On December 10, ORF America hosted its 2024 Annual Dinner in San Francisco with alumni, partners, and friends.

Every year, the ORF America Annual Dinner brings together high-profile leaders from the public and private sector to discuss contemporary global governance issues impacting the current world order. The 2024 edition of the Annual Dinner featured a conversation on the future of American engagement with the world, as well as, the implications of emerging technologies on geopolitics, business and international development priorities. 

Speakers:

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

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

• Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California

• Tadashi Maeda, Chairman of the Board, Japan Bank for International

  Cooperation

• Marise Payne, former Foreign and Defense Minister, Australia

• Moderator: Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, ORF America

On December 10, ORF America and ORF launched the Global Diaspora Forum with a gathering between leading diaspora members of India and Armenia. At the inaugural meeting of the Global Diaspora Forum, Indian-American and Armenian-American technology leaders and practitioners discussed the role of emerging technologies as a catalyst for economic growth, shared and emerging geopolitical challenges, and how diaspora networks can be better leveraged for a more innovative and resilient future.

About the Global Diaspora Forum:

India is among many countries to enjoy a large and successful diaspora, including in the United States. Indian-Americans are among the wealthiest and most educated communities in the country, and have risen to leadership positions in business, politics, science, and the arts. Indian-Americans also serve as important bridges between India and the United States. Similar trends can be observed among Indian communities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and elsewhere. 

Creating a network of prominent members of the Indian diaspora from around the world with counterparts associated with like-minded countries represents a major opportunity. A Global Diaspora Forum - anchored by ORF and its affiliates - will help link members of the Indian diaspora to counterparts from other communities around the world. It will help create networks, identify shared areas of concern, and explore opportunities for business and policy collaboration. 

Speakers:

• Hakob Arshakyan, Chairman of the Executive Committee for the Science and Technology Development Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of Armenia and Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia

• Vinod Dham, Founder and Executive Managing Partner, IndoUS Venture Partners

• Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, ORF America

• Khanderao Kand, President, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies

• Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation

• Yervant Zorian, Chairman, APRI Armenia; Vice President, Armenian General Benevolent Union; President, Synopsys Armenia

On December 5, Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of ORF America, launched his new book, "Vishwa Shastra: India and the World", at Teen Murti Bhavan in New Delhi.

Published by Penguin India, "Vishwa Shastra" is meant as an introduction to India in international affairs. It describes a long history of India's interactions with the world, from ancient times to the present day. Speaking to a wide audience that includes policymakers, scholars and especially students, the book offers both rich, historical context and forward-looking strategies for India.

The launch featured remarks by Samir Saran, President of ORF and Manasi Subramaniam, Editor-in-Chief of Penguin Random House India, as well as a panel discussion with Shamika Ravi of the PM's Economic Advisory Council, Indrani Bagchi, CEO of the Ananta Centre; C. Raja Mohan, Columnist with the Indian Express; and Ashok Malik, Partner at The Asia Group.

Watch the launch here.

On November 12, ORF America hosted a discussion on the 2024 U.S. elections. The discussion explored the issues and trends that informed the outcome of the 2024 U.S. elections.

This was the tenth convening of the Briefings & Beer series, which is organized by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, D.C. The series offers young professionals the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts, as well as a platform to network with peers. This discussion was attended by journalists, think tank analysts, and embassy officials.

Speakers: 

• Clifford Young, President, Ipsos U.S. Public Affairs

• Kristin Davison, Partner, Axiom Strategies

• Moderator: Natalie Boyse, Program Manager, Global Programs, ORF America

On October 23, ORF America hosted a discussion on the Quad with members of the FourSight task force. FourSight: A Task Force on China's Strategic Futures works to promote academic and professional cooperation among emerging China scholars from Quad countries, while offering new perspectives and assessments to policymakers.

The speakers shared their experiences from the FourSight workshop so far, including what surprised them the most in their meetings with China experts in the U.S. government and think tank spaces. They also discussed differences between the Quad countries’ perspectives and challenges when dealing with China, as well as how they became interested in China.

This was the ninth convening of the Briefings & Beer series, which is organized by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, D.C. The series offers young professionals the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts, as well as a platform to network with peers. This discussion was attended by journalists, think tank analysts, and embassy officials.

