Bilderberg Meeting Commences in Lisbon
Every year, behind closed doors, an assembly of influential individuals from various fields descends upon a luxurious venue to participate in the Bilderberg Meeting.
The annual gathering of the Bilderberg Group, known as the 69th Bilderberg Meeting, has commenced in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. This exclusive assembly brings together influential figures from around the world to discuss pressing global matters, such as transnational challenges, the impact of artificial intelligence, and the role of the United States in international affairs.
Since its inception in 1954, this longstanding tradition of confidential discussions has fostered an intriguing convergence of transparent diplomacy and discreet exclusivity. Prominent political leaders intermingle with industry magnates, media moguls, and financial titans, blurring the boundaries between public diplomacy and behind-the-scenes power dynamics.
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Consistent with tradition, the specifics of their deliberations remain veiled by the "Chatham House Rule," a protocol that grants attendees the freedom to utilize the insights acquired during the meetings while safeguarding the anonymity of both speakers and participants. This rule ensures a climate of confidentiality, allowing for open and frank exchanges without the fear of personal attribution.
Among the major topics slated for discussion are artificial intelligence, the banking system, energy transition, and industrial policy and trade.
Other high-priority issues include the geopolitical landscapes of Europe, China, India, Russia, and Ukraine, along with NATO and America’s global leadership.
The inclusion of the topic of U.S. leadership on the Bilderberg agenda is particularly noteworthy, as it reemerges after its last appearance in 2018. This focus arises in the context of intensified endeavors by China and Russia to diminish dependence on the U.S. dollar as the dominant global reserve currency.
The agenda outlined by the group encompasses various crucial themes:
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Banking System
China
Energy Transition
Europe
Fiscal Challenges
India
Industrial Policy and Trade
NATO
Russia
Transnational Threats
Ukraine
U.S. Leadership
Among the assemblage of prominent global figures, the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg garners attention, particularly due to the heightened significance of global security cooperation amidst the ongoing and protracted conflict in Ukraine.
In addition to the security aspect, the attendees also include Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence for the United States, and Thomas Wright, the Senior Director for Strategic Planning at the National Security Council. Their participation underscores the weighty consideration given to security matters at the meeting.
The roster of attendees comprises a diverse array of political leaders, including Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, and Sanna Marin, the outgoing Prime Minister of Finland who, despite losing the election, continues to serve as part of a caretaker government until the formation of a new cabinet.
Joining the assembly is Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot that has garnered significant attention for its potential to replace humans in various job roles. Notable figures from the technology industry are also present, including Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, Alex Karp, the CEO of Palantir Technologies, and Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google.
Among the “distinguished” attendees, Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, finds a place on the list. Also present is Peter Thiel, the founder of Thiel Capital, renowned for his influential ventures, alongside John Waldron, the President of Goldman Sachs as well as Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, Alexander Schallenberg, Austria's Minister for European and International Affairs, and Dmytro Kuleba, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine. Notably, Kuleba has been actively involved in bolstering Western support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. He recently participated in a meeting of 27 European Union foreign ministers, where he advocated for the provision of long-range artillery ammunition and the initiation of discussions regarding Ukraine's potential accession to the European Union.
While the Bilderberg Meeting is often described as an informal and private gathering without any official capacity, the concentration of influential figures in one place has raised concerns and attracted scrutiny.
Critics point out the notable presence of senior European politicians engaging in discussions on crucial subjects such as Ukraine, Russia, and NATO, alongside high-ranking NATO officials, all within an environment devoid of press oversight or public transparency. Journalist Charlie Skelton, in an interview with The Epoch Times, remarked on the absence of mainstream media coverage, calling it a significant blind spot. Skelton also alluded to persistent rumors surrounding the Bilderberg Meetings, including speculations about attendees strategizing to establish a new world order.
The reluctance of legacy media outlets to thoroughly cover the Bilderberg Meetings has contributed to an ongoing perception of secrecy and intrigue surrounding the event, leaving questions unanswered and fueling speculation.
You can read more about the Bilderberg Group in this article.
