Event Recap

Event Recap

Mar 10, 2022

UK foreign minister: Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is a ‘paradigm shift on the scale of 9/11’

By the Atlantic Council

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned that Putin has shaken the global security architecture by invading Ukraine and declared the “era of complacency” over.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

The Atlantic Council is honored to invite you to a special edition Atlantic Council Front Page event featuring Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom Liz Truss for the annual Christopher J. Makins Lecture. This year’s lecture took place on March 10, 2022.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked a defining moment of transatlantic unity, and the United Kingdom has played a leading role in the transatlantic response, from implementing sanctions and reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank to delivering humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine in close coordination with allies and partners. The British response also puts into action a commitment to redefine the UK’s role on the world stage following the release in March 2021 of the UK’s strategy Global Britain in a Competitive Age, an integrated review of the UK’s security, defense, development, and foreign policy.

As the Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss is deeply involved in crafting the UK’s response to Russia and implementing Global Britain in practice. She was appointed as Foreign Secretary in September of 2021 and plays a key role in setting British foreign policy. She joined the Atlantic Council for a robust conversation on the future of the transatlantic relationship and US-UK ties, especially in the face of recent Russian aggression and a rapidly changing European security architecture.

About the Makins Lecture

The Europe Center presented this event as the latest installment of the Makins lecture series, launched in 2005 to honor the memory of former Atlantic Council president, Christopher J. Makins. The event brings together European and US policymakers and experts to discuss the state of the Atlantic partnership and its future direction. By providing a platform for discussion and stimulating provocative discourse on the importance of the Atlantic alliance, the lecture carries on the heritage and vision of this extraordinary Atlanticist.

Previous transatlantic leaders who have delivered the Makins Lecture include Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Dr. Henry Kissinger, Lord George Robertson, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, and General Brent Scowcroft.

An #ACFrontPage Event

Atlantic Council Front Page is our premier live ideas platform for global leaders to discuss the defining challenges of our time. #ACFrontPage is a high-level event series featuring top newsmakers across multiple digital platforms. Harnessing the convening power and expertise of the Council’s sixteen programs and centers, #ACFrontPage leverages the Council’s capabilities in social media, press, and digital outreach to spotlight the world’s most prominent leaders and the most compelling ideas across sectors and engage new audiences eager for nonpartisan and constructive solutions to current global challenges. This widely promoted program features the Council’s most important guests and content serving as the highlight of our programming.

Featuring

The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom

In conversation with

With remarks from

H.E. Dame Karen Pierce

British Ambassador to the United States

Introductory remarks by

The Europe Center promotes leadership, strategies, and analysis to ensure a strong, ambitious, and forward-looking transatlantic relationship.