Russian Political Influence in Europe

Welcome remarks:

Dr. Paolo Messa
Director
Center for American Studies

A conversation with:

Prof. Luigi Sergio Germani
Director
Gino Germani Institute of Social Sciences and Strategic Studies

Ambassador John Herbst
Director, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center
Atlantic Council

Dr. Nona Mikhelidze
Head of the Eastern Europe and Eurasia Programme 
Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI)

Dr. Alina Polyakova
David M. Rubenstein Fellow – Foreign Policy, 
Center on the United States and Europe
 Brookings Institution

Dr. Fabio Rugge
Head of the Centre on Cybersecurity 
 Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale (ISPI)

Moderated by:

Dr. Patricia Thomas
Journalist
Associated Press

Please join the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center and the Center for American Studies for a discussion on Russian political influence in Europe. 

Following an installment on France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, the Atlantic Council is launching a report entitled The Kremlin’s Trojan Horses II: Russian Influence in Greece, Italy, and Spain, which examines Russian political presence in Southern Europe. The authors present a comprehensive assessment of how the Kremlin influences politics and foreign policy in three of Europe’s major powers, with the aim of destabilizing the European Union and the transatlantic partnership. Russia seeks to gain a foothold in European politics by building relationships with fringe political parties and leaders and developing close personal and business ties with mainstream European politicians. Through these efforts, the Russian government has been able to develop a network of “Trojan horses:” organizations and individuals who publicly support Russian interests and undermine European cohesion. Ambassador John Herbst, Dr. Nona Mikhelidze, Dr. Fabio Rugge, and Dr. Patricia Thomas will join two of the authors – Dr. Alina Polyakova and Prof. Luigi Sergo Germani – to discuss the report’s findings, as well as Russia’s broader foreign policy towards Europe.

We hope you can join us for this timely discussion. To register, kindly write R.S.V.P to event@centrostudiamericani.org.