Ambassador Thomas M. T. Niles 3-30-16

Ambassador Thomas M. T. Niles

The public is invited to attend an Ambassadors’ Roundtable series breakfast presentation by Ambassador Thomas M. T. Niles, former US Ambassador to Canada, Greece, and the European Union and Vice Chair of United States Council for International Business, on “In or Out: UK Referendum on the EU”. This event will take place at the Stamford Yacht Club on April 13, 2016.

Ambassador Niles served 36 years in the United States Foreign Service, including three key ambassadorial appointments – to Canada, Greece, and the European Union – as well as serving as Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Canada.

Appointed ambassador to Canada in 1985, Ambassador Niles played a key role in negotiations leading to the US-Canada Free Trade Agreement, and he was widely recognized for his efforts to promote American business north of the border.

As US envoy to the European Union from 1989 to 1991, he was closely involved in bilateral and multilateral trade issues, as well as the developing political/security relationship between the US and EU.

As Assistant Secretary for European and Canadian Affairs at the State Department from 1991 to 1993, Ambassador Niles was responsible for some of the first steps in the transformation of the NATO alliance. His service as Ambassador to Greece from 1993 to 1997 came at a time of considerable tension.

Earlier in his Foreign Service career, Ambassador Niles served in Belgrade, twice in Moscow and in the U.S. mission to NATO in Brussels, as well as at State Department headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Following his retirement from the Foreign Service, Ambassador Niles served as President and CEO of the United States Council for International Business from 1999 to 2005.

Ambassador Niles holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky.

The cost for the breakfast and presentation is free for AR series members, $30 for Forum members and $50 for the general public. The event will start at 7 a.m. with coffee and networking followed by a full breakfast buffet at 7:30 a.m. The presentation will begin at 8 a.m. and Ambassador Niles will take questions.

The World Affairs Forum is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to expanding understanding of global affairs and America’s role in the world. The Forum is an affiliate of the World Affairs Councils of America.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *