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2025 ASF: Day 1 Recap

July 16, 2025

The 2025 Aspen Security Forum

July 15-18 | Aspen, CO

The 2025 Aspen Security Forum kicked off last night in Aspen, CO! We are pleased to share some of the highlights from the opening night below.

Tune in to today’s sessions by joining our livestream!


Opening Night Highlights

Welcome Remarks from Nicholas Burns and Anja Manuel

Nicholas Burns
Co-Chair
Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum 

Anja Manuel
Executive Director
Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum

“Across these divides, something deeply human still unites us: a shared desire to reduce conflict, build stability, and create a more peaceful, prosperous world.” – Anja Manuel

Nicholas Burns and Anja Manuel opened the 2025 Aspen Security Forum by setting the stage for three days of conversations on the most pressing national security and foreign policy challenges.

Watch here.

Fireside Chat with Nicholas Burns

Nicholas Burns
Co-Chair, Aspen Strategy Group
Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations, Harvard Kennedy School
Former U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China

Moderator
Zanny Minton Beddoes
The Economist

[We spent] about 80% of our collective time on the competitive edge. It’s trying to prevent the PLA from becoming a superior military force to the U.S. Navy and Air Force. It’s trying to deal with the technology race, the commercial aspects of it, AI, quantum, biotech, and the military applications of that…that will have consequences for the global balance of power.” – Nicholas Burns

Nicholas Burns shared his insights from his most recent posting as U.S. Ambassador to China, discussing America’s competition with China across the economic, diplomatic, and military domains.

Watch here.

Tanks But No Tanks: The Future of European Defense

Baiba Braže
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Latvia

Wolfgang Schmidt
Former Federal Minister and Head of the Chancellery
Chairman, Board of Trustees, MSC Foundation

Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir
Special Envoy of the Secretary General on the Situation of Children of Ukraine, Council of Europe
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iceland

Julie Smith
President, Clarion Strategies
Former U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO

Moderator
Shashank Joshi
The Economist

“We all want Ukraine to win, but the real question is the one…that is too difficult to even discuss in broader public, and that’s the tough discussions we are having with Ukrainian friends: What is realistic in confronting a nuclear power?” – Wolfgang Schmidt

This session focused on the state of European defense, including support for Ukraine, increased NATO defense spending targets, the future of transatlantic relations, and more.

Watch here.

The Weekly Leaf

Last week, the 2025 Aspen Security Forum brought together top national security voices, experts, business leaders, and innovators from across the political spectrum and around the globe.
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