On 30 June 2014, the Centre for Political and Foreign Affairs (CPFA) in Paris hosted Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, and Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, former Minister of Defence of Germany, for a high-level event moderated by Renaud Girard. The day opened with a morning session for journalists, where the two former ministers outlined their perspectives on current international crises and the implications for European foreign policy.

The formal lunch session brought together diplomats and experts for a more detailed and candid discussion. Straw reflected on the pressing challenges of the Middle East, including the war in Syria, instability in Iraq, and the dilemmas these conflicts posed for European governments. Zu Guttenberg contributed insights from Germany’s standpoint, stressing the importance of transatlantic cooperation, NATO’s evolving role, and the strategic need to balance European unity with national interests.

By combining media outreach with in-depth policy dialogue, the event highlighted the value of engaging different audiences in discussions of global importance. The exchanges underscored both the convergences and divergences in British and German approaches to international security, reaffirming CPFA’s mission as a forum for rigorous and inclusive debate on global affairs.