- January 13, 2026
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- January 13, 2026
Russia’s war against Ukraine is entering its fourth year. Drones are disrupting operations at German airports. Cyberattacks are targeting critical infrastructure. Acts of sabotage are directed against overseas cables and data streams. Instability in the Middle East is exacerbating the global situation. And above all, there is the question of how resilient transatlantic security guarantees will still be in 2026. Germany’s security policy environment has changed fundamentally and the risks are increasing. Aspen Germany’s “Lageplan 2026: Sicherheitspolitische Vorausschau für Deutschland und Europa im geopolitischen Spannungsfeld” takes these developments as an opportunity to discuss the state of German and European security. The focus is on the question of how prepared Germany and the EU actually are for the security policy challenges of 2026 – militarily, politically, technologically, and socially. Key topics to be discussed include: (1) Resilience and vulnerability of German and European structures; (2) Geopolitical risks and their direct impact on Europe; (3) The status and prospects of European defense capabilities; (4) The future of the transatlantic security partnership; and (5) Options for action and priorities that must be set in 2026. In typical Aspen format, the event combines a high-level panel with intensive interactive elements that involve the audience in the analysis. The aim is to produce a joint, fact-based, and realistic assessment of the situation that provides guidance for a year in which security policy decisions will have far-reaching implications. The event will take place under Chatham House Rule on January 13 from 9:00-10:30 a.m..
