On Friday, June 10, The University of the West Indies (The UWI) brings together its International Relations experts and diplomats from major geo-strategic jurisdictions to share their perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine War. The Vice-Chancellor’s Forum will be hosted in collaboration with the University’s Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Studies (SALISES).

This virtual event follows another Vice-Chancellor’s Forum held in March, which examined the economic implications for the global oil industry and the Caribbean. Friday’s Forum themed, The Russia-Ukraine War Geo-Strategic Perspectives: Interests and Implications includes an interactive panel discussion that will be streamed live via UWItv from 10:00 a.m. AST/Eastern Caribbean time and 9:00 a.m. EST/Jamaica time.

The panellists include His Excellency, Peter Cavendish, European Union Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago; Her Excellency, Harriet Cross, British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago; Shante Moore Chargé d’Affaires, United States Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Theodore Tudoroiu Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Dr. Michal Pawiński, Lecturer, from the Institute of International Relations at The UWI, St. Augustine Campus.

Vice-Chancellor of The UWI, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, and Acting Director of SALISES, St. Augustine Campus, Dr. Godfrey St. Bernard, will deliver opening remarks at the event and Dr. Indira Rampersad, Senior Research Fellow (SALISES) and International Relations specialist, will serve as Chair of the proceedings and moderator of the panel discussion.

Commenting on the significance of this follow-up Forum on the Russia-Ukraine War, Dr Indira Rampersad, Senior Research Fellow at SALISES, stated, “Russian aggression and atrocities in Ukraine have shattered the Kremlin’s efforts to sow divisions in the United States and Europe. The European Union, Britain, and the United States have reinforced themselves as international players and one may even speak of the birth of a geopolitical Union. The UWI is pleased to welcome representatives of this G3, as well as two distinguished academics, experts in International Relations, of Eastern European background to share their perspectives and to analyse the interests and implications of this war to the international society”.

Interested persons are invited to tune in and participate in The UWI Vice-Chancellor’s Forum, The Russia-Ukraine War Geo-Strategic Perspectives: Interests and Implications at www.uwitv.org  or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/uwitv.