Speakers: 

• Shikha Aggarawal, Visiting Fellow, India Foundation

• Takuya Matsuda, Adjunct Lecturer, Aoyama Gakuin University

• Philip Rogers, Senior Manager, China, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• Neil Thomas, Fellow on Chinese Politics, Center for China Analysis, Asia Society Policy Institute

• Moderator: Medha Prasanna, Junior Fellow and Program Assistant, ORF America

On October 16, ORF America hosted a private lunch with Nihal Chauhan, Non-Resident Fellow at ORF America and the Chief Executive Officer of Indo-Pacific Advisory, a Singapore-based strategic consultancy firm. The conversation explored business and commercial perspectives on India’s engagement with Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

As India attempts to strengthen strategic and economic ties with countries in the Indo-Pacific, a number of trends are emerging — the significance of industrial policy in the aftermath of global financial crises and the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing alignment between government priorities and business interests, and re-alignments of supply chains. Participants discussed the potential implications of U.S.-China competition and the upcoming U.S. presidential election on India’s relations with the Indo-Pacific.

The lunch was attended by U.S. government officials from the White House and Congress, along with representatives from the diplomatic corps, business groups, think tanks, and strategic consultancy firms.

Speakers:

• Nihal Chauhan, Non-Resident Fellow, ORF America

• Moderator: Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, ORF America

During Climate Week NYC, ORF America partnered with Sequoia Climate Foundation and the Council on Foreign Relations to convene experts and practitioners for a dialogue on global decarbonization and its role in advancing a wide range of policy objectives.

Speakers:

• Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for the United Kingdom’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

• Mari Elka Pangestu, Indonesia’s Special Envoy for Climate Finance

• John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy and Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation

On September 18, ORF America hosted a discussion on U.S. elections and their future implications for transatlantic security with Kori Schake, Max Bergmann, and Constanze Stelzenmuller. The event was part of ORF America’s Briefings & Beer series.

The discussion revolved around three themes: ongoing foreign policy debates within the Democratic and Republican parties, possible changes to the U.S. and Europe’s strategy towards the Ukraine war, and future scenarios of NATO and Europe’s collective defense.

Participants highlighted how party perspectives are changing in both the United States and Europe on issues such as China, Russia, military interventions, and alliances. They also described how these issues are viewed in rural and suburban regions beyond D.C., Berlin, and Brussels. Participants also discussed U.S. strategy towards Ukraine and how policymakers are wrestling with budgetary constraints and other priorities including in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific regions. Finally, the session concluded with suggestions for different ways in which European countries can take more responsibility within NATO and possible outcomes for U.S.-Europe transatlantic security.

This was the eighth convening of the Briefings & Beer series, which is organized by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, D.C. The series offers young professionals the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts, as well as a platform to network with peers. This discussion was attended by graduate students, journalists, think tank analysts, embassy officials, and military officers.

Speakers: 

• Max Bergmann, Director of Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

• Kori Schake, Senior Fellow & Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute

• Constanze Stelzenmuller, Director of the Center on the United States and Europe & Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and Trans-Atlantic Relations, Brookings Institution

• Moderator: Ammar Nainar, Junior Fellow and Program Assistant, ORF America

On September 16, ORF America hosted a conversation with Smriti Zubin Irani, a notable Indian public figure who served as a Cabinet Minister from 2014 to 2024. During this time, she oversaw various portfolios including Women and Child Development; Education; Minority Affairs; Textiles; and Information and Broadcasting. She was the first woman to hold office as Cabinet Minister for Education and as Minister of Textiles.

The conversation revolved around the changing nature of politics in India, focusing on the role of women in India’s economy and society. How are more women integral to India’s political discourse today? How are women participating in India’s competitive democracy after the unanimous passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill in 2023, which required that the Lok Sabha reserve at least 33 percent of seats for women?

Many women working in informal sectors are not recognized for their economic contributions. The 15.5 million women-owned businesses in India generate significant employment, but their impact is often undercounted. Irani, however, mentioned that there is a growing recognition of women's importance in the workforce. Introducing financial inclusion initiatives, such as opening bank accounts for women, has led to significant economic benefits, with women generating 12% higher revenue than men.

Yet challenges remain. Access to technology needs to be more affordable and accessible, especially given language barriers in India, which sometimes make access to innovative payment methods and other technological tools challenging. While the number of women pursuing STEM degrees and PhDs has increased by 100 percent, there needs to be a greater focus on helping them monetize their education, as well as increasing women's leadership roles in academia and beyond.

