Programs

Our programs are tailored to current events and to our participants’ highest priority interests, including U.S. politics and elections, history and culture, foreign policy, international trade, sustainable development, and global trends.

Discussions in our unique, intimate programs are completely confidential, allowing our participants, sponsors, and guests to build trust and share perspectives in an off-the-record environment.

ECD events are offered free of charge for invited members of the diplomatic corps, United States government representatives, and other guests.

Business representatives and other interested organizations and individuals can support ECD’s mission and join our programs by sponsoring ECD. To learn more about the benefits of ECD sponsorship and to learn about how to join, please contact the ECD team.

Recent programs have included:

May 2026

During a Fireside Chat, the ECD heard from James Mazol, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, and Chief Technology Officer, about timely topics in the innovative defense space, including priorities in science and technology, developmental prototyping, and the synchronization of these efforts across the Department of War.

March 2026

Dr. Pierre Yared, Acting Chair and Member of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Executive Office of the President, joined the ECD for a discussion on the Trump Administration’s domestic and international economic policy.

February 2026

The ECD was joined by Sean Stein, President of the US-China Business Council, for a fireside chat on US-China relations ahead of the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.

January 2026

Bruce Mehlman, an expert on policy and political trends, offered the ECD a timely and insightful overview of the current political landscape as well as clear insights into what likely lies ahead from the U.S. Government in 2026.

December 2025

The annual AAB Board Meeting took place, where we had an engaging discussion with Congressman Mike Turner about global security trends, reflected on the past year, and discussed 2026 ECD programming.

November 2025

A fireside chat with Heather Conley from the American Enterprise Institute and Philip Luck from the Center for Strategic & International Studies discussing the evolution of U.S. foreign and trade policy under the second Trump Administration.

Discussions in our unique, intimate programs are completely confidential, allowing our participants, sponsors, and guests to build trust and share perspectives in an off-the-record environment.

ECD events are free of charge for invited members of the diplomatic corps in the United States and for invited representatives of the U.S. government. To be considered, please contact us here.