Europe stands at a strategic inflection point defined by instability, but also opportunity.
From Ukraine to the Middle East, and amid rising global fragmentation, the international system is being reshaped. A realignment of strategic priorities by the Trump administration has prompted Europe to reassess and review its long-held reliance on transatlantic security guarantees. In response, European states are undertaking their most significant rearmament since the Second World War, while expanding capabilities across defence, technology, and economic security.
But the central challenge now is not simply how Europe protects itself: it is how it leads.
As competition with the United States and China intensifies, Europe must define its role in a more divided world. Can it emerge as an anchor for a network of countries across Africa, Latin America, and Asia seeking stability, openness, and cooperation beyond great-power rivalry? What would it take for Europe to translate its economic weight, regulatory power, and global partnerships into sustained geopolitical influence?
Leadership will depend not only on external ambition, but internal cohesion. Political fragmentation and divergent national priorities continue to test Europe’s ability to act decisively. What institutional, financial, and strategic commitments are required to deliver consistent and credible European leadership? Beyond hard power, Europe’s influence has long rested on its cultural and intellectual reach. In a contested global landscape, can Europe renew its role as a centre of ideas, championing democratic resilience, open societies, and human-centred technological development?
The stakes extend beyond autonomy to authorship. What would a European-shaped world order look like? One that balances competition with cooperation, sovereignty with interdependence?
The Chatham House Berlin Conference 2026 brings together leaders from government, business, and academia to chart a path forward, positioning Europe not just to adapt to change, but to shape it.
Venue: Ritz Carlton, Potsdamer Platz 3, 10785 Berlin, Germany
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