Trump’s pull out: What next for Syria and what next for European Policy?
A panel discussion on the effects of the withdrawal of American troops from Syria and the EUs possibilities with regards to reacting to the ongoing crisis.
Guests
Laila Kiki, Executive Director, The Syria Campaign
Ambassador Boris Ruge, Vice-Chairman, Munich Security Conference (MSC)
Julien Barnes-Dacey, Director Middle East & North Africa programme, ECFR
Chaired by
Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director, ECFR
The European Council on Foreign Relations is delighted to invite you to a panel discussion assessing the implications of the US military withdrawal from Syria and Turkey’s incursion and subsequent deal-making with Russia. How will this shape the future of Syria’s north east, the wider country – including the ongoing political process – as well as European policy towards the crisis, particularly in view of the German debate about a possible safe zone. What do recent developments say about US policy toward Syria, is there space for Europeans to still play a constructive role and how best to salvage some positive gains in Syria going forward?
Laila Kiki is the Executive Director of The Syria Campaign, which advocates for a free and democratic Syria.
Ambassador Boris Ruge is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Munich Security Conference. He has previously served in a number of diplomatic positions for the Federal Foreign Office, including as German Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Deputy Chief of Mission in D.C: and MENA director.
Julien Barnes-Dacey is the Director of the MENA programme at ECFR. He was previously based as a researcher and journalist across the Middle East, including in Syria from 2007-2010 where he reported for the Wall Street Journal and Christian Science Monitor.
Jeremy Shapiro is the Research Director at ECFR. He has previously been a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in D.C: and has worked in the US State Department, as a member of the Policy Planning Staff and as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon.