On July 14th, the Atlantic Council’s Strategy Initiative hosted a public event to discuss the pertinent issues of interagency process reform, the Greek Crisis, and the Iran nuclear deal. The event also served as the official launch of the Atlantic Council’s partnership with The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Fred Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council, and Adm. James Stavridis, Dean of The Fletcher School, opened the event by introducing the Atlantic Council-Fletcher MOU. The collaborative partnership will encourage faculty/scholar exchanges, co-hosted conferences, and joint workshops and multimedia outreach, which will strengthen both institutions.

A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Fran Burwell, Vice President for European Union and Special Initiatives at the Atlantic Council, followed the launch of the partnership. The esteemed panel featured Fred Kempe, CEO of the Atlantic Council, Adm. James Stavridis, Dean of the Fletcher School, and the Hon. Stephen Hadley, former National Security Advisor and Principal of RiceHadleyGates. In the midst of a remarkable week for diplomacy, the conversation focused on interagency process reform, the Greek deal, and the Iran deal, which was announced less than twelve hours before the event.

Emphasizing the need for long term strategy, the panel stressed that the Iran deal is not a be-all and end-all for US involvement in the region. Successful implementation of the deal will be critical, as verification of nuclear development can be difficult. Furthermore, the United States must continue to consider the effects this deal has on regional allies.

The panel then shifted to a conversation about the economic crisis in Greece and its implications for global politics. The crisis in Greece is indicative of larger problems the EU is facing, making clear the need for US leadership in the region. With tension in the EU over Greece and Russia, more thought needs to be paid to the future of Europe. Agreeing that a dysfunctional Europe hinders US goals, the panel urged US policymakers to a play a role in envisioning the EU’s future.