Day 1: Monday, June 28, 2021 (9:00am-12:30pm EDT)
Day 2: Tuesday, June 29, 2021 (9:00am-12:30pm EDT)
Online – Livestream
Register Here: https://www.csis.org/events/eu-defense-washington-forum
On June 28-29, the European Union Delegation to the United States and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will convene the 2021 EU Defense Washington Forum, an annual symposium dedicated to strengthening EU-U.S. cooperation on security and defense.
Now in its 10th year, the EU Defense Washington Forum will bring together leading stakeholders and experts from the transatlantic security, defense and diplomatic communities for a timely analysis of critical issues, such as climate change, including in the Arctic; strategic competition with China and Russia; emerging and disruptive technologies; security challenges and responses relating to Africa; and hybrid threats.
The first such forum since the start of the Biden Administration, this year’s Defense Forum will focus on developing a shared analysis of the threat environment, and of the military and societal capabilities required to improve our collective and individual responses.
The Biden administration’s Interim National Security Guidance is clear on the priority Washington places on working with allies and partners. The strategy promises to “reinvigorate and modernize” alliances and partnerships, which the administration considers “America’s greatest strategic asset,” in order to advance our common interests and uphold our shared values. Consistent and pragmatic transatlantic cooperation on security issues is essential to realizing this goal. The EU’s blueprint for cooperation with the new U.S. administration, “A New Transatlantic Agenda for Global Change,” also prominently calls for further strengthening—and leveraging—our joint commitment to transatlantic and international security.
This year’s forum will bring together leading stakeholders and experts from the transatlantic security and defense communities to focus on developing a shared analysis of the threat environment and of the capabilities required to improve our collective and individual response.
Preliminary agenda
Day One 9:00am-12:30pm
Defense 2030: Transatlantic Security and Strategic Competition
9:00 – 9:10am Welcome Remarks
9:10 – 9:25am Keynote Address: Global threats – The View from Europe
9:25 – 9:40am Keynote Conversation: Global Threats – The View from the United States
9:40 – 10:25am Panel 1: Russia and Hybrid Challenges
10:30 – 11:15am Panel 2: China as a Security Challenge
11:20 – 11:55am Panel 3: Transatlantic Cooperation on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies
12:00 – 12:30pm Keynote Conversation: Competing U.S. Strategic Demands and Allies and Partners
Day Two 9:00am-12:30pm
Defense 2030: Transnational Challenges to Transatlantic Security
9:00 – 9:30am Keynote Conversation: Climate Security
9:35 – 10:05am Panel 1: The Arctic – Security Implications of Climate Change
10:15 – 10:40am Keynote 2: Security Challenges in the Sahel and Beyond
10:45 – 11:15am Panel 2: European and U.S. military engagement in Africa: An Operational Perspective
11:25 – 11:55am Panel 3: EU-NATO-US Cooperation
12:00 – 12:30pm Panel 4: Spending Better for Future Capabilities
A full list of panels and speakers will be published shortly.
FEATURING
- Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
- Jonathan Finer, US Deputy National Security Advisor
- Stavros Lambrinidis, EU Ambassador to the United States
- Trine Bramsen, Minister of Defense, Denmark
- Harjit Sajjan, Minister of Defense, Canada
- Joao Gomes Cravinho, Minister of National Defense, Portugal
- Teija Tiilikainen, Director, European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats
- Jiří Šedivý, Chief Executive, European Defence Agency
- David Van Weel, Assistant Secretary-General for Emerging Security Challenges, NATO
- James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, NATO
- Vice Admiral Herve Bléjean, Director-General, European Union Military Staff
- General Stephen J. Townsend, Commander, U.S. Africa Command
- Uroš Lampret, State Secretary, Slovenian Ministry of Defense
- Victoria Coleman, Chief Scientist, United States Air Force
- Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary-General for CSDP and Crisis Response, European External Action Service
- Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific, European External Action Service
- Mikko Huotari, Executive Director, Mercator Institute for China Studies
- Julian Barnes, National Security Reporter, New York Times
- Somini Sengupta, International Climate Reporter, New York Times
- Lara Seligman, Pentagon Correspondent, Politico
This event is funded by the European Union.