“Geopolitics, Leadership and Values” Aspen Seminar

Aspen Institute España hosted, in collaboration with the Deusto University, the first edition of the “Geopolitics, Leadership and Values” Aspen Program in Bilbao, Spain. The program’s seminar took place from February 18th to February 20th, 2026 with a seminar and a public lecture. The seminar was moderated by José M. de Areilza, Secretary General of Aspen Institute España.

The objective of the “Geopolitics, Leadership, and Values” Program is to foster a space for high-level strategic reflection, utilizing the Socratic method around a series of texts, to bring together a diverse group of people to discuss urgent geopolitical issues such as the role of Europe and the future of the transatlantic relationship, the threat posed by Russian expansionism, the possibilities for rapprochement with China, and the ongoing political and military instability in the Middle East, under the Chatham House Rule. This aligns with the Aspen Institute Spain’s commitment to promoting pluralistic dialogue on some of the most significant challenges and potential solutions facing societies today.

José M. de Areilza

José M. de Areilza is Secretary General of the Fundación Aspen Institute España and Professor at ESADE Business School and holder of the Jean Monnet Chair-ESADE. He has been Visiting Professor at INSEAD Business School (2018-2021) and at the London Business School (2022-2026). He has published extensively about European integration and Geopolitics. He writes a weekly column about international affairs for the ABC newspaper. He is Vice-president of the Spain-USA Council Foundation, Trustee of the Spanish Navy Museum, Member of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ecfr.eu) and Academy Faculty in Chatham House, London. José M. de Areilza received an LL.B. degree with Special Graduation Prize from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and holds a Master’s degree (LL.M.) and Doctorate degree (S.J.D.) from Harvard University and an M.A. in International Relations from The Fletcher School of Law. In 1991 he was admitted to the New York Bar.

During the seminar, there will be a Public Lecture on February 19th from 3 to 8:30 pm. For more information on the Public Lecture click here.