with Ambassador (ret.) Dr. Christoph Heusgen,

Co-Chairman of the St. Gallen Symposium; former Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations, former Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, and former Chairman of the Munich Security Conference

 

moderated by

Dr. Mayssoun Zein Al Din,

Director, Academy of International Affairs NRW

 

 

The global order has changed dramatically over the past decade. Some of these changes have been disruptive, such as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine or the escalation of violence in the Middle East. Other changes have taken place more gradually and outside of the spotlight of public attention, such as the quantitative decline of liberal democracies, the parallel increase in autocratic regimes, and the intensifying geopolitical tensions and rivalries between the United States, China, and Russia. At the same time, the international community is under ever-greater pressure to tackle challenges such as climate change, global health crises, and ongoing migration movements, which are placing heavy demands on countries on both sides of the Atlantic and triggering a transformation of national party systems. With Donald Trump serving a second term as president, the United States’ role in the world and as a partner for Europe must be reassessed after a long period of relative stability. In the current geopolitical climate, Europe in particular has a duty to ensure security and stability—in close cooperation with the US, but also with a clear understanding of its own interests and values. The question of how transatlantic relations are changing amidst great power competition and global responsibility is more important than ever and shapes the political debates and decisions of our time. In this context, we will examine the future of international cooperation and the challenges and opportunities that Europe faces in this dynamically changing world order. 

 

Dr. Christoph Heusgen is the Co-Chairman of the St.Gallen Symposium. He looks back at a career of 41 years as a diplomat, having served in Bonn, Chicago, Paris, Brussels, Berlin and New York. His postings included Deputy Head of the Private Office of German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, Director of the EU's first High Representative Javier Solana's Policy Unit, Chancellor Merkel's Diplomatic Advisor (2005 to 2017) and Germany's Ambassador to the United Nations (2017 to 2021). He chaired the Security Council in April 2019 and July 2020. Christoph Heusgen is a graduate of the University of St. Gallen where he received his PhD and where he taught Political Science. He chaired the Munich Security Conference between 2022 and 2025.

 

Dr. Mayssoun Zen Al Din is Executive Director of the Academy of International Affairs NRW, Associate Fellow at the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) and lecturer at RWTH Aachen University and the University of Bonn. Her research focuses on international relations and the Arab world. She holds a PhD in Political Science, which she obtained at RWTH Aachen University. From 2012 to 2020, she was also responsible for international policy issues in the office of the former Minister President of North
Rhine-Westphalia.

 

 

Tickets are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. We kindly ask you to only reserve the number of tickets that you will definitely use.

You do not need to print out your Eventbrite ticket. The name under which you reserved your tickets will suffice to enter. 

This event will be held in English.

We cordially thank your partner for their cooperation: Academy of International Affairs NRW 

We kindly thank the State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia for their support.