It’s not called the Sunshine Island for nothing. Bathed in sunshine but with a nice cool breeze, this year’s Folkemøde in Allinge on Bornholm more than lived up to its reputation for being a “hyggelig” venue for Danish politicians, opinion leaders, students, and everybody with an interest in politics and democracy engage on a number issues.
Speaking and Listening
The U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen visited Folkemødet with a delegation which included Ambassador Leventhal and members of the Embassy’s Political, Commercial, Defense, and Public Diplomacy Sections. The Ambassador and the other members of the delegation participated in or attended events throughout the week. Ambassador Leventhal had a full schedule of speaking engagements on topics like the green transition, Russia’s war in Ukraine, common defense and security, the Arctic, democratic engagement, the US-Danish trade relationship, and the role of diplomacy in our changing world.
In addition to speaking at several panels, Ambassador Leventhal and the team listened to several other speakers, engaged with people throughout the three days, met with existing contacts and made new contacts.
Cooperation is Key
In his talks, Ambassador Leventhal focused on why it’s so important that the U.S., Denmark, and other allies and partners cooperate. Cooperation is key to help Ukraine win the war that Russia started, cooperation is key to make the green transition a success for the whole world, cooperation is key to maintain low tension in the Arctic, and cooperation is key in NATO, each doing their part, to ensure our common safety and security in the coming years.
Throughout the discussions, it was clear that the challenges we face are beyond the scope of any one government or country, and that only through cooperation between governments and with the private sector can we successfully work our way through today’s existing and tomorrow’s emerging challenges.
What Folkemødet Does Best
Folkemødet did what it does best. Provided a venue and an unparalleled atmosphere to discuss the important topics of the day with a diverse group of people, providing food for thought for all those who took part. As the event drew to a close, Ambassador Leventhal reflected on the event, highlighting how great it was to see so many young people attending and actively engaging, noting that democracy is in great shape in Denmark!
