The transatlantic relationship has been the linchpin of the liberal international order for over seventy years. However, it has recently come under strain as domestic and international developments have caused upheaval in both the U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, sharp and opportunistic foreign powers, including Russia and China, are pushing hard against the values of the West. To address these mounting challenges, the Aspen Strategy Group has pursued an array of projects to promote and bolster the transatlantic relationship and cooperation.
In 2017, the ASG focused on bringing the U.S. and Europe closer together through a Track II Dialogue with Aspen European Strategy Group. Convening in Washington, DC, in 2017 and 2019 and in Brussels in 2018, these dialogues brought together high-level delegations with significant experience in government, business, academia, journalism, and international institutions for action-oriented conversations. The dialogues covered a range of issues, including preserving and repairing the transatlantic relationship, managing the national security implications of emerging technologies, coordinating an approach to China and Russia, resolving trade tensions, and considering the future of NATO.
In 2021 and 2023, the ASG partnered with the Munich Security Conference and Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) to convene a Distinguished Reflection Group on Transatlantic China Policy. In July 2021, the group released its initial report, Mind the Gap, which advocated for a joint approach for the U.S. and Europe toward China where possible and managing differences where necessary. The Distinguished Reflection Group revisited this topic in February 2023 to assess where progress had been made and where significant differences remained in the transatlantic approach to China. The group’s findings were released in the follow-up Bridging the Gap report. At the 2023 Munich Security Conference, ASG Executive Director Anja Manuel, MSC Vice-Chairman, MERICS Executive Director Mikko Huotari, and Senator Angus King discussed the report’s findings during a public square session.
In 2023, the ASG pivoted to focus more narrowly on the alignment of U.S.-EU technology policy. We convened high-level American and European delegations in Brussels to cover many critical topics, including strengthening U.S.-EU supply chains, bolstering U.S.-EU global technological leadership, and crafting a values-based approach to the commercialization of emerging technologies like AI, among others.
In May 2025, the ASG and MSC hosted a strategic dialogue with current and former U.S. and European government officials, business leaders, academics, and more. The delegations engaged in robust and candid discussions on trade and economic policy, NATO and European security, the China challenge, and technological innovation and new frontiers.
