Some two dozen members of the AAPA met in person on December 17 with Kimberley Krhounek, Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs at the US Embassy, Paris, for an off-the-record briefing. Focusing on the interregnum between President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, Ms Krhounek fielded questions regarding the war in Ukraine, tariffs and trade, the fall of Syria, Vladimir Putin’s allies and resources, China’s political and economic influence, and US-European relations and coordinated defense strategies.