Week 7
Last week was an exciting and important week in Washington, D.C.! From July 9 to July 11, leaders from around the globe convened in Washington for the annual NATO summit, the first time it has been hosted in the United States since 2012, and the first time in Washington since 1999. NATO, as a collective security organization that protects liberal democracies in North America and Europe, plays a key role at the intersection of freedom, security, and the rule of law.
On Tuesday morning before work, Sarah Conley and I attended a panel hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on how to make the case for NATO to the public, given how America’s place in the international order is becoming more politically divisive in the United States. Moderated by CNN’s Jim Sciutto, the panelists were Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Janet Napolitano, former Secretary of Homeland Security and former Governor of Arizona, and Tobias Billström, the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs. The conversation mainly focused on the role that NATO plays in maintaining a liberal-democratic order, the importance of the U.S.’ participation in NATO, and the ways that Americans who are skeptical of NATO’s importance can best be convinced that our nation’s key role in the alliance serves America’s interests. Jim Sciutto tried to pressure Senator Hickenlooper and Governor Napolitano to take a stance on whether President Biden should continue his candidacy for a second term, which they both refused to; Mr. Sciutto let Minister Billström off the hook, given his position as a diplomat. I am glad that Tim Hughes let us attend this event, as it was reassuring to hear panelists with such relevant experience express so eloquently why the US must continue to be the backbone of the NATO alliance.
Back at the office, I helped Evan Frauhiger (W&M Law 2018) find some potential speakers for law students in Tunisia to address the issue of immunities for state officials accused of human rights violations. I also had the responsibility of drafting a letter of support on behalf of a judge for one of NCSC’s applications to a NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity).