On August 22, the Atlantic Council hosted an off-the-record strategy session with H.E. Nicolai Wammen, the newly appointed Minister of Defense of Denmark.

The event touched upon the security challenges that both Denmark and the United States share in a time of growing budgetary constraints, the linkages between the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and transatlantic security, and how NATO can best prepare for its 2014 summit.

Prior to his appointment as Minister of Defense, Nicolai Wammen served since 2011 as Minister for European Affairs in the government of social-democrat Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. From 2006 to 2011, he was the mayor of Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city, as well as chairman and board member of various committees. Minister Wammen also served as Member of Parliament for the Social Democratic Party from 2001 to 2005, which included roles as the fiscal policy spokesman and vice president of the Social Democrats.