The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies kicked off the European Security Seminar – North (ESS-N) today in partnership with the new Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, the first coordination between the two U.S. Department of Defense Regional Centers. The seminar, which brings together over 40 subject matter experts from 15 countries, will run 12-16 September at the Marshall Center campus in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

“I can’t think of a more appropriate time for two Regional Centers to work collaboratively on such an important topic,” said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Barre Seguin, director of the Marshall Center. “The world is at an inflection point. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has altered global dynamics and this will be felt acutely in the Arctic region. The old adage ‘High North: Low Tension’ can no longer be applied to the High North.”

ESS-N 2022 aims at establishing a foundation for broader security discussions and activities to increase awareness of security trends on NATO’s Northern Flank, enable dialogue, strengthen cooperative networks, and develop policy recommendations.

“The Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies is honored to support and partner with the Marshall Center in the planning and conducting of this year's edition of ESS-N an in-person event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen,” said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Randy Kee, senior advisor at the Stevens Center. “We respectfully extend our compliments to the Marshall Center and the ESS-N planning team for arranging a robust program that invests the talents and insights of a truly remarkable Trans-Atlantic team of security specialists oriented to the High North/Arctic region.” 

This fifth iteration will also focus on assessing the spillover effects of the Ukraine conflict into the Artic.

“The planned discussions which focus participants in examining the developing regional security dynamics as a result of the on-going war in Ukraine is timely and needed in order to provide expert policy insights and perspectives, which we hope will prove suitable for national defense and security leaders across the NATO alliance,” said Kee. “We at the Stevens Center are truly looking forward to an interesting and thought-provoking week of plenary speakers and panels as well as robust breakout sessions to develop a useful knowledge product of the ESS-N proceedings.”

ESS-N is a one-week seminar that primarily focuses on the security challenges and opportunities of the European High North.

The Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies is the newest of the six DoD Regional Centers, inaugurated in August 2022.