Speaker:

• Smriti Irani, former Indian Cabinet Minister for Education; Women & Child Development; Information and Broadcasting; Textiles; and Minority Affairs

• Moderator: Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, ORF America

On Tuesday, June 4th, ORF America hosted a panel discussion on the results of the 2024 Indian general election with the following experts:

• Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, ORF America

• Prashant Jha, Washington DC-based U.S. correspondent of The Hindustan Times and author of How the BJP Wins: Inside India's Greatest Election Machine

• Rithika Kumar, Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Notre Dame and incoming Assistant Professor of Political Science, Rice University

• Moderator: Medha Prasanna, Junior Fellow and Program Assistant, ORF America

In a year characterized by pivotal worldwide elections, India’s general elections have left pollsters stunned and many observers confused. Leaving future predictions of the incoming government to future analysis, the panel analyzed many of the political dynamics at play during the election, including the unity of the opposition India Alliance and the use of identity-based politics concerning caste and gender, among other issues, to appeal to voters. A core feature the panel emphasized was the dynamic and complex nature of Indian democracy, which often results in unpredictable elections at both the national and statewide levels. 

The panel also discussed foreign perspectives on the election, underscoring the need for nuanced and multifaceted foreign coverage of Indian politics and the subdued role India’s foreign policy plays in electoral politics. When asked to give their major takeaways, the speakers emphasized the major parties’ competing visions for India in the form of identity politics and nationwide centralization. They also highlighted the fact that Indian politics will continue to surprise pollsters and analysts. Finally, they underscored the essential gravity of the 2024 elections, which have the potential to fundamentally alter the trajectory of the Indian political landscape.

On May 21, ORF America hosted a private, invite-only dinner to brief a select group of DC-based young professionals on the U.S.-India relationship: past, present, and future. The dinner featured:

• Vance Serchuk, Executive Director, KKR Global Institute

• Dhruva Jaishankar, President, Observer Research Foundation America

• Moderator: Alex Titus, former Raisina Young Fellow

On Thursday, March 28th, ORF America hosted a group of young professionals for an after hours discussion with Michael Singh and Dr. Hussein Ibish. Mr. Singh is currently the Managing Director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute, and a former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council. Dr. Ibish is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute. He previously served as a senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine, and as executive director of the Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation for Arab-American Leadership.

The purpose of this edition of Briefings & Beer was to explore the drivers, outcomes, and future of geopolitical transformations in the Middle East. Rather than focusing on immediate developments involving Israel and Gaza, the conversation focused on how longer term security, development, and energy trends are going to be affected, and what their implications are for relations with the United States, Europe, China, and India. It also covered the emerging strategic and economic interests of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Questions from the audience addressed Qatar’s diplomatic partnerships and prospects for peace talks in the region. 

This was the sixth convening of the Briefings & Beer series, which is organized by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, DC. The series offers young professionals the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts,  as well as a platform to network with peers. Participants come from the U.S. Government, Congress, think tanks, graduate programs, and the private sector.

Background

On March 14, ORF America hosted a closed-door roundtable discussion with Armenia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs and the Foreign Policy Head of the Civil Contract party Dr. Narek Mkrtchyan. He was a professor at the Yerevan State University before being appointed as a Member of Armenia’s National Assembly. In 2021, he was appointed as the Minister for Labor and Social Affairs. Dr. Mkrtchyan has also participated in various Track 2 and Track 1.5 dialogues in the US, Germany, France, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Georgia.

Summary

The roundtable featured a discussion on geopolitics in the Caucasus region including the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the role of Russia and the Central Security Treaty Organization, and other regional players like Turkey and Iran. Participants also exchanged perspectives on North-South connectivity between the regions of Caucasus, Indo-Pacific, and Europe. To that end, Armenia has launched a set of principles called the “Crossroads of Peace”. Furthermore, the discussion extensively touched upon Armenia’s growing ties with India, France and the U.S. Three factors namely military and security cooperation, trade and supply chains; and the role of diaspora and people to people ties are broadly driving Armenia’s new ties with India and the West. The roundtable was attended by officials from the Indian and Armenian Embassies, media, trade bodies, think tanks and diaspora groups.

Background

As part of the third Raisina Dialogue DC, the Observer Research Foundation America (ORF America) hosted a panel discussion on “Competing on Connectivity: A Strategy for Infrastructure Investment”. The discussion highlighted U.S., Japan, and Indian perspectives on development finance initiatives, overseas infrastructure including connectivity projects, and the scope for multilateral coordination between like-minded partners.

