Virtual Discussion

The Balkans: Where the U.S. and Europe Meet

Gabriel Escobar is the Deputy Chief of Mission in the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade (Serbia), currently serving his fifth diplomatic tour in the Balkans. In this presentation, Mr. Escobar will give an overview of U.S. strategic engagement in the Balkans, the Southeast region of Europe that just over 20 years ago, experienced a wave of wars that resulted in international military intervention. The Balkans is where the U.S. and the EU work in close collaboration to ensure civic, government and economic security. This presentation will focus on how U.S. policy in the Balkans relates to the broader U.S. policy towards European allies.

About the Presenter

Deputy Chief of Mission Gabriel Escobar

U.S. Embassy Belgrade, Serbia

Gabriel Escobar is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy Belgrade in Serbia. Previously he was posted as Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy Baghdad, where he served as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission for the majority of his tour. His leadership positions include Coordinator for Cuban Affairs in the Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs from 2017 2018, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, Bolivia 2014-2017, Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar, Pakistan 2013-2014, and Team Leader of the U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kirkuk, Iraq 2009-2010.

From 1998-2001, Gabriel completed four consecutive tours in the former Yugoslavia, including serving as the Chief of Staff for the Office of the High Representative in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Head of the Embassy Branch Office in Banja Luka, the Deputy Head of the U.S. Diplomatic Liaison Team in Podgorica, and Political Unit Chief in Belgrade shortly after the U.S. Embassy reopened in 2001. In the Bureau of European Affairs, Gabriel has served as the Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, Deputy Political Counselor in Rome, and Political-Military Officer in Prague, and Vice-Consul in Moscow.

A career diplomat, he has been awarded the State Department’s Superior Honor Award six times and the Meritorious Honor Award once. He has also been awarded the Department of State’s Expeditionary Service Award and the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award. Gabriel is a graduate of Columbia University in New York and speaks Spanish, Russian, Italian, Serbian, Czech, and Portuguese.

Moderator

Keith Brown

Director, The Melikian Center: Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies

Professor, School of Politics and Global Studies

Arizona State University

Registration

FREE for PCFR Members

$10 for Non-Members 

Schedule

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM MT

Venue

Zoom Meeting

Meeting link and instructions will be included in the registration confirmation and reminder email sent prior to the event.