Jonge Atlantici / Young Atlantic Association is proud to announce its annual flagship program on security and geopolitics: Atlantic Assembly 2026 – Navigating Uncertainty. 

The world is less predictable than it was a decade ago. Geopolitical competition has intensified, the areas of conflict have broadened, and longstanding assumptions about European security are being reconsidered at speed.

Atlantic Assembly – Navigating Uncertainty gathers students, young professionals, and experts for a day full of interaction, debate, and discussion on the security challenges shaping our era. This year’s Atlantic Assembly takes uncertainty head-on: not to resolve it, but to understand it, debate it, and ultimately – most importantly – to learn to navigate it.  

Join us on Saturday, April 18th, for the next edition of Atlantic Assembly, as we celebrate 20 years of Jonge Atlantici!

Morning Program 

The day begins with an immersive geopolitical simulation: a war game designed to confront participants with the complex, high-stakes decisions that policymakers, military commanders, and diplomats face in today’s rapidly evolving security environment. Through scenario-based gameplay, participants will experience firsthand how uncertainty shapes strategy and how decisions are made under pressure.

Afternoon Program 

The afternoon opens with a keynote address setting the stage for the sessions ahead, followed by two rounds of parallel breakout sessions across which participants can engage with some of the most pressing security challenges of our time. 

Round 1 – Foundations 

The first round introduces participants in the structural forces reshaping today’s security landscape:  

• The Rise of Cognitive Warfare: Foreign Manipulation and Interference

An in-depth look at how state and non-state actors exploit the information environment to manipulate public opinion, sow division, and undermine democratic institutions across Europe and beyond. 

• When Vital Systems Are Targeted: Scenario-Based Insights on the Resilience of Critical Infrastructure

A panel discussion exploring what happens when the systems we depend on – energy grids, water supplies, digital networks – become targets. What does resilience look like in practice, and how prepared are we? 

• Book Discussion 

A presentation and discussion centered on a recently published work that sheds new light on contemporary security challenges. Details to be announced.  

Round 2 – Frontiers 

The second round pushes the participants to the edges of today’s security debate – the frontiers where old certainties break down and new dynamics are taking shape:  

• Beyond the Frontline: How Russia Challenges Europe

An in-depth conversation examining Russia’s multifaceted challenge to European security, beyond the battlefield. How is Europe responding, and is it enough? 

• Live Podcast Recording

A live recording bringing together voices at the forefront of international relations & geopolitics 

• All Quiet in the Western Hemisphere: The Conflict in the Caribbean

The US military intervention in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026 brought the Caribbean sharply into focus as a theater of geopolitical consequence. For the Kingdom of the Netherlands – whose constituent countries of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten sit in the immediate vicinity – regional stability is a matter of direct national concern. This roundtable examines what the intervention means for the region and what it demands of Dutch and international policy.

Closing 

The afternoon concludes with a closing keynote and moderated conversation, offering a reflective and forward-looking perspective on the themes of the day – and what navigating uncertainty demands of the next generation of security professionals and engaged citizens. 

The formal program is followed by drinks, providing an opportunity to continue the conversations with fellow participants, speakers and organizers.  

More details on speakers will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

Ticket information:

Morning + afternoon program: 
Price: €15 (non-student patrons) or €12,50 (student patrons)
Participation in war game by Goldsworthy, Stolk & Associates
Access to the full program from 10:00!
Including lunch, coffee and drinks

Afternoon program:
Price: €10 (non-student patrons) or €7,50 (student patrons)
Access to the full program from 13:00!
Including coffee and drinks

*Students who became patrons in 2025/2026 will be offered a free ticket, which will be sent individually in the coming weeks.* 

Buy your tickets via the link below:

https://atlcom.stager.co/shop/default/events/111631966