FALL FOREIGN POLICY FORUM
Bringing Expert Insight on U.S. Foreign Policy to Maine!
Coming Soon! 2026 Fall Foreign Policy Forum
Sports Diplomacy and the Power of Game!
Evening Panel: Thursday, October 29th, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Hannaford Hall, University of Southern Maine, Portland Campus
Livestream and Breakfast: Friday, October 30th, 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Join us Thursday, October 29th at Hannaford Hall on the Portland Campus of the University of Southern Maine. The evening begins with a networking reception, followed by the panel discussion, and audience Q&A. Thanks to the generous support of the William S. Jelin Foundation, the Forum is free and open to the public. Advanced Registration required. Additional details coming soon.
What is the Fall Foreign Policy Forum?
The annual Fall Foreign Policy Forum brings together experts and foreign policy practitioners to address crucial foreign policy issues facing U.S. decision makers. Hosted in partnership with the Muskie School of Public Service, the Fall Foreign Policy Forum provides Mainers with an opportunity to hear expert insight on international developments and how they impact U.S. interests in advance of the elections each November. This annual event is free and open to the general public courtesy of the William S. Jelin Foundation
Past Forums
The Future of Peace in the Middle East
NPR’s International Affairs Correspondent, Jackie Northam, moderated an in-depth conversation with Ambassador (ret.) Yael Lempert and Khaled Elgindy—two experts with firsthand experience in U.S. diplomacy and U.S. mediated peace negotiations. Together, they examined the new dynamics shaping Washington’s role in the Middle East: the long‑unresolved question of Palestinian statehood, the shifting prospects for Israel’s integration into a reshaped region, and the future of U.S. diplomacy as it seeks to balance enduring alliances with a dramatically changed strategic landscape.
Global Stakes with Local Ties: Community Perspectives on the Election and Foreign Policy
In 2024, the World Affairs Council of Maine hosted local community leaders to discuss the implications of foreign policy in the context of the 2024 presidential election. A panel of civil society leaders engaged on the issues and the impact of foreign policy in their lives and those of their neighbors.
U.S. Leadership in Pursuit of Middle East Peace: A 50 Year Legacy
In 2023, the World Affairs Council of Maine was honored to host Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer and Ambassador Jake Walles to explore the legacy of 50+ years of U.S. efforts to build lasting peace in the Middle East. This event featured a candid examination of American leadership of the peace process from the Camp David Accords to the Abraham Accords. Together with the Ambassadors, our distinguished guests were able to assess pivotal milestones, persistent challenges, and tangible outcomes of US diplomacy in the Middle East, including the current administration’s attempts to secure a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The War in Ukraine and Relations with China
In 2022, the World Affairs Council of Maine welcomed four U.S. Ambassadors to share their insights on the major foreign policy challenges facing the United States. Ambassadors Robert Cekuta, Judith Fergin, Robert Ford, and Pamela White joined us to discuss the war in Ukraine, relations with China, Iran, energy security, world health, international development, rising authoritarianism, and climate change.
