Ian O. Lesser

Dr. Ian O. Lesser serves as Vice President at the German Marshall Fund of the United States and holds the Chair in Transatlantic Trade and Economy at the College of Europe in Bruges.

His research expertise spans U.S. foreign policy and European and Middle Eastern security affairs, with particular emphasis on transatlantic relations looking 'south,' including the Mediterranean, Turkey, and the wider Atlantic region.

• U.S. foreign policy
• European security affairs
• Middle Eastern security affairs
• Transatlantic relations
• Mediterranean studies
• Atlantic region studies

As Executive Director of GMF's Brussels office, Dr. Lesser leads the organization's work on transatlantic relations in southern regions and provides critical analysis on emerging geopolitical challenges, particularly following the 2024 U.S. presidential election.