The John Cabot Transatlantic Policy Dialogues is an ongoing policy workshop that aims to evaluate the evolving geopolitical challenges and opportunities facing Europe and the United States from a transatlantic perspective. The exercise is held annually each Fall semester. It includes keynote speakers from both sides of the transatlantic partnership followed by a panel of experts discussing a common strategic challenge. The Transatlantic Policy Dialogues aim to take advantage of John Cabot’s natural position as a bridge between the US, Italy and Europe; draw on its international, scholarly expertise; and serve as a hub connecting policymakers and the diplomatic community from across the Atlantic and Mediterranean who are stationed or visiting Rome.
New Horizons in Transatlantic Security and Defense Cooperation with Armando Varricchio, Ambassador, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Stefano Pontecorvo, President, Leonardo-Finmeccanica.
The Political Economy of Food Emergencies with Jeffrey Prescott, US Ambassador to the UN Missions in Rome, Fabio Sokolowicz, Head of the Unit for Humanitarian Emergency International Operations at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Arif Husain, Chief Economist for the World Food Programme.
With Rodney Hunter, Chargé D’Affaires, US Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome, and Stefano Gatti, Special Envoy for Food Security at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
With Joe Donnelly, US. Ambassador to the Holy See and Pasquale Terracciano, General Director for Public and Cultural Diplomacy, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The Senior Fellowship on Transatlantic Relations was created in 2025 to host an annual Ambassador in residence at John Cabot University and to promote transatlantic dialogue between the United States, Italy and Europe on key areas in international relations. Each year the Senior Fellow on Transatlantic Relations works closely with the Guarini Institute for Public Affairs and the MA Program in International Affairs, offering lectures in the program’s International Affairs Practicum on diplomacy and foreign policy-making, and engaging with students about careers in the field. The Senior Fellow also helps to coordinate the annual Transatlantic Policy Dialogues at John Cabot University.
Ambassador Armando Varricchio is the inaugural holder of the Guarini Senior Fellowship on Transatlantic Relations. He has served a long career in Italy’s Foreign Ministry and is the former Ambassador of Italy to Belgrade (2009-2013), the United States (2016-2021) and the Federal Republic of Germany (2021-2025). As a young diplomat in Budapest (1988-1992) he witnessed the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union.
As National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister (2013-2016) and Deputy Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the Republic (2006-2009), he has been deeply involved in the most sensitive international and security dossiers. As Personal Representative (“Sherpa”) at G7/8 summits for the EU (1999-2002) as well as G7 and G20 for Italy (2013-2016) he has managed critical negotiations on global economic, financial and industrial issues.
Ambassador Varricchio has a comprehensive knowledge of international relations and has played a pivotal role in policy making and high-level negotiations both at national and European level. He has served at the Italian Representation to the EU, as Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the European Commission and Chief of Staff to the Minister for European Affairs.
Born in Venice, Ambassador Varricchio graduated in International Relations from the University of Padua (Summa con Laude). He started his professional career in the private sector as Assistant to the CFO of the Textile company Marzotto, before joining the Foreign Service in 1986. He was promoted to the rank of full Ambassador in 2014 and is currently the most senior Foreign Service Official in the Italian MFA. During his service in the Carabinieri he was assigned to sensitive security tasks.
Ambassador Varricchio has been bestowed by the President of the Republic of Italy with the Knight of Grand Cross - the highest Italian award - and is the recipient of prestigious honors by several Foreign States.
