The Nixon Seminar Advances Conservative Realism in 2022—More to Come in September

The Nixon Seminar convenes top leaders and strategists in foreign policy and national security on the first Tuesday of each month to discuss the most pressing issues facing the U.S., our allies and democratic people everywhere. Co-chairs Secretary Michael Pompeo and Ambassador Robert O’Brien join distinguished seminar members in discussions moderated by Mary Kissel, former Senior Advisor to Secretary Pompeo. While the Nixon Seminar is on a brief summer break, let’s take a look at the key issues discussed so far in 2022.

The war in the Ukraine has dominated headlines this year and that was reflected in seminar discussions. The first seminar of the year featured a discussion on Ukraine, Russian aggression and the role of NATO in the Eastern Bloc just weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In February, the topic was nuclear policies as seminar members considered how the heightened tensions with Russia might lead to changes in U.S. nuclear posture. By the time of the March seminar, Russia had invaded Ukraine, so the seminar focus was again on Ukraine and Russia, this time with analysis of Russia’s relationship with the West since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Staying on topics straight from the headlines, the April seminar featured a discussion of the Iran Nuclear Deal and welcomed a new member, Elbridge Colby, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development and principal of The Marathon Initiative.

In May, Secretaries of Energy Rick Perry and Dan Brouillette joined the seminar as special guests to discuss how domestic energy production is a critical national security issue. Seminar members examined Vladimir Putin’s use of energy as a weapon and how the U.S., along with allies, can fight back. 

The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, the United States Permanent Representative to NATO from 2017 to 2021, led the June discussion on the role of NATO amid the Russia-Ukraine War, and its future considering the intentions of Finland and Sweden to break decades of neutrality and join the alliance.

The Nixon Seminar returns in September and will finish the year with more special plans including a special in-person gathering on October 4, 2022. In the meantime, previous meetings of the Nixon Seminar are available to view.