“I think the key comes out of being collaborative, working together, building on each other’s strength. Instead of recognizing differences between our democratic countries, we need to focus on how do we become stronger together.” Börje Ekholm, former Ericsson CEO, at the 2026 CEPA Honors.

“The investments we have made together in our defense, our partnerships, and our shared security must be matched by the political will to stand together.” Amb. Robert Gelbard, Member of the Board of Directors at CEPA, introduced honoree H.E. Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland.

“After 9/11, he said, OK, we're not going to be paralyzed by these attacks. We're going do something about it. And so he took risk and figured out ways to keep logistics moving.” At CEPA Honors, Gen. (Ret.) H.R. McMaster introduced honoree Jim Berlin, Founder & Chairman of Logistics Plus, Inc.

“It is exactly now, when we are overwhelmed with information, an organization that provides the context, the intelligence, and the concrete solutions to the most urgent global challenges matters the most.” Dr. Alina Polyakova, President & CEO of CEPA, shared the opportunities ahead for CEPA.

“And what I see now is that we're not dependent on Russia, we understand our dependencies on China, and actually dependencies between Europe and the United States are increasing.” H.E. Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland, shares his approach to global dependencies at CEPA Honors.

“Technology is a force for good. And I think our industry, mobile connectivity, is a clear example.” Börje Ekholm, Senior Advisor and Former CEO of Ericsson Group, reflects on the transformative power of technology at the 2026 CEPA Honors. He received a Global Impact Award.

“You do the right thing. And whether it seems smart or stupid, it's the right thing to do it.” At the 2026 CEPA Honors, Jim Berlin, Founder and Chairman of Logistics Plus and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, shared a story of his grandfather and the principle he’d like to pass on.

“Finding ways for the US and Europe and like-minded democratic partners to leverage comparative advantages and manage allied capabilities is at the core of CEPA’s tech initiatives.” Molly Montgomery, Member of CEPA's Board of Directors, overviewed the organization’s tech initiatives at CEPA Honors.

“One of the biggest challenges that actually think tanks have is that the policy makers and business people do not talk. And connecting the two was very, very important.” At CEPA Honors, Vice Chair of the CEPA Board of Directors George Casey spoke about CEPA’s role in the policy ecosystem.

“There is no question we, as democracies, are under attack from a global shadow war. This is why CEPA’s work on the issue is so critically important.” Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Co-Chair of the International Leadership Council at CEPA, gave remarks about the global context around CEPA’s work.

“Journalists, photographers, and filmmakers have often been the first and sometimes the only source of truth about what is happening on the ground. Ukraine's artists carry that same responsibility.” Matthew Kaminski, Member of the Board of Directors of CEPA, introduces the Freedom Fighter Award.

“The investments we have made together in our defense, our partnerships, and our shared security must be matched by the political will to stand together.” H.E. Robert Gelbard, Member of the Board of Directors at CEPA, introduced honoree H.E. Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland.

“What happens on one side of the Atlantic matters on the other. Our ability to work together is a strength we need to cherish and build on.” H.E. Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Ambassador of Finland to the US, accepted the Global Impact Award on behalf of honoree President Alexander Stubb.

“Börje Ekholm has never treated innovation as invention alone. It is about resilience, scale, and the ability to build trusted partnerships.” At the 2026 CEPA Honors, H.E. Nicola Clase, Ambassador of Sweden to the US, introduced honoree Börje Ekholm, Senior Advisor and Former CEO of Ericsson.

“Although I have been living and working in Kyiv, Ukraine, for the past 30 years, I have never felt closer to my grandmother than over the past four and a half years.” Contemporary Ukrainian artist Ola Rondiak accepts the Freedom Fighter Award on behalf of filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov at CEPA Honors.

“What happens on one side of the Atlantic matters on the other. Our ability to work together is a strength we need to cherish and build on.” H.E. Leena-Kaisa Mikkola accepted the Global Impact Award on behalf of honoree H.E. Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland at CEPA Honors.

"When the people of Ukraine needed help, Jim and his team stepped up, putting their expertise and global reach to work in support of Ukraine and the cause of freedom." The Hon. Dave McCormick, US Senator for Pennsylvania, congratulates Jim Berlin on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.

"Sometimes our policies might be a little bit different, but I think what really binds us together is values." H.E. Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland, accepts a Global Impact Award at the 2026 CEPA Honors in Washington, DC.

"What art can do, what cinema can do, is to defend the truth. Because when the war is over, and every war someday will be over, another battle will start. The battle for truth, the battle for justice." Filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov accepted the Freedom Fighter Award at the 2026 CEPA Honors.