Charles Ries
Charles Ries
Senior Fellow, Adjunct
RAND Corporation, United States
Ambassador (Ret.) Charles Ries is Senior Fellow, Adjunct at the RAND Corporation. He served as RAND Vice President, International between 2012 and 2020. Joining RAND in 2009, Ambassador Ries’ research has focused on the economics of development, transatlantic relations, decision-making, disaster recovery, the Middle East, and Europe.
He is a co-author of Reconstructing Ukraine: Creating a Freer, More Prosperous, and Secure Future. Over three decades in the U.S. diplomatic service, Ambassador Ries concentrated on economic affairs and Europe. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Greece (2004-2007), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (2000–2004), and senior economic positions at the U.S. Embassy in London, and the U.S. Mission to the European Union. He is a member of the Academy of American Diplomacy.
Thursday 11
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10.30 - 11.20
Us and European Perspectives on Ukraine’s Post War Reconstruction
Artemis Hall | European Cultural Centre of Delphi
Programming Partner: RAND Corporation
Recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine might be the largest post-war rebuilding effort in modern history. If implemented successfully, it will take its place as the next step in the multigenerational effort to reconstruct and reintegrate Europe, from Western Europe after WWII, Central and Eastern Europe after the Cold War, and the Western Balkans after the violent breakup of Yugoslavia. While Ukraine can and should set the priorities, success will require joint U.S. and European leadership. This panel will explore the many dimensions of the Ukraine reconstruction challenge from the U.S. and the European perspective, including factors that have led to success in past efforts; financing; coordination among donors, international financial institutions, and Ukraine; ensuring the integrity of reconstruction spending; the need for Ukraine to engage in internal reforms; the security dimension of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction; and the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024, to be hosted in Berlin this June.
Friday 12
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15.10 - 15.55
Geopolitics and Today's Middle East
Artemis Hall | European Cultural Centre of Delphi
Programming Partner: RAND Corporation
The present war in Gaza and the Abraham Accords have changed the dynamics to today’s Middle East. While we do not know where the Israel-Palestinian conflict will be in six months, there will undoubtedly be a new dimension to geopolitical rivalries in the region. The Houthis started attacking ships in the Red Sea in October 2023, but just one month before at the G20 summit, leading nations and the European Union announced a potential new India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. U.S. policy priorities are changing, from a disengagement preference at the beginning of the present Administration to once again trying to shape a new security and economic future for the region. Change is also important for Europe — and Greece — as the first European point of contact for the proposed IMEC is Piraeus. The panel will look beyond the Gaza war to U.S.-Europe-Middle East economic potential, including transit and technology, and likely Chinese, Iranian and Russian strategies in response.