The Potomac Institute's International Center for Terrorism Studies held a seminar titled, "The Role of Diplomacy in Combating Terrorism: Past Lessons and Future Outlook," on July 25, 2018 at the International Law Institute. In the aftermath of the summit meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents and its implications for global security concerns, an emerging critical question is whether traditional diplomacy can continue to serve as an effective statecraft in combating terrorism. Former distinguished American ambassadors discussed past experiences and offered recommendations for the Trump Administration to further international cooperation. 

Opening remarks were give by Professor Don Wallace, Jr., Chairman of International Law Institute. The discussion was moderated by Professor Yonah Alexander, Director of the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies and Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. The speakers were: Ambassador (Ret.) Charles A. Ray, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs and ambassador to Cambodia and Zimbabwe as well as author of “Ethical Dilemmas and the Practice of Diplomacy" (2017); and Ambassador (Ret.) Ronald E. Neumann, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassador to Algeria, Bahrain, and Afghanistan, and currently, President of American Academy of Diplomacy. Closing remarks were given by General Alfred Gray, USMC (Ret.), Twenty-Ninth Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and Senior Fellow as well as Chairman of the Board of Regents at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.

This seminar can be viewed below.