2025
ASF: DC Edition
December 10, 2025 | Washington, DC
2025 Agenda
2025 Speakers
2025 Videos and Transcripts
2025 ASF DC Recap
Message From Our Executive Director, Anja Manuel
December 3, 2025
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We meet in our nation’s capital near the end of a turbulent, transformational year, defined by hard realities. In 2025, Russia intensified strikes in Ukraine, but we end the year perhaps closer to a solution. A permanent peace in the Middle East still seems elusive; the U.S. and Israel delivered major setbacks to Iran, while much of the region is eager to move on. China stepped up its relentless pressure on Taiwan and tightened tech controls. Venezuela’s crackdown destabilized the region, and Sudan’s humanitarian crisis deepened. Major tariff actions reshaped markets and unsettled long-standing alliances.
At the same time, rapid breakthroughs in AI and biotech outpaced governance, creating urgent national security questions with no clear playbook.
This moment requires serious and clear-eyed discussions.
As many of you know, the Aspen Strategy Group’s roots and core mission is to convene decision-makers and thought leaders from across industries, sectors, countries, and political parties to focus on the most pressing national security issues. It is our hope that these candid, concrete discussions will help provide new insights and greater clarity on how to resolve the challenges facing the United States and the world.
And so, as we step into a new year, we are pleased to bring together bold leaders from around the world in Washington, DC, on December 10th for the thoughtful dialogue necessary to meet this moment.
Thank you for joining us.
Anja Manuel
Executive Director
Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum
2025 SPEAKERS
The 2025 Forum features the highest caliber of speakers, including domestic and international government officials, business executives, leading academics, and noted journalists from around the world.
Radmila Shekerinska
Deputy Secretary General, NATO
Denys Shmyhal
Minister of Defence, Ukraine
Robert Kupiecki
National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister of Poland, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland
Alejandro Cainzos
Head of Unit for External Economic Policy, Secretariat-General of the European Commission
Kersti Kaljulaid
Former President, Estonia
Yehor Cherniev
Deputy Chairman of the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
Dave McCormick
U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania, U.S. Senate
2025 Agenda
View the 2025 Aspen Security Forum: DC Edition agenda below. Please note that all speakers and times are subject to change.
View the Full Agenda
Wednesday, December 10
Aspen Institute Headquarters
2300 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20037
All session times in ET
11:45 AM — 5:00 PM Registration Open for Guests
11:45 AM — 5:30 PM Light Bites and Refreshments for Guests
12:25 — 12:30 PM Opening Remarks
- Anja Manuel, Executive Director Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum
12:30 — 12:55 PM Fireside Chat with Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska
- Radmila Shekerinska, Deputy Secretary General, NATO
- Moderator: Nick Schifrin, PBS NewsHour
12:55 — 1:15 PM Fireside Chat with Minister Denys Shmyhal (VIRTUAL)
- Denys Shmyhal, Minister of Defence, Ukraine
- Moderator: Susan Glasser, The New Yorker
1:15 — 2:00 PM The Future of European Security
- Tristan Aureau, Director, Centre for Analysis, Planning, and Strategy, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France
- Alejandro Cainzos, Head of Unit for External Economic Policy, Secretariat-General of the European Commission
- Kersti Kaljulaid, Former President, Estonia
- Robert Kupiecki, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, Undersecretary of State, Poland
- Oliver Linz, Director of Policy Planning, Federal Foreign Office, Germany
- Moderator: Peter Spiegel, The Washington Post
2:00 — 2:25 PM Fireside Chat with Admiral Mike Mullen, USN (Ret.)
- Admiral Mike Mullen, USN (Ret.), 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Moderator: Peter Spiegel, The Washington Post
2:25 — 3:00 PM The China Challenge
- Steve Biegun, Vice Chairman, National Endowment for Democracy; Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
- Anja Manuel, Executive Director Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum
- Mike Pillsbury, Senior Advisor, The Heritage Foundation
- Moderator: Steve Clemons, The National Interest
3:00 — 3:30 PM View from the Hill: Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party with Chairman John Moolenaar
- John Moolenaar, Chairman, Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, U.S. House of Representatives
- Moderator: Demetri Sevastopulo, Financial Times
3:30 — 4:00 PM View from the Hill: House Armed Services Committee (VIRTUAL)
- Michael Turner, Member, House Armed Services Committee; U.S. Representative for Ohio’s 10th District, U.S. House of Representatives
- Jason Crow, Member, House Armed Services Committee; U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 6th District, U.S. House of Representatives
- Moderator: David Sanger, The New York Times
4:00 — 4:05 PM View from the Hill: Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party with Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi
- Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member, Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, U.S. House of Representatives
- Moderator: Demetri Sevastopulo, Financial Times
4:05 — 4:15 PM On the Rise: Perspectives on Foreign Policy with the ASG Rising Leaders
- Colin Feiter, Associate, Carlyle
- Krishna Gall, Portfolio Associate, UBS Financial Services
- Natan Gorod, Assistant Director, American Jewish Committee (AJC) Center for a New Middle East
- Akanksha Ray, Director of Global Policy, Credo AI
- Moderator: Niamh King, Director, Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum
4:15 — 4:30 PM Fireside Chat with Yehor Cherniev
- Yehor Cherniev, Head of the Ukrainian Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; Deputy Chairman of the Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
- Moderator: Anton Troianovski, The New York Times
4:30 — 5:00 PM Great Power Competition and American Grand Strategy
- General David Berger, USMC (Ret.), 38th Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps
- Kori Schake, Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute
- Kiron Skinner, Taube Family Chair of International Relations and Politics, School of Public Policy, Pepperdine University; Former Director of Policy Planning, U.S. Department of State
- Moderator: Jim Sciutto, CNN
5:00 — 5:25 PM Fireside Chat with Senator Dave McCormick
- Dave McCormick, U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania, U.S. Senate
- Moderator: Matthew Continetti, The Wall Street Journal
5:25 — 5:30 PM Closing Remarks
- Anja Manuel, Executive Director Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum
5:30 — 7:00 PM Reception on 7th Floor
Videos and Transcripts
ASF DC RECAP
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2025 PARTNERS
