Savannah Council on World Affairs Lecture Series

The illicit international trade in weapons is a real challenge to U.S. national security interests. Fear of the proliferation of advanced conventional weapons from Eastern Europe has complicated efforts by the United States and its allies to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. There’s been rampant disinformation regarding this trafficking, hampering politicians and decisionmakers from Washington to Warsaw. In response, U.S. officials coordinated internal U.S. Government activities and worked with partners across Europe to develop tools and provide Ukraine with joint training to mitigate the very real risks of the weapons and to counter propaganda. Please come and hear directly from the U.S. official who spearheaded these efforts.

F David Diaz, a former Marine and U.S. veteran of the State Department, Pentagon, and National Security Council, will recount U.S actions to overcome this challenge, assess long-term implications, and how we can protect U.S. interests. He is a national security strategist, advisor and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of National Security Policy at Georgetown University.