Aspen – GMF Bucharest Forum 2025

The Aspen–GMF Bucharest Forum is a strategic convening and a flagship public diplomacy event where global leaders engage with the Black Sea area and beyond, bridging Trans-Atlantic conversations and creating a process of reflection on the region and its impact within the international agendas. Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Bucharest offers a unique vantage point to examine the European dimension of global disruptions and to facilitate a broader, inclusive dialogue.

Co-organizers: Aspen Institute Romania, German Marshall Fund of the United States, Aspen Institute Romania – Chișinău Office

Under the High Patronage of the President of Romania

Institutional Partners: Government of Romania, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defence, Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Ministry of Investments and European Projects, Ministry of Energy, National Bank of Romania (BNR), EU Commission Representation in Romania, The National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM), The Authority for the Digitalization of Romania (ADR)

Aspen International Partners: The Aspen Institute US, Aspen Institute Central Europe, Aspen Institute Kyiv, Aspen Institute Romania – Brussels Office 

Knowledge Partners: European Center for Economic Security, Technology and Resilience (ECESTR), Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC), Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre (E-ARC), European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC), EY, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), British Romanian Chamber of Commerce (BRCC)

ASPEN@20 JUBILEE STRATEGIC PARTNER: Vodafone 

PLATINUM PARTNER: QUALCOMM

GOLD PARTNERS: OMV Petrom, UniCredit Bank, Raiffeisen, Mastercard, Rompetrol, eMAG, Meta 

SILVER PARTNERS: PPC Romania, Google, UBER, Enevo, Garanti BBVA

Supporting Partners: Valvis Holding, Cărturești, Foundation Conservation Carpathia 

Media Partners: DC Media Group, Ringier, Libertatea, AGERPRES

Download the agenda HERE.

Recommended readings:

Towards Meeting the AI Literacy Challenge: An Examination Through Two AI Life Cycle Core Principles – Eran Kahana, AI, Cybersecurity And Intellectual Property Attorney, Fellow & Advisory Board Member, Stanford Law School

Aspen-GMF Bucharest Forum 2025 Papers:

• Protecting the Black Sea
  Black Sea: Maritime Security in Contested Waters
  Negotiation format adapted to post-2022 revisionist behavior
  Romania’s Path to a Multi‑Regional Energy Hub Strategic Scenarios and Policy Blueprint (2025–2035)
  Strengthening Romanian-German Cooperation in the Black Sea Region
  The South Caucasus at a Crossroads Russia, Iran, China – and the EU’s Role in Governance and Conflict Resolution
• Moldova’s European Path
  Institutional learning for emergency situations through regional cooperation – an integrated model of response and strategic communication between Romania and The Republic of Moldova
  Moldova Between security and stability
• Romania-Poland Enhanced Partneship
  Cyber and Hybrid Warfare Resilience_ A Joint Romania-Poland Response to Modern Threats on NATO_s Eastern Flank
  Romania–Poland: Strategic partnership on NATO’s Eastern Flank
  Romania–Poland Partnership_ Twin Anchors of NATO’s Eastern Flank
• Raw materials and supply chain
  Breaking the Dependency Trap_ Securing Critical-Raw-Materials Supply From the Black Sea to the Baltic Sea
  Europa si competitia globala pentru materii prime critice_Riscuri si directii de actiune
  Securing Europe s Critical Raw Material Supply Chains A Question of Finance, Not Geology