On Wed. Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bruce Pitman Center Vandal Ballroom, the University of Idaho’s Martin Institute is presenting a public lecture titled “The War in Ukraine: A View from an Ally.” This address will be given by Rear Admiral Ulrich Reineke, the Director of Plans and Policy of the German Navy. This event is free and open to the public as well as students.
In addition to being a Rear Admiral for the German Navy, Reineke is experienced in the field of international relations. He has served as the Branch Head for Strategic Defense Planning and Concepts in Maritime and Joint Support and as the Head of the Knowledge Support Section with NATO Joint Command in Naples, Italy, according to the Martin Institute’s profile.
“[Reineke] has served in the German Navy for his entire career and has also worked alongside NATO several times. He has a very deep understanding of the NATO architecture, the NATO response to the Ukraine War, and the European version of working with NATO to try and support Ukraine in its war against Russia,” said Erin Kimball Damman, a clinical associate professor for the International Studies Program and the Martin Institute. “So, he will be talking to us from that European perspective as we reach the two-year mark in the Ukraine War.”
The Martin Institute was founded in 1979 with the mission of understanding the causes of war, the conditions necessary for peace, and the international system, according to their website.
This speech is the latest of the Martin Forums that began in 1999 to promote awareness of international issues. Martin Forum addresses in the past have covered topics related to war and peace, human rights, resources and development, and socioeconomics.
The Martin Forum speakers often deliver public lectures, visit classes, and meet with campus audiences in informal settings.
Besides his public address “The War in Ukraine: A View from an Ally,” Reineke will teach a short course on NATO, visit with students in international politics courses, and meet with the Navy ROTC program on campus.
“We are hoping that people will take away a couple of main insights. One is an update on the war in Ukraine and the second is the perspective of the NATO and European allies involved in this process. So, something to compare the American perspective on it to,” Damman said. “I just hope people come and have fun and enjoy it. It should be a great and insightful evening that everybody should take part in.”
Georgia Swanson can be reached at [email protected]