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Younger Generation Leaders Network on Euro-Atlantic Security (YGLN): Developing a new generation of leaders

The YGLN is composed of 145 members in their early careers who are rising stars and specialists in security policy, economics, journalism, law and civil society. Formed in 2014, the YGLN was created to bridge the divide between Russia and the West and establish a much-needed platform for understanding and dialogue.

The East-West Coffee Shop

Welcome to the East-West Coffee Shop! This format, embracing podcast episodes and videos, is brought to you by the Younger Generation Leaders Network (YGLN). Pour yourself a coffee and join our discussions on some of the most pressing challenges and threats for the Euro-Atlantic region, and what can we do to confront them.

Latest ELN publications by YGLN members

Commentary

Annual Gathering of the Younger Generation Leaders Network in Vienna

From the 26th-29th of June, the Younger Generation Leaders Network (YGLN) met in Vienna for their annual gathering. Over the course of the week, YGLN members met with various international organisations and diplomatic missions, fostered insightful discussions, and were able to network and collaborate with one another. Read the commentary for a full account of the annual gathering.

18 September 2023 | Nikita Gryazin
Commentary

Nuclear experts react: Oppenheimer

On the 21st of July, the ELN co-hosted a private screening of Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed film ‘Oppenheimer’ with a range of peace and security partners. We asked nuclear policy experts in attendance what they made of the film and its relevance for arms control, non-proliferation, and nuclear threats today.

18 August 2023 | Andrew Jones
Commentary

Strengthening the nuclear order: Pragmatic internationalism amid Russia’s war against Ukraine

Russia’s war against Ukraine has exposed critical flaws in the international nuclear realm. Valeriia Hesse writes that to prevent the total erosion of the non-proliferation norm, a realistic and pragmatic approach towards gradual nuclear arms reductions must be pursued. Ahead of the NPT PrepCom, she outlines concrete steps that the international community can take to build a stronger and more resilient nuclear order.

28 July 2023 | Valeriia Hesse
Policy brief

The inadmissibility of nuclear threats within the NPT regime

Ahead of the 2023 NPT Preparatory Committee, this policy brief examines how nuclear threats have changed with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, how to define a ‘nuclear threat’, and how NPT member states should react to nuclear threats. It sets out recommendations for how State Parties can strengthen the NPT and the nuclear taboo in the current Review Cycle.

27 July 2023
Commentary

The NPT: the cornerstone or headstone of the global non-proliferation regime?

The NPT has been described as a cornerstone upon which the rest of the global non-proliferation architecture has been developed, but it also marks the site where illustrious dreams lay buried. Ahead of the PrepCom in Vienna starting next week, YGLN member Olamide Samuel explores what a ‘cornerstone’ means and writes that we have a unique opportunity to protect the NPT as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

25 July 2023 | Olamide Samuel
Policy brief

Year two of the invasion: Where do former Soviet countries stand?

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, governments in the former Soviet Union were immediately forced to deal with difficult geopolitical realities. In this report for the ELN, YGLN member Daniel Shapiro uses quantitative and qualitative analysis to show there is increased heterogeneity in geopolitical positioning among post-Soviet states and offers key lessons from this for Western policymakers.

4 July 2023 | Daniel Shapiro

YGLN in the Media

Media coverage

YGLN Members Mourn the Loss of Mentor and Friend Robert E. Berls, Jr.

With the passing of Robert E. Berls, Jr., the YGLN and its members lost a valued mentor, friend, and role model. Bob Berls passed away on November 10, 2021. Bob Berls, who was a senior advisor for Russia and Eurasia at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, was one of the bright minds who brought...

29 November 2021
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Media coverage

ELN Policy Fellow Katarina Kertysova interviewed by Euractiv

ELN Policy Fellow Katarina Kertysova was interviewed by Euractiv about a recent NATO survey looking at how citizens perceive the principles of collective defense, increasing funding, or working with the EU, Russia or China. She argued that the government and ministries in Slovakia must...

23 July 2021
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Media coverage

ELN Policy Fellow Katarina Kertysova quoted in Voice of America News

ELN Policy Fellow Katarina Kertysova spoke to VOA's Henry Ridgwell about the Arctic Council Ministerial, Russia's climate strategy, and the militarisation of the Arctic, which continues to undermine regional cooperation on areas of mutual interest. The article can be found here.

20 May 2021
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Media coverage

Roger Hilton: “A ‘burn’ on the Ukrainian border”

YGLN member Roger Hilton discusses the raising tensions in Russia-Ukraine border in his new article for New Europe, "A 'burn' on the Ukrainian border". He argues that Russian President Vladimir Putin has mishandled the situation while destabilising Eastern Ukraine could only make things worse...

19 April 2021

YGLN Meetings

The YGLN aims to meet on a bi-annual basis in order to introduce the network to policy makers from around the Euro-Atlantic area, exchange ideas among themselves, and to determine the future development of the YGLN.

YGLN Funders

YGLN Team