The last decade has been conducive to profound changes in the security and defense landscape in Europe. The election of Donald Trump in 2016 raised questions about the United States’ commitment to NATO \u2013 which resurfaced with his re-candidacy in 2024 \u2013 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and all the events it triggered \u2013 from new accessions to threats of nuclear attacks \u2013 and the growth of tensions in the Pacific, with China more aggressive and North Korea producing new threats.<\/p>\n
The next few years will certainly be one of geopolitical competition, and the path Europe must take is far from clear. An army of its own? Independence from the Atlantic alliance? And what is the position on China? To discuss these issues, FLAD invited two European security experts to another edition of the Democracy: The Way Ahead<\/em> conference cycle.<\/p>\n Cathryn Cl\u00fcver Ashbrook<\/strong> is a senior advisor at the Bertelsmann Stiftung in Berlin and a non-resident fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute. She began her career as a producer at CNN, was co-founder of the Future of Diplomacy project at the Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School, of which she was executive director, as well as the Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship project, also at Harvard. She was director and CEO of the German Council on Foreign Relations.<\/p>\n