On 17 June 2009, General Brent Scowcroft, who had twice served as U.S. National Security Advisor (to Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush), was welcomed in Paris for a day of exchanges on global security and U.S. foreign policy. The occasion brought together diverse audiences in two distinct formats, each with a different focus.

The morning breakfast was organised under the banner of Foreign Policy in France, for which Fabien Baussart held the licence, and provided an opportunity for journalists and experts to engage Scowcroft on pressing international challenges. Drawing on his long experience, he addressed U.S. policy in the Middle East, transatlantic relations, and the shifting balance of power in a post-Cold War world.

The lunch was held under the framework of CPFA as a think tank, following Chatham House rules, and was moderated by Renaud Girard. Attended by diplomats, policymakers, and political figures, it encouraged candid dialogue on the future of U.S. engagement in global security, NATO’s role, and the importance of strategic cooperation between Europe and America. The event underscored CPFA’s capacity to host influential figures for rigorous debate at the intersection of policy and strategy.