The Marshall Center’s high-level event for advancing European-led security, the Senior Executive Seminar, kicked off July 14, 2025, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, bringing together senior military and civilian defense officials to discuss the path toward reestablishing credible collective deterrence and defense.

Only a few weeks after the NATO Summit in The Hague, this year’s SES is focusing on the topic of “Transitioning to European-Led Defense: Challenges and Opportunities.” The week-long seminar will examine how Europe can adapt quickly to lead its collective defense posture and take ownership of its security during shifting global threats.

“Just two weeks ago, heads of states and governments took very important, some would say historic, decisions at the NATO summit in The Hague and at the European Council meeting,” said Fritz Rademacher, Marshall Center professor of international and security studies. “These decisions are aimed to cope with an ever more complex and challenging strategic environment. We will work very hard as Europeans to make NATO stronger, fairer and more lethal.”

Throughout the week, participants will discuss how to incentivize defense investments, modernize security frameworks, and harness technological innovation to maintain a competitive advantage in an era of strategic competition.

Marshall Center Director Barre Seguin highlighted the necessity for European-led deterrence and defense through burden-sharing with Allies and partners to address all threats. He also underscored the urgency of turning defense spending commitments into implementation to meet NATO’s growing operational demands.

“Part of this week is going to give us the opportunity—among other things—to analyze the defense industrial base,” Seguin said. “We all know that we’re challenged by this, with respect to the many emerging and existing security threats.”

He encouraged participants to collaborate with one another throughout the seminar.

“You are respected decision-makers in your countries, and your input is as valuable as the subject matter expert speakers we have lined up,” he told the group. “The real conversation is going to be amongst you, in this plenary, in your breakouts, and in your respective seminars. I look forward to being a part of all of that.”

SES provides a forum for strategic-level dialogue among senior civilian and military leaders from the U.S., Germany, and Allied and partner nations. The five-day event fosters defense collaboration and collective problem-solving on pressing global security challenges.