- May 26, 2026
- 00:00
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- May 30, 2026
- 23:59
The future of the transatlantic security relationship will be shaped by the next generation of political leaders. To invest in the next generation of leadership, the Aspen Institute Germany has launched the RESET initiative, bringing together emerging political leaders from Germany and the United States for a multi-partisan, forward-looking exchange. The initiative’s inaugural cohort will convene in Norfolk from May 26–30 for an immersive program of expert discussions and site visits focused on military and security issues in the Norfolk and Richmond regions.
The RESET project creates a structured, multi-partisan, and values-based platform for dialogue among young political leaders from Germany and the United States. In 2026, the first cohort of 20 participants aged 20 to 30, representing youth organizations of political parties from across both countries, will focus specifically on security policy. Cohorts are intentionally multi-partisan, regionally diverse, and drawn especially from outside traditional political centers.
At the core of each cohort is a strategic foresight process that goes beyond day-to-day politics to explore the long-term future of the transatlantic relationship. In facilitated foresight workshops, participants analyze emerging challenges and opportunities and develop future scenarios to inform political debates at the regional, national, and transatlantic levels. The cohort’s trip to Norfolk, Virginia will be followed in September by a convening in Wiesbaden, Hesse in addition to several virtual workshops.
