Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs

All programs are available on our You Tube page. Listings by speaker name, topic, or chronology may be purchased if you contact the Council office. Also, videos of previous programs may be purchased or rented from the Council library.

Click HERE to visit the Council's YouTube page.

Click HERE for details on renting or purchasing a video of a prior program.

Click HERE to contact the Council office.

2022 Year-End Appeal

Dear Council Member,

I hope you are doing well. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, thank you for supporting the Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs. Now, we ask you to remember us with an End of Year donation.

After a year of strong programs, we have high ambitions for 2023. We’re holding regular in-person presentations now that the Covid-19 threat has receded, but making them accessible on a Zoom live feed. A new Website is in the works, and we are planning to revive programs directed at high school and college students.

The world changed dramatically last February when Russia invaded Ukraine. We responded by focusing our Distinguished Speaker Series on the war and its consequences and by adding a blog on daily developments to our Website.

We asked the experts to give us the big picture, beginning with Admiral James Foggo (Ret.), former commander of the Sixth Fleet, who laid out the military scene in Europe as the war began. Former Assistant Secretary of State David Schenker explained the decision of major Middle East states to sit on the fence. Michael Kofman of the CNA think tank discussed Russia’s flawed military tactics (his remarks went viral when we posted his video on YouTube). Later in the year, we had James O’Brien, the State Department’s new sanctions “czar,” Paul Goble, formerly with the CIA and State Department, on what will happen to Russia after the war in Ukraine, and Andrew Weiss on Putin’s Life and Lies.

We broke new ground on other topics as well, presenting a respected scholar on India’s often dysfunctional democracy and a leading expert on the new US approach to foreign aid; and we did a special program highlighting the plight of Burma, a nation of 50 million now staging a revolution against the Burmese military. John Bolton, the former National Security Adviser, was our guest at the Maryland Club. We had two programs on Afghanistan, one with Paul Pillar, the former CIA official, and the second with Gen. Joseph Votel (Ret.) the former commander of the Central Command.

At this time of year, we turn to members to ask you to renew your investment in the Council. As a non-profit with low dues, we operate on a tight budget. The many members who have donated generously have helped sustain the Council in its mission and activities for more than 40 years. As we expand our programs, we will require enhanced financial resources. You can make an impact today with your Year End donation by clicking on the link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7SPQ9P2X5VW6J

The Board and I are convinced that the Council has a great future, and we look forward to welcoming you to upcoming Distinguished Speakers Programs.

With gratitude,

Roy Gutman

President

In the News

The War in Ukraine

Institute for the Study of War: Ukraine forces attack two strategic airbases inside Russia

December 5, 2022

Ukraine Defense Ministry: Ukraine forces kill 540 Russian troops in one day

December 5, 2022

Russian Defense Ministry: Russian forces kill some 225 Ukraine troops in one day

December 5, 2022

Note to Readers:
Previous days are filed under the “In the News” tab

Bulletin Board

WACA Weekly World News Update Nov 30, 2022

Mission

The Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs is dedicated to citizen education in foreign affairs. It is a non-partisan, non-position taking, not for profit, open membership association.

It’s centerpiece is a serious discussion of American foreign policy, its distinguished speakers program, which brings twelve to sixteen notable authorities to Baltimore to meet with members and guests each year.

Membership

Dues are kept remarkably low so that all with an interest in American foreign policy and world affairs can join. Annual membership dues are $60 for an individual, $90 for a family, and $30 for full-time students. Members may attend every address and accompanying receptions free of charge.

Contributing members are also invited to leadership dinners with speakers which follow programs.

Click HERE for further details on membership options and to join online.

Recent Programs

History of the Council's Discussion 1980 - The Present

2022 Year-End Appeal

Note to Readers: Previous days are filed under the “In the News” tab

Bulletin Board

Membership

Note to Readers:
Previous days are filed under the “In the News” tab