Please join us for a discussion on the transatlantic partnership—a strategic outlook on the US-UK “special relationship,” featuring Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former British Foreign Secretary and Secretary of State for Defence. Sir Malcolm’s remarks come at a critical moment for the US-UK relationship during a time of global uncertainty with growing questions on America’s role in the world, ongoing Brexit negotiations, Europe’s internal turmoil, and the continued threat of a revisionist Russia.

Sir Malcolm served as Secretary of State for Defence in 1992 and Foreign Secretary from 1995-97. He was knighted in 1997 in recognition of his public service, and was Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, which provides oversight of the United Kingdom’s intelligence agencies, MI6, MI5 and GCHQ, from 2010 until 2015. He was a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)’s Eminent Persons Group, which reported on relations between Russia and the West. He also serves on the Board of the Nuclear Threat Initiative in Washington DC. He has been appointed a Visiting Professor at King’s College, London and is a Senior Associate Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). In 2017 he was invited by the British Government to become Co-Chairman of the Polish-British Belvedere Forum.

The lecture will be followed by a wine reception.

About the Lecture
The Atlantic Council launched this annual lecture series in 2005 to honor the memory of the Atlantic Council’s former president, Christopher Makins. This event brings together European and American top minds and policymakers to discuss the state of the Atlantic partnership and its future direction. By providing a platform for discussion and by 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, and General Brent Scowcroft.