On Friday, November 20, at 9:30 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Indo-Pacific Security Initiative and the Korea Society, with the support of the Kim Koo Foundation, will host the 2026 Van Fleet Policy Forum—the Korea Society’s flagship policy event.
Building on last year’s forum—which examined the evolution of alliance cooperation across domains and through history—this year’s forum will examine the US-South Korea alliance through two cross-disciplinary, binational panel discussions anchored in contrasting scenarios set ten years in the future.
This event will be held in person and livestreamed. In-person attendance is limited and subject to confirmation. Reach out to indopacificsecurity@atlanticcouncil.org with any questions.
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Speakers
More speakers to be announced.
Agenda
All times listed are in Eastern Time (ET).
9:00–9:30 a.m. | Registration and breakfast
In-person only.
9:30–10:15 a.m. | Welcome remarks
Speakers to be announced.
10:15–11:15 a.m. | Scenario A: Forging a future-ready strategic partnership
Speakers
Steve Biegun
Former Deputy Secretary of State, United States
Park Jin
Former Foreign Minister, Republic of Korea
Wendy Cutler
Senior Vice President, Asia Society Policy Institute
Yun-ju Ko
President, LG Global Strategy Center
Moderated by
Abraham Kim
President and CEO, The Korea Society
11:15–11:30 a.m. | Networking break
In-person only.
11:30–12:30 p.m. | Scenario B: Compounding pressures strain alliance cohesion
Speakers
Tami Overby
Partner, DGA Group Government Relations
Kuyoun Chung
Associate Professor of Political Science, Kangwon National University
General (ret.) Walter Sharp
Vice Chair and Secretary, Board of Directors, Korea Society
Moderated by
Markus Garlauskas
Director, Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council
12:30–1:30 p.m. | Keynote remarks
Speakers to be announced.
1:30–2:30 p.m. | Networking lunch and conference close
In-person only.
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The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) informs and shapes the strategies, plans, and policies of the United States and its allies and partners to address the most important rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s growing threat to the international order and North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear weapons advancements. IPSI produces innovative analysis, conducts tabletop exercises, hosts public and private convenings, and engages with US, allied, and partner governments, militaries, media, other key private and public-sector stakeholders, and publics.
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