CHICAGO – Top NATO, US, and foreign government leaders will join this year’s Young Atlanticist Summit in Chicago to discuss challenges and priorities for the future of the Alliance. Main issues to be discussed will mirror the official Summit agenda, including Afghanistan, security in times of economic austerity, missile defense, and strengthening partnerships across the globe. 

Hosted by the Atlantic Council and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Young Atlanticist Summit is the primary public diplomacy event at the 2012 Chicago Summit taking place from May 19-21. It provides nearly 250 young professional leaders—the decision-makers of tomorrow—dynamic opportunities to engage with the leaders of today. Including members of parliament, CEOs, academics, government officials, military veterans, and journalists—aged 25-35—the delegates represent all countries of the NATO Alliance, as well as partner nations such as Australia and Afghanistan.  

“I attach strong importance to the engagement of the young generation when it comes to NATO and the future of NATO. So I expect to have a lively dialogue with representatives of the younger generation,” said Secretary General Rasmussen. “I think it’s of utmost importance to discuss with them how they see the rationale for NATO in the future.” 

The Summit will also feature the launch of the new Scowcroft Leadership Network, an exclusive young professionals’ leadership program with a professional focus on international security policy.  

“These impressive young professionals are the next generation of transatlantic policymakers,” said Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe. “They are forming a community of peers that will serve as a valuable best-practices network to further strengthen the Alliance.” 

EVENTS OPEN TO PRESS:

A host of Young Atlanticist Summit sessions will be open to Summit-credentialed press at the Hyatt McCormick Place. Staff will facilitate pool movements from the media center to cover events. See the full agenda for events open to press. 

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

Young Atlanticist delegates are available for interviews on the sidelines of the Summit to discuss the next generation of NATO leadership. Read the delegates’ bios. Atlantic Council and Chicago Council senior staff are also available for interviews to provide in-depth analysis of the major issues being discussed. Read the experts’ bios. To set up interviews with experts and delegates, please contact Taleen Ananian at 818.497.8008 or press@acus.org. 

ON-THE-RECORD SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

  • NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
  • European Council President Herman van Rompuy
  • Romanian President Traian Băsescu
  • Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev
  • Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Luksic
  • Afghan Member of Parliament Farkhunda Zahra Naderi
  • Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis (Lithuania)
  • Foreign Minister Carl Bildt (Sweden)
  • Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide (Norway)
  • Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak (Slovakia)
  • Foreign Minister Urmas Paet (Estonia)
  • Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic (Croatia)
  • Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra (Czech Republic)
  • Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
  • US Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Chair, Europe Subcommittee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  • US Senator Dick Durbin, Assistant Majority Leader and Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  • US Special Envoy for Strategic Stability and Missile Defense Ellen Tauscher, Chairwoman-Designate, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Atlantic Council,
  • Former US Senator Chuck Hagel, Chairman, Atlantic Council of the United States
  • Former US National Security Advisor General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.), Chairman-Designate, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Atlantic Council
  • Ambassador Melanne Verveer, US Ambassador at Large for Global Women’s Issues 
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The Atlantic Council is a nonpartisan organization that promotes constructive US leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting today’s global challenges. For more information, visit .

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is an independent, nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue, and public learning. For more information, visit www.thechicagocouncil.org.