What a day! On Saturday we hosted our annual flagship conference Atlantic Assembly, celebrating 20 years of Jonge Atlantici. We look back on a day filled with thought-provoking conversations on this year’s theme: Navigating Uncertainty.  

We kicked off the Atlantic Assembly with an interactive wargame about military escalation in the Black Sea. Across three intense rounds, participants stepped into the shoes of leaders – navigating crises, negotiating alliances, and testing red lines. Between rounds, informal diplomacy took center stage, while hidden actions added an extra layer of strategy and suspense.  From invoking NATO Article 4 to debating the threshold of Article 5, the game revealed just how complex – and fragile – collective security can be. It highlighted how divisions within the EU and NATO can become fatal, and what it takes to be better prepared for a potential real conflict in 2030. A special thanks to Diederik Stolk from Goldsworthy, Stolk & Associates for hosting this session – on his birthday no less. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate. And of course, thank you to all participants for your enthusiasm, sharp thinking, and full commitment – even on a Saturday morning.

The program was opened by our chair, Lotte van den Boom, who welcomed our first keynote speaker: Minister of Defense Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius. In her speech, minister Yesilgöz laid out how we can navigate these uncertain geopolitical times. By maintaining a steady focus on both interests and values together with our allies, and highlighting how security is everyone’s job now. It was an honor to receive the minister and we want to thank her for engaging with a young audience. 

Watch highlights from the Minister’s keynote in the video below (source: Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands):

For our afternoon programme we had two rounds of interactive discussions. In ‘When Vital Systems Are Targeted: Scenario-Based Insights on the Resilience of Critical Infrastructure’ we analysed a telecommunications crisis scenario in three phases from both public and private sector perspectives as well as from an academic point of view. We did this with a balanced panel representing different viewpoints: Sake Algra (KPN), Marco Zanoni (NCTV) Bart van den Berg (Clingendael) and Marie-Anne van Reijen (Centre Defence and Resilient Society – VU Amsterdam). We found ourselves wondering whether we are preparing for the right crises and what role we, as young people and young professionals, have to play in this. 

Round 1 started with the FIMI session, we had a conversation with Laura Jasper (HCSS) and Kenneth Lasoen (Universiteit Antwerpen). The speakers discussed the biggest challenges to Europe in Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), cognitive warfare, and the role of emerging technologies. The session ended with a discussion on the opportunities and responsibilities for the EU, NATO, and member states, and the challenges of a common approach to FIMI threats.  The conversation with Michelle Haas (Author & PhD student) on her book ‘Komt er oorlog? En 33 andere vragen over defensie’ went beyond a traditional interview and developed into a thought-provoking exchange with the audience. At a time when questions surrounding security, defence, and the future of Europe are increasingly urgent, such dialogue with the younger generation proves to be both timely and necessary. We valued her openness, sharp insights, and her willingness to raise the questions that truly matter. 

Round 2 included the panel ‘Beyond the Frontline: How Russia Challenges Europe’, we went into discussion with Ron Keller, Sabine Mengelberg and (ditally) Christiaan Paauwe (NOS) about Russia’s hard power strategy to sow division within Europe. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Putin has increasingly provoked NATO and EU member states, for example by sabotage actions. Moreover, we discussed Russia’s war industry compared to those of European countries, and whether we are investing in the right war. Besides this, Russia has transformed its schools into recruitment centers and uses propaganda both within Russia and in European countries to maintain support for its “special military operation”. How should the EU and NATO strategically respond to these challenges, with determination, but without causing further escalation?  In “All Quiet in the Western Hemisphere”, we hosted Minister Gracita Arrindell, Anna-Alexandra Marhold, and Ben Bekkering to engage in a discussion about the recent tensions in the Caribbean. We talked, among other things, about the preparedness of the Caribbean islands in case of crises, the continued importance of international law for the region, and the broader significance of these developments to international politics. Moreover, Commander René Savelsbergh, the Dutch defence attaché in Caracas, opened the session by sharing his experiences and views on these matters. 

In the next session, a live podcast episode of ‘De Toestand in de Wereld’ was recorded. In their usual format (but this time on tour) U.S. expert Kenneth Manusama and China specialist Fred Sengers discussed, from their respective expertises, the strategic importance of the Arctic, why China has been calling itself a ‘near-Arctic’ state, and the risks these high-North tensions might bring the future.

You can listen to the podcast using the link below: 

To wrap up the day, Ambassador Delphine Pronk, Managing Director for the Americas at the EEAS, gave an insightful keynote on the structural interdependencies in the relationship between Europe and the US and a call for Europe to be more proud.  We want to thank all the participants, speakers, partners and of course, the group of people who helped realize this success. We were delighted to have so many people join us! At a time when the transatlantic relationship is changing, it is good to see so many young people engaged. We hope to see you at our coming events! 

Many thanks to NATO for making this event possible.