war under President-Elect Donald Trump.
  • United States

    Reflecting on past experiences, panelists discuss the critical aspects of the U.S. presidential transition, including the importance of a peaceful transfer of power, potential challenges that may confront the incoming administration, and strategies to prevent leadership gaps in essential roles during this period. Please make note of the log-in information listed in this invitation. Log-in information and instructions on how to participate during the question and answer portion will also be provided the evening before the event to those who register. The audio, video, and transcript of this virtual meeting will be posted on the CFR website. This meeting is part of the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Meeting Series on Democracy.
  • Religion

    Elliott Abrams, CFR senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies, and Elliot Cosgrove, rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue, discuss the evolving role of the Jewish diaspora in shaping U.S. policy towards the Middle East, the challenges of fostering unity within the Jewish community, and the broader implications for international relations. Asher Lopatin, rabbi of Kehillat Etz Chayim,  moderates the discussion.
  • United States

    In the inaugural launch of this new forum on science and foreign policy, U.S. State Department science envoys—specializing in fusion energy, ocean sustainability, and quantum technology—discuss the relationship between science and U.S. foreign policy in addressing global challenges through collaboration, and ways policymakers can support these efforts more effectively.   Established in 2024, the Norman E. Alexander Family M Foundation Forum on Science and Foreign Policy is an endowed annual event that explores the interconnections among the natural sciences, emerging technologies, and foreign policy and national security. It was made possible through the generosity of the Norman E. Alexander Family M Foundation in recognition of Mr. Alexander’s lifelong engagement in all manner of discourse for the betterment of humanity. The forum provides a unique platform for interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing among scientists and foreign policy experts. 
  • Radicalization and Extremism

    Jacob Ware, research fellow at CFR, discusses how serious the threat of political violence in the United States is and what the Trump administration must do to ensure that such threats do not prolife…
  • United States

  • Technology and Innovation

    CFR's Technologist-in-Residence Sebastian Elbaum discusses the capabilities, failures, and future of artificial intelligence and its intersections with policy.  
  • United States

    Panelists discuss the shifting information environment underpinning this year’s U.S. presidential election, generational differences in accessing information, the rising role of influencers, and how the campaigns’ overall strategies responded to these evolutions.  
  • United States

    Panelists discuss the findings of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy Report, including the evolving security threats from China and its aligned partners: Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The Commission explores the need for the United States to strengthen its deterrence and response strategies by using all elements of national power, including diplomacy, investment, and commercial strategies, along with the critical role U.S. alliances play in shaping global competition. The U.S. Congress created the Commission on the National Defense Strategy in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act as an independent body charged with assessing the 2022 National Defense Strategy. Its members are non-governmental experts in national security. The Commission released its final report on July 29, 2024. RAND contributed analytic and administrative support.
  • Middle East and North Africa

    Panelists discuss the latest updates regarding the conflict in the Middle East, the risks of wider escalation, and the role of the United States. PLEASE NOTE: This meeting is part of the Twenty-Ninth Annual Term Member Conference. All CFR members are invited to attend this session virtually.   
  • United States

    The Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program is supported by a generous gift from the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation. Click here to download the conference agenda. Select sessions will also be available via Zoom. This invitation is not transferable. Guest requests will not be accommodated.