On April 14, 2016, the Atlantic Council hosted a major public conference on Defending Europe’s Eastern Flank on Capitol Hill. The conference served as the major public ‘curtain raiser’ in Washington for NATO’s 2016 Summit in Warsaw this July. 

The event brought together ministers and government officials, policymakers, and leading experts from the Baltic States, Washington, and the transatlantic policy community to discuss today’s complex threats, which have raised serious questions about the Alliance’s readiness, resilience, and deterrence strategy.
The conference provided a public platform to shape the debate on the US’ role in European security and priorities in the run-up to the Warsaw Summit.

Featuring:
The Hon. Jeanne Shaheen
Senator (D-NH)
US Senate

H.E. Juozas Olekas
Minister of National Defense
Republic of Lithuania​

James J. Townsend, Jr. 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy
US Department of Defense​

The Hon. Ellen Tauscher
Vice Chair, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security
Atlantic Council; 
Former US Representative (D-CA10) 

Please join the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security for a special public conference on “Defending Europe’s Eastern Flank.” The event will take place on Thursday, April 14, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Capitol Hill (Hart Senate Office Building, Room 216, Washington, DC 20002).

The security environment in Europe’s east has evolved in dramatic and unexpected ways, posing significant challenges for the region, NATO, and the broader transatlantic community. With growing concern over a more aggressive and capable Russia, many Allies have urged a bolstering of NATO’s posture and preparedness in the region. Europe faces an unprecedented array of threats, from internal political strife and terrorism to the migrant crisis and growing instability in the Middle East and North Africa. 

How the transatlantic community and NATO prioritize these threats along with challenges to its Eastern flank will have a critical impact on the Alliance’s future, especially as it prepares for its seminal Warsaw Summit this summer.

In light of these critical issues, the conference will bring together ministers, military and government officials, policymakers, and leading experts from Eastern Europe, Washington, and the transatlantic policy community.

We hope that you will be able to join us for this important event. 

Tweet with #FutureNATO and be sure to follow @AtlanticCouncil and @ACScowcroft.

DETAILS:
Thursday, April 14, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

LOCATION: 

Hart Senate Office Building
Room 216
Located on Constitution Avenue between 1st and 2nd Streets, NE
Washington, DC 20002

Note: This event will take place offsite on Capitol Hill. For security reasons, we kindly ask guests to arrive prior to 9:00 a.m. All attendees may be asked to provide a photo ID prior to entry.