May 13, 2024

May 13, 2024

NATO Youth Summit challenge

NATO Youth Summit challenge is an opportunity to make your voice heard and earn a sponsored seat to the live stage in Miami or Stockholm. Join the challenge and share your thoughts on how you are contributing to shaping a secure tomorrow. Youth Summit Challenge submissions are due by April 21, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST. Winners will be chosen and notified by April 22, 2024.

The challenge invites young people (aged 18 to 35) to submit proposals (videos, artistic proposals, policy proposals, etc.) explaining what their role is in shaping a secure tomorrow. The most innovative proposals will receive a sponsored seat in the audience and the applicant of the best entry is invited to present their proposal on stage.

Join the challenge

Register to attend the 2024 NATO Youth Summit

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative experience. Whether you join us in Miami, Stockholm, or at one of the Watch Party locations, registration is your ticket to becoming part of the next generation shaping the future. Register online now to apply for a seat in the audience at the summit.

Register now

Register to attend the 2024 NATO Youth Summit virtually

Sign up here to participate in the online conversation regardless of where you are watching the event from. This registration will give you the opportunity to watch the event alongside other attendees, to share your thoughts and engage in a variety of interactive sessions.

Register to attend online

NATO Youth Summit,
25-26 April 2025

Event Overview

Join the next generation of leaders at the 2025 NATO Youth Summit, where fresh ideas, bold discussions, and global perspectives come together. The summit’s core mission is to empower young minds to engage with today’s most pressing security challenges.

Now in its fifth edition, the NATO Youth Summit will be held in Budva, Montenegro, organised by NATO and the Atlantic Council of Montenegro.

From security and diplomacy to innovation and resilience, this event provides a unique platform to connect, collaborate, and help shape the future of the transatlantic community. Whether you are passionate about global affairs or eager to make a difference, this is your opportunity to have your voice heard and play a role in shaping the future of our shared security.

Register to Attend Online

Attend the 2025 NATO Youth Summit Virtually

Register to participate online

Sign up to participate the conversation regardless of where you are watching the event from.

This registration will give you the opportunity to watch the event alongside other attendees, interact with experts, and engage in meaningful discussions. You will gain access to the event app, which will include all essential information such as the full agenda, speaker bios, session details, real-time updates, notifications, Q&A, and networking features. 

Additionally, you will have exclusive access to post-event materials, allowing you to revisit key insights and continue the conversation long after the event has concluded.

Be part of the Summit, share your thoughts, ask questions, and engage with fellow participants from around the world to create lasting connections and make an impact.

Register to Attend Online

NATO Youth Summit Challenge

Apply by 5th of April

Sign up here for the NATO Youth Summit Challenge and get a chance to attend the 2025 NATO Youth Summit in Budva, Montenegro! 

This is your chance to demonstrate your insights into the security challenges of the future and the critical role of leadership in overcoming them; and secure your participation at the 2025 NATO Youth Summit on 25-26 April 2025 in Budva, Montenegro. 

The most compelling submissions will earn an exclusive invitation, with travel and accommodation fully covered, and an opportunity to present their ideas on stage. 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity—Apply by 5th of April. 

Apply to attend

Venues

This year marks 75 years of the NATO Alliance and its shared commitment to maintaining peace around the world.

In celebration of this momentous event, this year’s Summit will take place synchronously across 2 stages in Bucharest and Miami along with watch parties in other cities.

NATO Youth Summit Programme

The agenda will be published soon.

April 25 – 26, 2025 –  Budva, Montenegro.

Session times are displayed in the local timezone.

April 25, 2025
10:00 – 10:10

Intro

  • Master of Ceremony: Nina Skočak, Communications Expert and Content Creator
10:10 – 10:28

Welcome Remarks

  • Danilo Popović, President, YATA Montenegro
  • Mihaela Rosu, Lead on Youth Engagement, NATO Public Diplomacy Division
10:28 - 10:30

Video Message

  • Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General
10:30 – 11:00

Setting the Scene

  • Conversation with the NATO Deputy Secretary General
  • Radmila Shekerinska, NATO Deputy Secretary General
  • Moderator: Selin Yilmaz, President, YATA International
11:00 – 11:30

In the Spotlight

  • Conversation with the President of Montenegro
  • Jakov Milatović, President of Montenegro
  • Moderator: Nikola Vučić, Journalist, TV N1, CNN exclusive news channel affiliate
11:30 – 11:45
Break
11:45 – 12:20

