ALLIES to Moderate Transatlantic Spotlight with Governor Newsom and Minister-President Rhein at Munich Security Conference

The panel will highlight how local leaders are sustaining critical international partnerships and delivering practical solutions on global issues.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Alliance for Local Leaders International (ALLIES) will bring local leadership to the forefront of global security discussions at the Munich Security Conference, with Founder & CEO Ambassador (ret.) Nina Hachigian moderating a spotlight session on the transatlantic relationship. The panel will feature U.S. Governor Gavin Newsom of California and German Minister-President Boris Rhein of Hesse to discuss how state leaders are sustaining transatlantic ties, addressing shared security challenges, and protecting liberties against a backdrop of global instability.

Why it matters

As national-level ties fray, local leaders are stepping up to maintain critical international partnerships and deliver practical solutions on issues from renewable energy to economic security. This conversation will highlight how locally elected leaders are building bridges across the Atlantic and keeping democracies strong.

The details

The dialogue will bring together leaders from two economic and political powerhouses: California, the world's fourth largest economy, and Hesse, a major European financial hub. ALLIES is convening the panel as part of its mission to connect local leaders worldwide and feature pragmatic and cooperative voices on the global stage. The Munich Security Conference has convened heads of state, defense leaders, and senior diplomats for more than six decades to address global security issues. The inclusion of city and state leaders in this year's program reflects growing recognition of the increasing role they play in maintaining global stability.

  • The panel will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 5:30PM CET.

The players

Alliance for Local Leaders International (ALLIES)

An organization that connects local leaders worldwide and features pragmatic and cooperative voices on the global stage.

Governor Gavin Newsom

The governor of California, the world's fourth largest economy.

Minister-President Boris Rhein

The minister-president of Hesse, a major European financial hub.

Ambassador (ret.) Nina Hachigian

The founder and CEO of ALLIES, who will moderate the panel.

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What they’re saying

“As ties fray at the national level, local leaders are stepping up to maintain critical international partnerships and to deliver practical solutions on issues from low-cost, renewable energy to economic security. This conversation will highlight how locally elected leaders are building bridges across the Atlantic and keeping our democracies strong.”

— Ambassador (ret.) Nina Hachigian, Founder & CEO, ALLIES (PRNewswire)

What’s next

The panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026 will be an opportunity for Governor Newsom and Minister-President Rhein to showcase how local leaders are sustaining transatlantic ties and addressing global challenges.

The takeaway

In an era of global instability and fraying national-level relationships, this panel highlights the growing role of local leaders in maintaining critical international partnerships and delivering practical solutions to shared security challenges. The inclusion of state and city leaders at the prestigious Munich Security Conference reflects the increasing recognition of their importance in upholding democratic values and global stability.