World Affairs Council of Maine – Andreas Waldkirch – Tariffs, Foreign Policy, & the Future of the World Economy

Are tariffs an effective tool of foreign policy, or do they undermine the global economic order that has underpinned American prosperity? Andreas Waldkirch is one of the nation’s top-ranked scholars in international trade, with expertise spanning foreign direct investment, multinational firms, NAFTA, and economic integration. His research has examined how trade policies affect everything from industry productivity to environmental outcomes. Join us for an economist’s clear-eyed assessment of where U.S. trade policy is headed—and what it means for America’s role in the world economy.

World Affairs Council of Maine – Mariana Budjeryn – Ukraine & the Future of European Security – February 2026

How did Ukraine come to possess—and then relinquish—the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal, and what does that history tell us about European security today? Mariana Budjeryn is the author of Inheriting the Bomb: The Collapse of the USSR and the Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine, winner of the 2024 William E. Colby Military Writers' Award. A native of Ukraine and one of the world's leading experts on post-Soviet nuclear history, she brings unparalleled insight into the forces shaping the war in Ukraine and the future of the European security order.

World Affairs Council of Maine – Sean Stein – US & China Relations – February 2026

What’s at stake for American business and diplomacy as the U.S.-China relationship enters a new era? Sean Stein brings nearly three decades of diplomatic experience—including service as U.S. Consul General in Shanghai and Shenyang—combined with deep expertise advising multinational corporations on navigating the world’s most consequential bilateral relationship. As president of the US-China Business Council, he represents more than 270 American companies operating in China and advocates for balanced engagement between the two economic superpowers.

World Affairs Council of Maine – The Future of Middle East Peace – 2025 Fall Foreign Policy Forum

World Affairs Council of Maine - Governor's International Breakfast - June 2025

World Affairs Council of Maine – Governor’s International Breakfast

World Affairs Council of Maine - Governor's International Breakfast - June 2025