Anders Fogh Rasmussen

We are living through the most complex geopolitical moment in generations. War has returned to Europe, China is growing increasingly assertive, and around the world, shifting politics and new alliances are upending the global order that was formed in the aftermath of the Cold War. As one of the world’s leading experts on geopolitics, Anders Fogh Rasmussen provides his assessment of our new geopolitical landscape—and what it means for politicians, businesses, and industries around the world.

The period of unrestrained globalization that began following the collapse of the Berlin Wall is over. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, democratic leaders have realized that risks they assumed by forging closer ties with Russia, China, and other autocratic regimes. This realization has already forced a major rethink of Europe’s economic security—and as European leaders contend with a hostile Russia on our borders, it is now time for Europe to finally make defence a top-tier political priority. As a former NATO Secretary General and Prime Minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen discusses the need to build a Europe that is ready to meet the fundamental security challenges of our time.

Born from the ashes of the Second World War, NATO is one of history’s great achievements—it serves as the bedrock of security for more than nine hundred and sixty-million people, spanning thirty-two countries across two continents. Seventy-five years after its founding, however, NATO is faced with a new series of challenges: a return of war to Europe, questions about the long-term commitment of the United States, and an urgent need for European allies to increase their spending on European defence. As a former Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen assesses the current state of history’s most successful military alliance—and discusses the work that lies ahead to ensure it can continue to ensure peace and security in Europe and North America for generations to come.

While the United States is Europe’s most important global partner and ultimate security guarantor, our relationship is not always a smooth one. Former-President Trump has been the most vocal in his criticism of European leaders’ commitment to their own security, but US leaders—both Democrats and Republicans—have been voicing similar criticisms for decades. At a time of renewed focus on European security and the future role of the United States, former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen provides his insights on the state of the US-EU security relationship, based on his experience and conversations with political and security leaders at the highest levels on both sides of the Atlantic.

While space has often been confined to the outer reaches of our consciousness—the realm of scientists and science fiction—it is now the next great theatre of geopolitics. Near-Earth is dotted with satellites which provide maps for our cars, listening devices for our adversaries, and precision-guided missiles on both sides of the battlefield in Ukraine. As civilian companies, foreign governments, and militaries—both friend and foe—seek to extend their reach across our solar system, space has become a top-tier security challenge. As a former Secretary General of NATO and member of the European Space Agency’s High Level Advisory Group, Anders Fogh Rasmussen discusses the state of our modern space race—and the security challenges it poses for governments and businesses around the world.