2026
Aspen Security Forum
July 14-17, 2026 | Aspen, CO
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2026 Speakers
FAQ
Welcome Message from Anja Manuel
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASPEN STRATEGY GROUP & ASPEN SECURITY FORUM
Dear friends and colleagues,
This year, the United States celebrates 250 years since its founding. The anniversary reminds us that the American experiment was and is built on bold ideas. Its continued success depends on whether each generation can innovate, strengthen our alliances, adapt our institutions, and defend the ideals that make our freedom possible.
The world into which the United States was born—like ours today—was in state of flux. The American Revolution challenged the British Empire. The French and Haitian revolutions shook assumptions about political legitimacy, slavery, and power. Steam helped launch the Industrial Revolution. In a short period, the old order shifted.
250 years later, we are living through another period of upheaval.
Artificial intelligence has become a powerful, helpful tool, and also a national-security threat. Conflicts in the Middle East and in Europe have created new partnerships, while upending trade routes, and testing deterrence and energy security. China leads in 66 of 74 critical technologies, reshaping economic and military competition and raising the stakes around Taiwan. Economic momentum and clout are moving south, as African and Asian cities, ports, power grids, and mineral corridors expand, while Europe struggles with slow growth.
These disruptive forces are moving at extraordinary speed, while laws, institutions, companies, and governments strain to keep up.
But transformation also creates opportunities: to explore the bold, new ideas that will define the future. Can we shape this disruption—guide it, govern it, and bend it toward progress?
That is why we gather here in Aspen.
Our founders Joe Nye and Brent Scowcroft believed the Rockies could create space away from the noise for serious people to engage serious problems.
This year, our challenge is for each of us, speakers and participants, to bring forward our audacious, impossible, “too hard” ideas—and pressure test them together to ensure the continued success of this unique and marvelous democratic experiment.
Thank you for joining us.
See you in Aspen,
Anja Manuel
Executive Director
Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum
2026 SPEAKERS
The 2026 Forum features the highest caliber of speakers, including domestic and international government officials, business executives, leading academics, and noted journalists from around the world.
Jarrod Agen
Assistant to the President & Executive Director of the National Energy Dominance Council, The White House
Arrow Augerot
Head, International Policy, Americas, Amazon
Annalena Baerbock
President of the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations; Former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany
Thomas J. Barrack
U.S. Ambassador to Turkiye, Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq
Stephen E. Biegun
Vice Chairman, National Endowment for Democracy
Fatih Birol
Executive Director, International Energy Agency
Vincent Biruta
Minister of the Interior, Government of Rwanda
Chris Brose
President and Chief Strategy Officer, Anduril
Marc Caputo
White House Correspondent and Political Writer, Axios
Bill Cassidy
United States Senator, United States Senate
REGISTRATION
PUBLIC PASSES
We invite you to apply for credentials to attend this year’s Aspen Security Forum. Please note that due to high demand and limited capacity, we are unable to accommodate all requests to attend.
PRESS PASSES
If you have any questions, please contact Ilana Drimmer at ilana.drimmer@aspeninstitute.org or Jon Purves at jon.purves@aspeninstitute.org.
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ASPEN SECURITY FORUM: DC EDITION
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