About The Transatlantic Security Task Force Program

Organized by the Paris office of the GMF, and inaugurated in Paris on July 19th-20th, 2012, the GMF Transatlantic Security Task Force (TSTF) brings together a group of around 20 high-level American and European security experts, officials and strategic thinkers to explore the security priorities for transatlantic cooperation in the years to come, and serves as a forum to stimulate and organize a much-needed transatlantic security dialogue on looming threats and possibilities of cooperation.

The goal of the TSTF is not to revisit the concepts that define the transatlantic relationship, but for the transatlantic partners to reconsider the nature of their cooperation in the face of evolving and multifaceted global challenges, and a diminishing confidence in that the differences between the two partners are bridgeable at all. Each session will attempt to highlight the areas where the transatlantic cooperation should be improved and strengthened, with regards to specific challenges and taking into consideration the latest issues on the international agenda.

The issues included in the discussion fall both under the grand strategy (i.e. the shifting military balance; the transformation of military alliances; emerging military powers, the future of nuclear deterrence) as well as very specific challenges (e.g. maritime security, the energy competition, the strategic implications of the economic crisis; the evolving terrorist threat, cyber security).

Method

The topics and participants of each session are defined by an annual executive planning session, designed to serve as a brainstorming discussion, from which are decided the main security priorities to be addressed in the wider working groups, as well as the format and the agenda of these sessions. The 2013 planning session was held on January 24th and 25th 2013 in Paris.

Further efforts will include 3 yearly workshops, to be held in Paris, to probe the questions that were decided at the executive planning session, and in pursuance of which will be commissioned a series of short papers (4-5 papers per session). These papers, which will be distributed to all participants beforehand, will serve as the backbone of the discussions. The workshops will bring together the members of the core group of the TSTF, along with select experts on the topics that will be discussed during the working group.

The dates of the 2013 working groups are:

- April 18^th and 19^th, 2013, Paris: Transatlantic Security Cooperation in Asia after the American pivot

- July 11^th and 12^th, 2013, Paris: Transatlantic Security Cooperation in a Transforming Africa and Middle East and the Long Term Regional Impact of U.S. Energy Independence

- October 2013, Paris: the Security-Economy Nexus.

This tri-annual transatlantic discussion will have the capacity to influence the security policy environment by getting the questions right and creating a provocative analytical architecture.

Transatlantic Security Task Force Members 

Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, Director, GMF Paris Office (project leader)
Martin Michelot, Program and Research Coordinator, GMF Paris Office
Martin Quencez, Program and Research Assistant, GMF Paris Office
Kristel Ba, Outreach Coordinator, GMF Paris Office
Ian Lesser, Senior Director for Foreign and Security Policy
Constanze Stelzenmüller, Senior Transatlantic Fellow
Mark Jacobson, Senior Transatlantic Fellow
Andrew Michta, Director, GMF Warsaw Office
Dan Fata, Transatlantic Fellow
Xenia Dormandy, Chatham House
Aaron Friedberg, Princeton University
Ashley Tellis, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Stephen Flanagan, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Camille Grand, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique
Bruno Tertrais, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique
Jamie Shea, NATO HQ
Charles Kupchan, Council on Foreign Relations
Fred Tanner, Geneva Center for Security Policy
Kristin M. Lord, U.S. Institute of Peace
Bastian Giegerich, Bundeswehr Institute of Social Sciences and International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), London
Christian Mölling, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
Trine Flockhart, Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Michel Foucher, Director of Studies and Research, Institute of Higher National Defence Studies (IHEDN)
Fabrice Pothier, NATO HQ
Pierre Vimont, European External Action Service
Sinan Ulgen, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Sergiu Medar, SM World Solutions
Andrew Hoehn, Rand Corporation
Dana Allin, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
Gary Schmitt, American Enterprise Institute
Casimir Yost, National Intelligence Council
Gideon Rachman, Financial Times
Robert R. Ross, Boston College
Steven Everts, European External Action Service
Stéphane Abrial, SafranJames Boutilier, Canadian Maritime Forces Pacific HQ 
Arnaud Danjean, European Parliament
Mark Leonard, European Council on Foreign Relations 
Steven Erlanger, New York Times
Christopher Johnson, Center for Strategic and International Studies  
Daniel M. Kliman, Transatlantic Fellow           
Sir Peter Ricketts, Embassy of the United Kingddom to France
Philip C. Saunders, National Intelligence Council  
Vance Serchuk, Council on Foreign Relations 
Yuen Pau Woo, Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada  
Shi Yinhong, Renmin University of China 
Isabelle Lasserre, Le Figaro  
Justin Vaïsse, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Jean-Christophe Ploquin, La Croix
Rickard Booson, EADS
Philippe Guibourg, EADS
Nathalie Guibert, Le Monde
Holger Mey, Cassidian
Thierry Dana, TD Conseil
Benoît Guidée, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Elisabeth Ourliac, Airbus
Alexis Morel, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs

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