Chicago Council on Global Affairs

From navigating the 2008 financial crisis to steering Goldman Sachs through a period of transformation, Lloyd Blankfein's career offers rare insight into leadership under pressure. The former CEO of Goldman Sachs joined Christopher Keogh, current head of Goldman Sachs' Chicago office and Midwest region, and a room of Council members over lunch this week to reflect on leadership, decision-making, and the experiences that shaped his career. Special thanks to Goldman Sachs for their generous support of the event. Watch the conversation: bit.ly/4uFA3Z9

"Europe is clearly not happy. It's not a war that they were consulted about. It's not a war that they've chosen," Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri tells @business as the conflict with Iran continues. "From the point of view of America's allies, this is a maddening moment." Watch the full conversation: bloom.bg/4rE6uUX

Economic interdependence once promised stability—but today major powers are weaponizing trade, supply chains, and market access for geopolitical leverage. @ChicagoCouncil convenes a timely conversation on economic statecraft, featuring @VictorDCha with @PaulJHeer and @londonvinjamuri on how countries and firms can respond. Join the discussion🔽 globalaffairs.org/events/when-co…

"When we say 'human in the loop', that means that warfare is a human endeavor and that someone in the chain of command has to take responsibility for offensive actions," said Kathleen Hicks, Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow and former US Deputy Secretary of Defense. "If AI is being used, it's not the AI's fault, if you will. At some point, there's a command decision issue that has to be involved. And that should be the standard I think that we maintain." Yesterday, Hicks joined Patrick Tucker (@DefTechPat), Editor of Science & Technology at @DefenseOne to discuss military preparedness in the digital age. Watch the full conversation: bit.ly/47kj5oY

President Trump said he would stop wars, not start them. But as the conflict with Iran widens, that promise is under strain. On this week's Deep Dish, @CIPolicy Executive Vice-President @mattduss joins Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri to unpack what the widening conflict could mean for the future of US foreign policy. bit.ly/4uEd7JR

Earlier this week, Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri joined @BrookingsInst's Robert W. Kagan and @CFR_org's @RebeccaLissner and Gideon Rose at the annual Hauser Symposium for a discussion on how Trump-era policies reshaped the international system and what comes next for US global leadership at a moment of growing geopolitical uncertainty. Watch the full conversation: youtu.be/8kghvF9Lfm8?si…

Extreme fuel shortages caused by a US oil blockade have brought Cuba to the negotiating table. That gives Washington an “extraordinary opportunity” to influence the island’s trajectory and its relationship with the United States, says Council Senior Nonresident Fellow @cecileshea. Read the full Q&A: bit.ly/4rABTaV

Kathleen Hicks and Patrick Tucker discuss the changing nature of warfare and what it means for the future of global defense and security. x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Tune in today for an important discussion on how information technology is changing the character of warfare from Europe to the Red Sea and beyond cc @DefenseOne

"It’s tempting to cheer on any powerful institution that challenges the administration’s overreach," Council Senior Nonresident Fellow @SuzanneNossel writes of Anthropic's dispute with the Pentagon. "But we should not rest easy relying on the inclinations of individual executives at private companies as a last line of defense against the risks of AI." bit.ly/4bEaC1A

As the US-Iran conflict continues and escalates well beyond the Gulf region, how will global alliances react and reshape as this conflict continues to evolve? And where will this leave US leadership on the global stage? On March 31, join Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri, former NATO Ambassador and Distinguished Nonresident Fellow on Defense and Security Julianne Smith, and Distinguished Nonresident Fellow on China Dr. Evan Medeiros for a virtual program as they answer these pressing questions and discuss the global implications of this emerging conflict. bit.ly/4uzdqW5

What happens with North American trade is globally relevant. The stakes are high. 🇲🇽🇺🇸 bilateral discussions on the #USMCA review. My @ChicagoCouncil take on what to keep in mind and what to watch for on the road ahead👇 globalaffairs.org/commentary/ana…

With no clear end to the war in Iran in sight, how could the conflict shape economies and geopolitics? And what could its impact on energy prices mean for the transition away from fossil fuels? In a new analysis, Council Senior Nonresident Fellow @busbyj2 and @CntrClimSec Senior Research Fellow Greg Pollock examine the implications of this global energy crisis and how it might end. bit.ly/4uBPku4

"If Mexico, Canada, and the United States play their cards right and follow a realistic, strategic, and forward-looking approach, North America has a chance to come out on top of global trade, investment, and competitiveness in a rapidly shifting geopolitical environment," writes Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow of Latin America and the Global Economy @JulianVenturaV bit.ly/3PlRVrJ

Calling all Midwest high schoolers! The Council has launched the America at 250 High School Essay Competition—and we want to hear from you. Juniors and seniors in IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, or WI: share your vision for how the Midwest can shape America's global future. Top prizes include $1,000 and a trip to Chicago for our America at 250 Global Forum in June. Learn more about our guidelines, eligibility details, and submit your essay today. bit.ly/4rvL1gX

De cara a la revisión del #TMEC, la primera ronda de conversaciones México-Estados Unidos tendrá lugar el miércoles 18 de marzo. Mi análisis para el @ChicagoCouncil sobre el contexto norteamericano y lo que sigue: globalaffairs.org/commentary/ana… 🇲🇽🇺🇸🇨🇦

As the war in Iran continues, Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow @Julie_C_Smith joined @IsaCNN to discuss how US allies are responding to President Trump's call for assistance in securing the Strait of Hormuz. "It really puts Europe in a difficult position. On the one hand, they're frustrated that they've been left out in the cold for this entire operation," she said. "On the other hand, . . . they're also recognizing that they need the strait to be open."

"The US-led postwar international order is being tested in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz and in the shrewd calculations of governments from New Delhi to Helsinki," writes Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri in the latest issue of her weekly newsletter, "The Global Issue." bit.ly/4lzFWmH

"The US-led postwar international order is being tested in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz and in the shrewd calculations of governments from New Delhi to Helsinki," writes Council President and CEO @londonvinjamuri in the latest issue of her weekly newsletter, "The Global Issue." bit.ly/4lzFWmH

How are emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, drones, and disinformation campaigns changing the nature of warfare? Join Council Distinguished Nonresident Fellow of Defense and Security Kathleen Hicks and @DefenseOne Science and Technology Editor @DefTechPat on 3/18 as they unpack these changes and their global implications. bit.ly/47kj5oY