2026 International Speaker Series

Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and a Region in Crisis

April 16th | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Virtual

Tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have escalated sharply, raising the risk of a broader regional conflict and renewed volatility in global energy markets. At the center is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but essential passage through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil flows, making it one of the most strategically significant chokepoints in the global economy.

As events continue to unfold, this moment offers a critical window to understand the forces shaping what comes next.

What strategic objectives are shaping U.S. and Israeli actions, and how is Iran calibrating its response? How are regional actors positioning themselves, and what does this moment reveal about shifting alliances, deterrence, and the role of diplomacy? What are the implications for international law, multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, and the future of U.S. engagement in the region?

Africa Rising: Investment, Innovation, and a Continent Redefining its Own Story

Africa is becoming an increasingly important arena in global geopolitics, with its nations navigating growing competition among major powers while confronting their own political, economic, and security challenges. As the United States recalibrates its role on the continent and China expands its influence through investment and diplomacy, African governments are making consequential decisions about their partnerships, priorities, and place in the international order.

At the same time, democratic backsliding, conflict, and governance challenges are shaping the region’s trajectory even as many African leaders and institutions push for greater regional cooperation and global influence.

This session examines the evolving balance of power in Africa, the strategic competition shaping the continent, and how African nations are asserting agency in determining their own futures.

Neighbors at a Crossroads: Trade, Borders, and North American Futures

From Vermont dairy farms to advanced manufacturing corridors along the Canadian border, Vermont sits at the intersection of America's most consequential trade relationships. As tariffs reshape supply chains, immigration policy disrupts agricultural labor, and energy interdependence complicates diplomacy, the stakes of U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico relations are no longer abstract; they're visible in Vermont fields and factory floors.

This session brings together voices from agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and foreign policy to examine how a fracturing North American partnership affects the people and industries closest to the border.

The U.S.-China Tech Race: National Security in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence is changing the balance of power between the U.S. and China, and the competition is no longer just about trade. It's now about technology.

This session looks at the national security risks tied to that competition: how AI is being used in surveillance and the military, and why platforms like TikTok raise concerns about data security. Our panel will discuss how the U.S. government, businesses, and national security experts are responding to these challenges, and what's at stake for American security and global influence.

Democracy on the Edge: Power, Instability, and the Fight for the Future

Democracy is under pressure around the world, and in regions like the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, the shift away from authoritarian rule is far from guaranteed.

In many countries, reforms stall, institutions weaken, and progress can reverse quickly. What determines whether a democracy takes hold or slips backward?

This session cuts through the headlines to examine what is actually happening on the ground. Hear from experts on why some transitions succeed while others fail, what role civil society can realistically play, and what is at stake for U.S. foreign policy, global stability, and the future of democratic governance.