Specialist conference
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Free Registration
The registration link for Wednesday, 15 May 2024 can be found here.
The registration link for Thursday, 16 May 2024 can be found here.
Germany and its allies are facing a geopolitical polycrisis. Numerous wars and conflicts are threatening the security of liberal democracies across several global arenas. The West's approach to this new security reality is sometimes reactive rather than proactive and half-hearted rather than resolute.
Against this backdrop, the mere announcement of a turning point can only be the beginning of a reform process. Assuming that the population is fundamentally willing to defend itself, Germany must become so militarily and politically capable of war that it can soon make a critical contribution to Europe's security within the framework of NATO. Because time is pressing: With a stalemate in Ukraine, the first harbingers of the US election in 2024 and a tangible recession, the environment is tense.
The XII. Adenauer Conference addresses the question of how Germany, as a framework nation, can fulfil its responsibility as a leading European power. In a first step, ways to ensure the financial, material and personnel war capability of the Bundeswehr as the "centrepiece" of the "Zeitenwende" will be discussed, before a second step takes a look at the future of NATO in its 75th year of existence.
Future workshop on foreign and security policy
Immediately before the start of the XII. Adenauer Conference, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation invites young people interested in foreign and security policy to an exchange of ideas. Students, soldiers from our armed forces and junior staff will come together at our academy to discuss pressing foreign and security policy issues "out of the box".
Participants can choose between two panel discussions on transatlantic relations and a possible eastward expansion of NATO, a wargame on hybrid threats and a "Zeitenwende" workshop.
The aim of the event is to leave the intellectual comfort zone through cooperation with various security policy networks, to seek out controversy and to exchange arguments. The questions, ideas and theses condensed here will be incorporated into the discussion of the afternoon panels at the Adenauer Conference. The diverse formats serve to promote networking, exchange and the further development of ideas.
For more information on the workshops and the link to register, click here.
Panellists
Moderators
Program
Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Morning - "Future Lab on Foreign and Security Policy"
Panel discussions, wargame and workshop for young professionals in cooperation with project partners from the foreign policy and security field.
01:00 pm - Registration and Get-Together
2:00 pm – Opening remarks
Chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and former President of the German Bundestag
2:15 pm – Keynote
Elina Valtonen MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
2:30 pm – Talk: Deterrence or Containment? What Grand Strategy does Europe Need for a Secure Future?
Elina Valtonen MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
and
Dr Johann Wadephul MP
Deputy Chairman of CDU/CSU-Group in the German Bundestag
Head of the German Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Moderation:
Marco SeligerEditor for Defense and Security Policy at Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ)
3:00 pm – Panel 1: “Zeitenwende” in Minds and Hearts – Ways to War Readiness
The Federal Republic of Germany is the economically strongest and most populous nation in Europe. Berlin therefore has a leading role to play in security policy. In order to live up to this responsibility, Germany must become ready for war in a timely manner. However, defense capability in the context of national and alliance defense requires not only financial assurances and sufficient material but also personnel strength of the armed forces. The population's willingness to defend itself and the willingness to prioritize security policy are also essential prerequisites for Germany’s ability to defend itself.
- How can the financing of the Bundeswehr be increased to the minimum level of 2% of GDP in the long term?
- How can the Bundeswehr determine its requirements for armaments more quickly and efficiently and place the corresponding orders?
- How can compulsory service be designed so that it contributes to the growth and sustainability of the Bundeswehr?
- How can we counter the post-heroic society and strengthen the will to defend society as a whole?
Major General Wolf-Jürgen Stahl
President of the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS)
Serap Güler MP
Member of CDU/CSU-Group in the German Bundestag, Member of Defense Committee
Dr Timo Graf
Senior Lecturer at Zentrum für Militärgeschichte und Sozialwissenschaften der Bundeswehr (ZMSBw)
Moderation:
First Lieutenant Lara Weyland
Press Officer and Presenter in the Bundeswehr YouTube format "Nachgefragt"
4:00 pm – Networking Break
4:15 pm – Panel 2: 75 Years of NATO – Back to the Roots? (English)
Due to the polycrisis in and around Europe, NATO is once again as important as it was at the height of the Cold War. Even after 75 years, the credibility of the promise of collective defense is at the core of deterrence, and its importance is increasing in the face of security instability. Political fragmentation in Europe and Washington's uncertain attitude towards the alliance after the US election in 2024 call the reliability of this promise into question. To keep the United States in NATO, European countries must develop a common understanding of NATO and contribute to a fairer transatlantic burden-sharing.
- How can Ukraine’s support be increased, and lasting commitment ensured?
- How can coherence inside of NATO be improved?
- How can the diverse NATO partnership programs develop?
- Should NATO expand its area of responsibility to the Indo-Pacific?
Major General Jörg See
Deputy Assistant Secretary General of NATO
Peter Beyer MP
Member of CDU/CSU-Group in the German Bundestag, Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation (2018-2022), Vice-President of the German Atlantic Association (DAG)
Elizabeth Hoffman
Director of Congressional and Government Affairs and Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Jukka Kopra MP
Member of the Finnish Parliament, Chairman of the Defense Committee
Moderation:
Dr Aylin Matlé
Research Fellow, Center for Security and Defense at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
5:15 pm – End of Conference
Thursday, May 16, 2024
6:00 pm – Opening remarks
Dr Gerhard Wahlers
Deputy Secretary General and
Head of the Division European and International Cooperation
Konrad Adenauer Foundation
6:10 pm – The European pillar of NATO: 20 years of Romania’s NATO membership
Gunther Krichbaum MP
Spokesperson for European Union Affairs of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group
German Bundestag
Chair German Romanian Forum
6:20 pm – Keynote and Talk: Looking ahead: NATO at 75
Mircea Geoană
NATO Deputy Secretary General
Moderation:
Katja Plate
Director of the Country Office Romania
Konrad Adenauer Foundation
7:25 pm – Closing remarks
H.E. Adriana-Loreta Stănescu
Ambassador of Romania to the Federal Republic of Germany
7:30 pm – End of Conference – Reception
Topics
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