Speakers

• Tomoyuki Hirata: Chief Representative (Washington, D.C.), Japan Bank for International Cooperation

• Naz El-Khatib: Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation

• Tanvi Madan: Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Brookings Institution

• Dhruva Jaishankar (moderator): Executive Director, ORF America

Event Summary

The panelists described the mandates of the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and provided sectoral and geographic examples of their overseas investments. Tanvi Madan of the Brookings Institution described India’s evolving approach to development finance and unpacked initiatives like the Export-Import Bank of India’s (EXIM Bank) concessional Lines of Credit. The speakers also underlined the importance of international collaboration and coordination between like-minded partners like the United States, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Israel, Germany, France, etc. The discussion was attended by representatives from the U.S. government, embassies, private sector, think tanks, academia, and media.

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.

ORF America hosted a group of young professionals for an after hours discussion with Stephen Ezell and Dr. Andreas Kuehn. Stephen is currently vice president for global innovation policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and director of ITIF’s Center for Life Sciences Innovation. Dr. Andreas Kuehn is currently a senior fellow at ORF America and leads research on the cyber and tech governance program. 

This fifth edition of the series, on semiconductors and technological alliances, covered a range of issues that explored the drivers, outcomes, and future of American tech alliances with young professionals in international affairs. The passage of huge pieces of legislation, increased bilateral cooperation, and international reconfiguration, made this a timely discussion. Panelists emphasized several solutions including minilateralism, safeguarding intellectual property rights, and implementing a rules based system. On semiconductors, panelists noted important challenges to the implementation of critical U.S. legislation, including readiness of countries to ‘friend-shore’ as well as attracting and retaining talent crucial to this industry. 

This was the fifth convening of the series hosted by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, DC. The series offers participants the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts,  as well as a platform to network with peers. Participants include Washington, DC’s best and brightest from the U.S. Government, Congressional Staff, think tanks, graduate programs, and the private sector.

Background

On October 11, ORF America hosted a closed-door roundtable with Dr. Anit Mukherjee discussing Indian military and defense policy reforms with stakeholders from the U.S. government, academia, think tanks, media, and the private sector in Washington D.C. Dr. Mukherjee is the Deputy Head of Graduate Studies and an Associate Professor at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS-NTU) in Singapore. He is also the author of The Absent Dialogue: Politicians, Bureaucrats, and the Military in India (Oxford University Press) and a former Indian Army officer. He obtained his PhD from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.

Summary

The roundtable featured the distribution of a joint report titled “Momentous Changes: Defense Reforms, Military Transformation, and India’s New Strategic Posture” published by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi and RSIS-NTU in Singapore. The report captures various debates within India about recent changes in military strategy and defense policy after the 2020 India-China clashes along the Line of Actual control.  

These ongoing reforms include enhancing India’s military posture in its eastern frontiers, reforming the Defense Ministry, fostering jointness through theater commands, and exploiting opportunities for defense diplomacy with external partners. The Indian defense private sector is also expanding due to improvements in domestic manufacturing and technology. Though challenges remain like the lack of civilian expertise in defense matters, unclear procurement policies, vague command and control structures, and long-standing security threats from Pakistan and the western border. Participants also discussed other strategic challenges pertaining to the Indian military like professional education, recruitment, emerging technology, and the India-Russia defense relationship.

Overall, these opportunities and challenges create greater room for dialogue, coordination and collaboration with the U.S., and like-minded partners. Recent developments like the U.S.-India state visit in June 2023, and the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), indicate a positive direction for U.S.-India military ties and strategic cooperation.

The ORF-RSIS joint report is available here.

ORF America hosted a group of young professionals for an after hours discussion with Paola Ridolfi and Vinay Chawla. Paola Ridolfi is currently a climate change advisor with the Climate Change Group at the World Bank, and a lead for the Bank's COP28 engagement this year. Vinay Chawla is currently senior advisor to U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, and advisor to at the White House on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

This fourth edition of the series, on COP28 and Climate, panelists covered several topics relevant for global climate talks at COP28 in Dubai in November 2023. Chief among these topics was the need to lower the cost of financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. Panelists highlighted greater private sector investment in climate for emerging markets as a potential solution to address this need. Incentives to increase private sector involvement must align fiduciary responsibilities for returns to private investors with adequate management of investment risk in these low and middle income countries.

