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UID:2271@witherlelibrary.net
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260805T170000
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URL:https://witherlelibrary.net/events/foreign-affairs-discussion-group-64
 /
SUMMARY:Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
DESCRIPTION:The topic is a preliminary evaluation of the America First Fore
 ign Policy\, specifically looking at impacts on trade and investment\, US 
 humanitarian food and health assistance\, and security\, specifically the 
 NATO security alliance. The discussion will be moderated by Barbara Griffi
 ths\, who is a retired US Ambassador and Foreign Service Officer with a BA
  and MA in Economics. All are welcome. A brief reception will follow.\nIn 
 person in the Reading Room. A suggested reading list follows.\nhttps://car
 negieendowment.org/research/2026/06/the-effects-of-us-democratic-backslidi
 ng-on-us-power\nThe Effects of Democratic Backsliding on US Power\, Thomas
  Carothers\, July 2026\, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.\nhttp
 s://www.cfr.org/articles/the-broken-economic-order\nThe Future of American
  Strategy: The Broken Economic Order\, Heidi E Crebo-Bediker\, May 20\, 20
 26\, Council on Foreign Relations.\nBackground reading on particular topic
 s:\nOn Trade:\nhttps://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/new
 sroom?ID=32C0B47E-831C-4B07-9932-689DC57CECEC\nThe Republicans on the Cong
 ressional Joint Economic Committee released an analysis on July 8\, 2026 o
 f the US overall trade gap for May 2026 compared to earlier periods.\nOn I
 nvestment:\nhttps://www.bea.gov/news/2026/new-foreign-direct-investment-un
 ited-states-2025\nThe Bureau of Economic Analysis (US Department of Commer
 ce) issued in July 2026 its report on the flow of foreign direct investmen
 t in 2025 into the US.\nOn US humanitarian food aid:\nhttps://www.congress
 .gov/crs-product/R48624\nA July 15\, 2026 report by the Congressional Rese
 arch Service provides details on the Department of State\, Foreign Operati
 ons and Related Programs (SFOPS) FY26 budget. It’s long\, so just scroll
  down to the sections on humanitarian assistance and global health program
 s.\nhttps://www.cfr.org/articles/trumps-revamped-food-for-peace-bypasses-t
 he-countries-closest-to-famine\nTrump’s Revamped Food for Peace Bypasses
  the Countries Closest to Famine\, Sam Vigersky\, June 9\, 2026\, Council 
 on Foreign Relations.\nOn US humanitarian health aid:\nhttps://www.kff.org
 /global-health-policy/kff-tracker-america-first-mou-bilateral-global-healt
 h-agreements/\nKaiser Family Foundation is keeping track of America First 
 Global Health bilateral  agreements signed since late 2025 by country\, d
 iseases covered\, amounts of US and host government funding\, and comparis
 ons with previous US funding.\nOn impacts of reduced health aid:\nhttps://
 www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(26)00008-2/fulltex
 t\nThe British medical journal The Lancet published in May 2026 an analysi
 s of the health impacts of global assistance between and 2002 and 2021\, a
 nd forecasts the impact of planned funding reductions 2025-2030 under the 
 current decline in funding\, including from the America First Global Healt
 h policy.\nOn NATO pledges:\nhttps://www.nato.int/en/about-us/official-tex
 ts-and-resources/official-texts/2026/07/08/the-ankara-summit-declaration\n
 NATO Summit Declaration released July 8\, 2026.\nOn impact of reduced US m
 ilitary presence in Europe:\nhttps://www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/coming-
 crisis-nato-deterrence\nThe Coming Crisis of NATO Deterrence\, Celeste A W
 allander\, May 28\, 2026\, Foreign Affairs (requires subscription or copy 
 available at library)\n&nbsp\;
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CATEGORIES:Adult Event
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