The Mission
Policy & Strategy Discourse.
To accomplish our mission and goals, we engage thought-leaders, foreign and security policy experts, as well as leading youth and women organizations, with experience and leadership role in international relations.
We organize high level briefings, strategic exchanges, roundtable discussions, trainings and contribute to major international conferences on current foreign and security policy challenges.
Conferences
Major Strategic Platforms.
As strategic partner of Equilibrium Institute, StratAndLead contributed to the launching and the successful realization of the Budapest Energy and Security Talks international conference series.
2026
Budapest Energy & Security Talks — BESTalks 2026
The Kempinski Hotel, Budapest
Budapest Energy and Security Talks
May 19-20, 2025 at Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest.
Under the title "Wake Up or Break Up," organized by the Equilibrium Institute in partnership with NATO Public Diplomacy Division, BESTalks 2025 became Hungary's most significant and single largest international security policy event. StratandLead was proud to be strategic partner of organizing the event.
The conference featured 80+ international speakers addressing NATO's Future, American Strategic Priorities, European Defense and Security Identity, Strategic Challenges in the Indo-Pacific area, and Strategic Energy Challenges, AI and Cyber Security, Russia-China Relations, Strategic Developments in the Balkans.
Budapest Energy and Security Talks
2024 marks a landmark year: In cooperation with the Equilibrium Institute and NATO's Public Diplomacy Division, supported by several leading American and European, Central European think tanks and Foundations, such as the Martens Center, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, just to name a few, the first major international strategy conference was convened in Budapest.
With over 50 international speakers and 300 participants, BEST 2024 was a platform for strategic discussion and exchange on all major security challenges ahead of the transatlantic community. Strategy and Leadership for a New Central Europe was a proud partner in launching this important series of strategic conference in Budapest.
Transatlantic Relations 2.0
The second conference "Transatlantic Relations 2.0" in 2023, on security and foreign policy challenges, co-organized by the Hungarian Atlantic Council and the International Republican Institute, IRI, was attended by over 150 participants. The on-invitation-only event covered challenges to transatlantic security, Russia's war against Ukraine, China's strategic investments in Europe, and the war of narratives. The Opening Speech was held by Janos Martonyi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, and concluding remarks by Kurt Volker, former US Ambassador to NATO, Pavlo Klimkin, former Minister of Foreign affairs of Ukraine, and Zsolt Nemeth, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Hungary.
Transatlantic Relations 2.0
In cooperation of the International Republican Institute, IRI, the Heritage Foundation, and ICDT, StratandLead founders and leaders were major contributors to the organization of the international conference "Transatlantic Relations 2.0" in 2022 on foreign and security policy challenges to euro-atlantic cooperation. The 1.5-day event, on-invitation only, and on Chatham House rules, gathered foreign and security policy experts, thought-leaders, heads of think tanks, and heads of university departments, involving over 70 top level experts. The Opening Speech was held by Janos Martonyi, Hungary's former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the concluding remarks were given by Zsolt Nemeth, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Hungary.
Roundtables
Focused Regional Dialogues.
Transatlantic Challenges and Cooperation
On the invitation of S&L President Reka Szemerkenyi, Matt Boyse, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US State Department was Guest of Honor in the roundtable discussion organized by the Hungarian Atlantic Council entitled "Transatlantic Challenges and Cooperation, The Importance of US-Hungarian Relations."
CEE Region Energy Security
In cooperation with SGH - the Warsaw University of Economics, S&L launched a roundtable discussion series focusing on the most important challenges of energy security for the CEE region. The series highlighted the trilemma of solving the energy challenges of Central Europe, leaving the era of unilateral Russian import dependence, entering the era of the green transition.
It set to investigate the necessary steps for Poland to remain in the lead for the new era of green energy. The series provided a unique opportunity for SGH students to interact with energy experts, top analysts, decision makers, and business leaders - as well as visiting leading American business representatives.
Contributions
High-Level Exchanges.
Ukraine, Central Europe, The Future
Conference organized by the Institute for Central European Strategy. High-level Panel Speaker with Pavlo Klimkin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and Rufin Zamfir among others.
Together for Humanity
Dialogue for a New Humanity – Conference organized by the New Humanity Movement.
Strategic Ark
Committed to support Central Europe's regional security and cooperation, also by participating at the conference organized by PISM, the Polish Institute for International Affairs.
Three Seas Initiative
Speaker at the Three Seas Initiative Conference, Economic Roundtable organized by the Equilibrium Institute.
Transatlantic Defense Forum
Speaker at the high-level event organized on the side of the meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Prague.
Ronald Reagan Memorial Conference
Organized on 5 June 2024 at the Pázmány Péter Catholic University. High-level Speaker in the Panel "Ronald Reagan and the changing US foreign policy doctrine", with featured speakers as Prof. Steven F. Hayward, John O'Sullivan, and a video message by Condoleezza Rice.
NATO Summit – Public Forum
Strategy and Leadership for a New Central Europe was honored to be invited together with Equilibrium Institute to represent Hungary at the high-level strategy forum organized as the side event of NATO's celebratory Summit of its 75th anniversary.
GlobSec Conference
Participation at the annual GlobSec Conference, held for the first time in Prague.
Karpacz Economic Forum
S&L New Central Europe Secretary General Kris Bledowski participated as Speaker at the annual Karpacz Economic Forum in Poland.
European Defence Industry and Innovation Conference
Organized by the John Lukacs Institute. Panel Moderator of Opening Panel entitled "Changes in Europe's security environment: new challenges and their impact on defense industry".
Warsaw Security Forum
High-level speaker in panel "Energy Security as the Basis for Just Transition in Post-Industrial Areas" alongside Josh Freed, Daniel Poneman, and Georg Zachmann.
Support Our Mission.
Join our events and discussions, receive insights and analyses, meet our high level guest speakers and our premier network of thinkers, policymakers, and innovators dedicated to principled Euro-Atlantic and regional cooperation. Your generous support enables our mission to highlight key geopolitical developments threatening stability, democracy and peace, and challenges to the international system based on respect for the rule of law, through our conferences, expert roundtables, and policy discussions.
Strategy and Leadership is a 501(c)(3) under federal tax guidelines. EIN 93-3522709