The Next Line of Defence

  • Youth Perspectives on Defence, Security and Spending
  • Simon Baumann, Officer, Multinational Capabilities, NATO Defence Investment
  • Daan Cornelissen, HR Advisor Royal Dutch Army and NATO Youth Advisory Board Member
  • Agnieszka Homanska, Head of the Minister’s Cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland
  • Dragos Manea, Policy Officer, Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, NATO
  • Moderator: Inga Samoškaitė, Security Policy Analyst, Atlantic Council
12:20 - 12:45

Beyond the Battlefield

  • Securing Peace, Rebuilding Ukraine
  • Eoghan Gately, Rebuild Ukraine Ambassador - European Youth Parliament
  • Krisztian Meszaros, Director, Partnership & Global Affairs Directorate, NATO
  • Victoria Vdovychenko, Joint Programme Leader, Future of Ukraine Programme, Centre for Geopolitics
  • Moderator: Anastasiia Ostrovska, Co-founder & CEO Women’s Leadership and Strategic Initiatives Foundation (WLSIF)
12:45 - 13:30

Securing the Region

  • Western Balkans from Stability to Strength
  • Introductory Session: Fireside Chat with the Deputy Minister of Defense of Albania, Blerina Abrazhda
  • Radu Gorincioi, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Romania to Montenegro
  • Nick Kalams, Democratic Development and Western Balkans Analyst
  • Lone Kjelgaard, Chief of Staff of the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team (NALT), Pristina
  • Dafina Peci, Executive Director, National Youth Congress of Albania
  • Moderator: Frauke Seebass, Associate Fellow, DGAP and Visiting Fellow, SWP Brussels
3:00 PM – 3:45 pm (CET) 9:15 am – 9:45 am (EST)
Transatlantic Conversation with NATO Secretary General.
13:30 - 14:30
Lunch
14:30 - 14:55

Building Bridges, Ensuring Security

  • NATO’s Partnerships in Action
  • Katja Lindskov Jacobsen, Interim Director, Centre for Military Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen
  • Krisztian Meszaros, Director, Partnership & Global Affairs Directorate, NATO
  • Henri Vanhanen, Special Adviser, European Parliament
  • Moderator: Dylan Macchiarini Crosson, EU Researcher, International Crisis Group
14:55 - 15:35

Beyond the Firewalls

  • Youth, Innovation, Cyber and the Future of AI
  • Intro: Caitlin Sarian, Global Cybersecurity Educator, Founder of Cybersecurity Girl
  • Carlos Abellán, Co-Founder and CEO, Quside
  • Lauren Anthony, Security Specialist, Customer Engineer, Google
  • Irene Benito, AI Officer, Innovation and EDT Policy Unit, Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber Division, NATO
  • Florian Marcus, Head of Sales and Partnerships, Cybernetica
  • Moderator: Daniel Akinmade Emejulu, Technology & Sustainable Development, Consultant
15:35 - 15:40

The Value of Freedom

  • Shaping the Future of Democracy for a Safer Tomorrow
  • Daryna Onyshko, Project Manager, Community of Democracies
15:40 - 16:00
Break
16:00 - 16:25

The Invisible Frontline

  • Navigating Hybrid Threats in the Digital Age
  • Marko Banovic, Chief Analyst, Digital Forensic Center
  • Sofia Romansky, Strategic Analyst at HCSS and Project Coordinator for GC REAIM
  • Vlasta Zekulic, Branch Head Strategic Issues and Engagements, HQ Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
  • Moderator: Tomass Pildegovičs, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
16:25 – 16:50

Guardians of the Galaxy

  • Space and the New Frontiers of Security
  • James Black, Assistant Director, RAND
  • Hugo Peter, Postdoctoral Researcher
  • Yannik Petry , Space Intelligence Officer - NATO Headquarters
  • Moderator: Julia Balm, Research Associate, Freeman Air and Space Institute (FASI), King's College London
16:50 – 17:15

From Hashtags to Action

  • Social Media Movements and Youth-Led Security Initiatives
  • Intro: Omar Agamy, Content Creator & Software Engineer
  • Danica Čelebić, Co-founder at Internet Society Montenegro
  • Marek Janiga, NATO Youth Advisory Board Member
  • Moderator: Alice Vandenberghe, Communications Coordinator and NATO Youth Advisory Board Member
17:15 - 17:30

