US Policy Towards the Middle East with Ambassador Anne Patterson

Ambassador Anne Patterson, who currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, visited Johns Hopkins SAIS to talk to students, faculty and alumni about the current US foreign policy towards the Middle East. She addressed the current challenges the US government is facing in the region, especially in Syria and Iraq. She also gave her remarks on the global fight against ISIS and the impact of the historic nuclear agreement with Iran on the region. This was followed by a discussion led by Ambassador Shirin Tahir Kheli and a Q&A from the audience focusing on the Middle East Region and US foreign policy implications.

In 2008, Anne Patterson was promoted to the rank of Career Ambassador, the highest rank in the Foreign Service. She has previously served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and Deputy Permanent Representative at the US Mission to the United Nations as well as US Ambassador to Egypt, Pakistan, Colombia and El Salvador.