This was the fourth convening of the series hosted by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, DC. The series offers participants the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts, as well as a platform to network with peers. Participants include Washington, DC’s best and brightest from the U.S. Government, Congressional Staff, think tanks, graduate programs, and the private sector.

Background

ORF America partnered with the Women’s Foreign Policy Group (WFPG) on a program exploring the current state of the U.S.-India relationship and its trajectory. This exclusive event, hosted at ORF America, consisted of an off the record panel discussion featuring prominent experts in the field followed by a networking reception.

WFPG empowers and advances women's leadership in international affairs through global policy programs. Attendees included women across business, government, journalism, diplomacy, and academia.

Discussion Summary

The panel discussed how the U.S.-India partnership is of growing importance and is expanding across all fronts. The panelists explored the commercial, defense, people-to-people, and geopolitical ties that underpin the U.S.-India relationship. A key takeaway from the discussion is that we are at a moment of ambition for the relationship and that India is a natural partner in combating global challenges. It, however, remains to be seen how much can be achieved and how quickly.

The event featured the following speakers:

Welcome Remarks

• Sharon Stirling, Chief Operating Officer, ORF America

• Alexa Chopivsky, Executive Director, Women's Foreign Policy Group

Panel Discussion

• Nancy Izzo Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State

• Persis Khambatta, Director of Global Government Affairs for India and South Asia, Walmart

• Tanvi Madan, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution

• Humeyra Pamuk, U.S. State Department Correspondent at Reuters (moderator)

ORF America hosted a group of young professionals for an after hours discussion with Ryan Hass and Vikram Singh. Ryan Hass is the director of the John L. Thornton China Center and the Chen-Fu and Cecilia Yen Koo Chair in Taiwan Studies at Brookings. He is also a nonresident affiliated fellow in the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School. Vikram Singh is senior advisor to the Asia Program at USIP and is also senior advisor for defense and aerospace, at the U.S. India Strategic Partnership Forum.

This third edition of the series, on Great Powers at the G20, explored how multilateral summits like the G20 offer spaces for both cooperation and competition. This year, Putin and Xi seem to be absent from many of these important conversations, and at the same time are pursuing the expansion of alternative platforms like BRICS. The discussion took advantage of the speakers’ extensive expertise in and out of government to offer some insight on what to expect in the coming months from multilateral summits.

The discussion reviewed several themes including recent high level U.S. government engagement with China, forging a consensus at the G20 summit in New Delhi, perception and misperceptions on Taiwan, as well as posturing in the Indo-Pacific. The speakers entertained questions on the relationship between economic integration and mitigating conflict, as well as the politics of leadership within the Chinese Communist Party.

This was the third convening of the series hosted by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, DC. The series offers participants the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts, as well as a platform to network with peers. Participants include Washington, DC’s best and brightest from the U.S. Government, Congressional Staff, think tanks, graduate programs, and the private sector.

ORF America hosted a group of young professionals for an after hours discussion with Sajit Gandhi and Charles Morrison. Sajit Gandhi is the Deputy Staff Director at the House Foreign Affairs Committee (Democrats), and has spent over a decade advising the committee and staffing the chair on US Foreign Policy towards South Asia. Charles Morrison serves as Policy Director for Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Previously, he covered national security issues as Rep. Gallagher’s Legislative Director and at the American Enterprise Institute.

The purpose of #2 The Indo- Pacific Edition of this series was to address the various pieces of legislation by Congress and initiatives by the Biden Administration, to make sense of the big picture with respect to the U.S Indo-Pacific Strategy. It encouraged an across the aisle discussion, from senior congressional staffers whose committees are becoming increasingly consequential to long term strategy in the Indo-Pacific. 

The discussion reviewed the year since the launch of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)  in 2022. Particularly, when members of Congress think about the Indo-Pacific, what are they - and their constituents - most interested or worried about. Speakers explored legislation in the pipeline that might address concerns, and corresponding touch points across the aisle. The conversation also addressed converging and diverging partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. 

This was the second convening of the series hosted by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, DC.  The series offers participants the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy professionals,  as well as a platform to network with peers. Participants included Washington, DC’s best and brightest from the U.S. Government, Congressional Staff, think tanks, graduate programs, and the private sector.