2025 Transatlantic Bridge Conference to discuss existential threats facing the Transatlantic Alliance

IE University will host the upcoming Transatlantic Bridge Conference, titled “The Transatlantic Alliance Under Pressure: Existential Threats from Within and Outside”, taking place from May 30 to June 1, 2025, across its campuses in Madrid and Segovia. This international event, jointly organized by IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs of IE University (IE SPEGA), Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, and Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) and curated by the IE Global Policy Center (GPC), will bring together global leaders in policy, academia, and diplomacy for a timely dialogue on the future of the transatlantic relationship.

The conference will open on May 30 at IE Tower, IE University's vertical campus in Madrid, with a public panel titled “Trump 2.0: Challenges and Opportunities for Europe”, featuring leading experts in security, transatlantic relations, and global trade. 

This panel will include Francis J. Gavin, Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and Director of Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University; Arancha González Laya, Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain; Cecilia Malmström, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute of International Economics (PIIE), Visiting Professor, School of Economics and Law, Göteborg University and Former Commissioner for Trade , European Commission; and Amanda Sloat,  Professor of Practice at IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs and former Senior Director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council. The panel will be moderated by David Leonhardt, Editorial Director at The New York Times and a Senior Fellow at Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. 

The opening panel of the Conference will be livestreamed from 12:30pm to 2pm CET (6:30–8am ET) on Friday, May 30, via this link.

Over the following two days, the conference will continue with expert-led discussions in Segovia addressing some of the most pressing global issues: NATO and the European security, transatlantic trade and supply chains, the future of democracy, global tech governance, and climate cooperation. The panels will convene diverse voices from Europe, the United States, and the Global South, including former heads of government, leading scholars, and senior institutional leaders.  The conclusions of this initiative will contribute to the ongoing work of the Transatlantic Relations in a Changing World research line at the IE Global Policy Centre, shaping future dialogue with public intellectuals and policymakers in Brussels, Washington, and other key global forums.

“Transatlantic ties are under unprecedented pressure, something we’ve never witnessed before in the US-Europe relations. The Transatlantic Bridge Conference takes place at an incredibly timely moment. At our Segovia retreat, we aim to deep dive into the causes of today’s challenges and to develop creative solutions to strengthen the relationship”, said Enrico Letta, Dean of the School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs at IE University and former Prime Minister of Italy. 

Arancha González Laya, Dean of PSIA at Sciences Po, highlighted: “The fourth edition of the Transatlantic Bridge could not take place at a most opportune moment. At a time of stress in the transatlantic relation, universities provide a safe space for exchanges and dialogue to further mutual understanding” 

“The transatlantic partnership remains essential to addressing today’s global challenges—from European security and trade resilience to the future of democracy and global tech governance,” added James B. Steinberg, Dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS. “At a time of turbulence and uncertainty across continents, sustained dialogue is more vital than ever.  Across our campuses in Washington, Bologna, and Nanjing, SAIS is proud to foster the kind of informed, global engagement that this conference exemplifies.”

James Levinsohn, Dean of the Jackson School at Yale, concluded: “The transatlantic alliance was built more than eighty years ago on mankind's aspiration for peace, democracy, prosperity and individual freedom, and on the belief that these four goals are mutually reinforcing and could only be pursued simultaneously. The last few years, we’ve seen war and disinformation spread, democracy weaken, prosperity concentrate in the hands of the few, and new technologies siphon off individual freedoms. This conference brings together today's thinkers and policymakers from both sides of the Atlantic, with the goal to foster a common understanding of the dangers we face and build the relationships necessary to shape a united response. As a professional school focused on educating future leading policymakers, the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs is proud to nurture and strengthen these vital dialogues.”

About the Initiative

The Transatlantic Bridge Conference is a collaborative effort among four leading universities:

IE University School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs (Spain)

IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs prepares globally minded professionals to lead in international affairs by equipping them with rigorous analytical tools, interdisciplinary insights, and a deep understanding of global governance, economic policy, and political strategy. Through a distinctive experiential learning approach—combining real-world projects, simulations, and policy work—students develop practical skills and strategic vision. The school maintains strong ties with international institutions and strategic partners across sectors, enriching both academic and professional growth. As a full member of APSIA, it is the only school in Spain, and one of just seven in Europe, in this global network.

Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs (France)

PSIA is a world leader in international affairs and contributes significantly to Sciences Po’s continuous placement amongst the top 4 institutions globally for “politics and international studies” for the last 10 years (and #1 in Europe since 2020) in the QS ranking. The School attracts a diverse community of students representing more than 110 nationalities. PSIA offers specialized Master's programs and a wide range of thematic and regional concentrations, students personalize their academic curriculum. World-renowned professors and practitioners teach specialist courses that balance current scholarship with the most up-to-date operational training. PSIA students have regular opportunities to challenge and engage with world leaders and scholars through public events. Graduates are well-positioned to pursue high-profile careers in international affairs and work across the globe and in all sectors. 

Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (USA)

A division of Johns Hopkins University, the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) is a global institution that offers students an international perspective on today's critical issues. For eight decades, Johns Hopkins SAIS has produced great leaders, thinkers, and practitioners of international relations. Public leaders and private sector executives alike seek the counsel of the faculty, whose ideas and research inform and shape policy. Johns Hopkins SAIS offers a global perspective across three campus locations: Bologna, Italy; Nanjing, China; and Washington, D.C., USA. The school's interdisciplinary curriculum is strongly rooted in the study of international economics, international relations, and regional studies, preparing students to address multifaceted challenges in the world today. 

Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs (USA)

The Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs advances teaching, research, and engagement on global issues. Yale Jackson prepares students for leadership and service worldwide through interdisciplinary and academically rigorous programs. Its faculty includes renowned scholars and experienced practitioners from government, international organizations, business, and civil society. Yale Jackson offers master’s and undergraduate degree programs in global affairs. It is also home to several research centers and initiatives, including the Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program, which brings rising global leaders to campus each year to foster dialogue and exchange. Through coursework and mentorship at Yale University, as well as real-world engagement, Jackson students develop the skills and perspective to address the world’s most pressing challenges.