Youth Summit Challenge Winners

  • What does a leader of the future look like?
  • Perspectives from NATO Youth Challenge winners discussing what the leader of the future looks like, what values, skills, and qualities will be essential to navigate an evolving global landscape, and what concrete actions should they take to build a safer and more stable world?
  • Ileana Ionescu, NATO Youth Summit Challenge Winner
  • Alexander Krabbendam, NATO Youth Summit Challenge Winner
  • Eojin Park, NATO Youth Summit Challenge Winner
  • Moderator: Marcelina Maciag, NATO Youth Advisory Board Member
17:30 - 17:55

Next-Gen Leadership

  • Bold Minds, Global Impact
  • Intro: Ioana Andrada Tudorie, Outreach and Communication Officer, NATO’s Talent Acquisition Service
  • Katy Leeson, Corporate Coach
  • Amanda Round, Content Creator and NATO Youth Advisory Board Member
  • Moderator: Max Klymenko, Educational Creator & Entrepreneur, NATO Youth Advisory Board Member
17:55 - 18:25

From Listeners to Leaders

  • The Future of NATO, Peace & Security
  • Fishbowl session with an inverted role of the audience and speakers. This session flips the traditional power dynamic—putting young leaders, activists, and engaged audience members in the inner circle, while policymakers ask questions, and discuss from the outer circle.
  • Florian Marcus, Head of Sales and Partnerships, Cybernetica
  • Vijay Pathak, PhD Researcher (AI & Politics), University of Oxford
  • Eojin Park, Student, Princeton University
  • Yannik Petry, Space Intelligence Officer - NATO Headquarters
  • Leonhard Simon, President, YATA Germany
  • Caitlin Sarian, Global Cybersecurity Educator, Influencer and Founder of Cybersecurity Girl
  • Facilitators: Sena Chang and Alexander Iancu, NATO Youth Advisory Board Members
18:25 - 18:45

Rewind and Fast-Forward

  • What We Learned, What Comes Next
  • Simon Baumann, Officer, Multinational Capabilities, NATO Defence Investment
  • Irene Benito, AI Officer, Innovation and EDT Policy Unit, Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber Division, NATO
  • Lone Kjelgaard, Chief of Staff of the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team (NALT), Pristina
  • Krisztian Meszaros, Director, Partnership & Global Affairs Directorate, NATO
  • Moderator: Nina Skočak, Communications Expert and Content Creator
20:00 – 22:00

Networking Reception

  • Hotel Splendid - 1st Floor
Side activities for April 25, 2025
10:00 - 18:35

Networking Booths with Speakers

  • Are you interested to hear more from the speakers you’ve seen on stage? Stop by the Networking Booths for a chance to meet them, ask further questions, and exchange ideas in an informal setting. It’s a great opportunity to connect, get inspired, and build your network.
10:00 - 18:35

Allies in Action: Nations Quiz & Booth Challenge

  • Test your knowledge of NATO and its member nations in a fast-paced quiz challenge led by the Allies themselves. Visit participating countries’ stations during the networking break, answer correctly, and win a prize for completing the full Alliance circuit.
10:00 - 18:35

Career Booths

  • Curious about what it’s like to work at NATO, Google, or would like to explore other opportunities? Stop by the Career Booths to connect, explore career and internship options, and get advice on breaking into the fields of international organisations, tech, innovation, and other opportunities.
10:00 - 18:35

Multimedia Studio

  • Got something to say or create? The Multimedia Studio is your space to produce content — record interviews, shoot videos, snap photos, or create social media stories about your NATO Youth Summit experience. If you’re a journalist or content creator, here’s your chance to build your story. The Studio will be open to all participants on the 26 April.
April 26, 2025
09:00 - 13:00

Model NATO Simulation

  • Conference Hall 1 (max 64ppl)
  • Led by Allied Command Transformation
  • Step into the shoes of NATO leaders in a high-stakes simulation of the Alliance’s decision-making process! Represent a NATO country at the highest level and confront a realistic security crisis. As a delegate, you’ll engage in strategic negotiations, navigate complex diplomacy, and experience firsthand how NATO builds consensus in times of crisis. This is your chance to sharpen your skills in diplomacy and conflict resolution while gaining practical insight into how the Alliance responds to today’s global security challenges.
  • Facilitator: Francois Reyes, NATO Allied Command Transformation - Strategic Issues & Engagement Staff Officer
10:00 – 11:30

Workshop 1: Jeopardy-Style Contest

  • Conference Room on 5th floor (max 40ppl)
  • Gear up for a fast-paced, brain-teasing showdown inspired by the iconic Jeopardy! This fun and educational game, designed and hosted by the NATO Youth Advisory Board, puts your knowledge, teamwork, and quick thinking to the test. In two back-to-back sessions, teams will compete for the chance to rise to the top!
  • Facilitators:
    Imane Lakbaci, Michael Dokas, Daan Cornelissen, Amanda Round,     NATO Youth Advisory Board Members
09:00 – 11:00

