2025 Berkley Lecture

The work of members of the foreign service & the armed services of the United States of America are vitally important to our nation’s national security and foreign policy. For the 2025 Berkley Lecture, we will explore this deep link through the expertise of our Berkley Lecturer, Ambassador Joseph Manso. As a former U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a former faculty member of the National War College, and a seasoned member of the Senior Foreign Service, Amb. Manso is uniquely positioned to speak on this critical intersection of National Security And U.S. Diplomacy. Amb. Manso will help to break down this nexus - speaking on the evolving challenges of global security - including key issues like weapons nonproliferation, alliance-building, and transnational threats, answering questions like: How do the functions of our nation’s diplomatic channels intersect with the operational and policy demands of our national security to combat these threads? What structures and processes inform and protect the deep link between diplomacy and national security? What gaps exist between the diplomatic corps and military officials, and how does this affect our policies and actions? Our military and our diplomatic corps are the two major leadership groups representing the United States abroad, understanding their intersection is crucial in having a more complete understanding of U.S. Foreign Policy. In order to sharpen your understanding, we formally invite you to join the International Relations Council for our 2025 Berkley Lecture!