Washington DC | December 18, 2023

On December 18th, the Observer Research Foundation America (ORF America) hosted its Annual Dinner with representatives from industry, U.S. government, think tanks, academia, foundations, media, and embassies. The dinner featured the following special guests:

• Amb. Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India to the United States

• Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, President, Emirates Policy Centre, UAE

• Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sweden

• Stephen Harper, former Prime Minister, Canada

• Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman, Observer Research Foundation, India

• Jane Holl Lute, former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, United States

• Marise Payne, former Foreign Minister and Defense Minister, Australia

• David Victor, Professor, University of California San Diego, United States

• Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India (moderator)

The program began with a keynote speech followed by opening remarks on recent developments in U.S.-India relations and India’s G20 presidency.

The panel discussion highlighted the present state of global politics namely developments in the Trans-Atlantic alliance, climate change negotiations, and military tensions in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions. Previewing trends for 2024, speakers highlighted how elections in the U.S., Europe, India, and other Indo-Pacific countries will impact global politics, economics, and trade for the foreseeable future.