Workshop 2: Tech Savvy and Safe: Navigating the Digital World

  • Conference Hall 2 (max 40ppl)
  • Discover how to thrive in the digital world while staying safe online. The workshop offers hands-on learning experience tailored for youth. Learn to protect your data, recognize online risks, and make smart digital choices.
  • Facilitators:
    Marko Banović    , Chief Analyst, Digital Forensic Center
    Beaudine Verhoek, Strategic Communications Officer, NATO
09:00 – 11:00

Workshop 3: Exploring Professional Opportunities at NATO

  • Conference Hall 3 (70ppl)
  • Learn about diverse career paths at NATO, as well as concrete steps on how to apply for internship and entry-level job opportunities within the organisation, and increase your chances of selection. This workshop will provide insights into NATO’s commitment to talent diversity and how you can be part of shaping a more inclusive and dynamic workforce.
  • Facilitators:
    Ioana Andrada Tudorie,     Outreach and Communication Officer, NATO Talent Acquisition Service
    Radoš Mušović, Coordinator, ASG, DPP, NATO
    James Tenniswood, Organizational Design Officer, NATO
11:00 - 13:00
Brunch
11:30 – 13:00

Stolen Youth: Ukrainian Lives in Time of War (Short films screening)

  • Conference Hall 3 (70ppl)
  • Intro: Milana Solodovnik, Actress
  • Conference Hall 3 (70ppl) Intro: Milana Solodovnik, Actress This special screening presents a series of short films, capturing the deeply personal and often unseen impact of war on the young people of Ukraine. Over the course of 90 minutes, these powerful stories offer a window into the lives of a generation shaped by loss, resilience, and hope amidst the ongoing war.
09:00 - 13:30

Career Booths

  • Curious about what it’s like to work at NATO, Google, or would like to explore other opportunities? Stop by the Career Booths to connect, explore career and internship options, and get advice on breaking into the fields of international organisations, tech, innovation, and other opportunities.
09:00 - 13:30

YouTube Studio

  • Got something to say or create? The Multimedia Studio is your space to produce content — record interviews, shoot videos, snap photos, or create social media stories about your NATO Youth Summit experience. If you’re a journalist or content creator, here’s your chance to build your story. The Studio will be open to all participants on the 26 April.
14:00 - 19:00

Cultural Visit

  • *Experience Montenegro's beauty on this guided trip. A bus transfer will be provided for the excursion.
  • The trip is dependent on weather conditions.
Interactive/Artistic Experience at Venue
Simultaneous Reception in Pulse Room

Youth Summit Challenge:
What is your role in shaping a secure tomorrow?

Join the challenge

Make your voice heard and tell us what is your role in shaping a secure tomorrow. Join the challenge and gain a sponsored seat in the audience.

NATO Youth Summit Challenge

NATO’s Youth Summit Challenge is an opportunity to make your voice heard and earn a sponsored seat (including travel) to the live stage in Miami. Join the challenge and share your thoughts on how you are contributing to shaping a secure tomorrow. Youth Summit Challenge submissions are due by April 16, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST. Winners will be chosen and notified by April 20, 2024.

The challenge invites young people (aged 18 to 35) to submit proposals (videos, digital renders, technology prototypes, policy proposals, etc.) explaining what their role is in shaping a secure tomorrow. The most innovative proposals will receive a sponsored seat in the audience and the applicant of the best entry is invited to present their proposal on stage.

Join the challenge

Registration and
Attendance:

Register now

You have the opportunity to register online to attend the event in-person in Miami, in Stockholm or in one of the watch party locations. The registration will be selection-based.

NATO Youth Summit

Social Media Toolkit

Join in the conversation during the 2024 NATO Youth Summit using the images and suggested posts in our social media toolkit.

Promote the event online

NATO Youth Summit

Previous Editions

2024 NATO Youth Summit | Shaping Your Tomorrow | Stockholm
Play Video
2024 NATO Youth Summit | Shaping Your Tomorrow – 13 MAY 2024 | Miami
Play Video
2023 NATO Youth Summit | NextGen Freedom & Security - 05 JUN 2023
Play Video
2022 NATO Youth Summit | Securing Our Shared Future – 28 APR 2022
Play Video

Co-organising Institutions

Institutional Partners

Corporate Partners