Full List of Participants
Abrams, Stacey (USA), CEO, Sage Works Production
Achleitner, Paul M. (DEU), Chair, Global Advisory Board, Deutsche Bank AG
Agrawal, Ajay (CAN), Professor of Economics, University of Toronto
Albares, José Manuel (ESP), Minister of Foreign Affairs
Altman, Sam (USA), CEO, OpenAI
Alverà, Marco (ITA), Co-Founder, zhero.net; CEO TES
Andersson, Magdalena (SWE), Leader, Social Democratic Party
Applebaum, Anne (USA), Staff Writer, The Atlantic
Arnaut, José Luís (PRT), Managing Partner, CMS Rui Pena & Arnaut
Attal, Gabriel (FRA), Minister for Public Accounts
Balsemão, Francisco Pinto (PRT), Chair, Impresa Group
Barbizet, Patricia (FRA), Chair and CEO, Temaris & Associés SAS
Barroso, José Manuel (PRT), Chair, International Advisors, Goldman Sachs
Baudson, Valérie (FRA), CEO, Amundi SA
Beaune, Clément (FRA), Minister for Transport
Benson, Sally (USA), Professor of Energy Science and Engineering, Stanford University
Beurden, Ben van (NLD), Special Advisor to the Board, Shell plc
Borg, Anna (SWE), President and CEO, Vattenfall AB
Borrell, Josep (INT), Vice President, European Commission
Botín, Ana P. (ESP), Group Executive Chair, Banco Santander SA
Bourla, Albert (USA), Chair and CEO, Pfizer Inc.
Braathen, Kjerstin (NOR), CEO, DNB ASA
Brende, Børge (NOR), President, World Economic Forum
Brink, Dolf van den (NLD), CEO, Heineken NV
Brudermüller, Martin (DEU), CEO, BASF SE
Buberl, Thomas (FRA), CEO, AXA SA
Byrne, Thomas (IRL), Minister for Sport and Physical Education
Carney, Mark (CAN), Vice Chair, Brookfield Asset Management
Cassis, Ignazio (CHE), Federal Councillor, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Castries, Henri de (FRA), President, Institut Montaigne
Cavoli, Christopher (INT), Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Ceylan, Mehmet Fatih (TUR), President, Ankara Policy Center
Chhabra, Tarun (USA), Senior Director for Technology and National Security, National Security Council
Creuheras, José (ESP), Chair, Grupo Planeta and Atresmedia
Debackere, Koenraad (BEL), Chair, KBC Group NV
Deese, Brian (USA), Former Director, National Economic Council
Donohoe, Paschal (INT), President, Eurogroup
Döpfner, Mathias (DEU), Chair and CEO, Axel Springer SE
Easterly, Jen (USA), Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Economy, Elizabeth (USA), Senior Advisor for China, Department of Commerce
Ehrnrooth, Henrik (FIN), Chair, Otava Group
Émié, Bernard (FRA), Director General for External Security, Ministry of the Armed Forces
Empoli, Giuliano da (ITA), Political Scientist and Writer, Sciences Po
Entrecanales, José M. (ESP), Chair and CEO, Acciona SA
Eriksen, Øyvind (NOR), President and CEO, Aker ASA
Ferguson, Niall (USA), Milbank Family Senior Fellow, Stanford University
Fleming, Jeremy (GBR), Former Director, GCHQ
Frederiksen, Mette (DNK), Prime Minister
Freeland, Chrystia (CAN), Deputy Prime Minister
Garijo, Bélen (DEU), Chair and CEO, Merck KGaA
Gentiloni, Paolo (INT), Commissioner for Economy, European Commission
Gonzáles Pons, Esteban (ESP), Vice Chair, European People’s Party
Gosset-Grainville, Antoine (FRA), Chair, AXA
Goulimis, Nicky (GRC), Board Member and Co-Founder, Nova Credit Inc.
Griffin, Kenneth (USA), Founder and CEO, Citadel LLC
Gruber, Lilli (ITA), Editor-in-Chief and Anchor, La7 TV
Gürkaynak, Refet (TUR), Professor of Economics, Bilkent University
Haines, Avril D. (USA), Director of National Intelligence
Halberstadt, Victor (NLD), Professor of Economics, Leiden University
Hassabis, Demis (GBR), CEO, DeepMind
Hedegaard, Connie (DNK), Chair, KR Foundation
Hofreiter, Anton (DEU), MP; Chair Committee on European Affairs
Holzen, Madeleine von (CHE), Editor-in-Chief, Le Temps
Jensen, Kristian (DNK), CEO, Green Power Denmark
Joshi, Shashank (GBR), Defence Editor, The Economist
Kaag, Sigrid (NLD), Minister of Finance; Deputy Prime Minister
Karp, Alex (USA), CEO, Palantir Technologies Inc.
Kasparov, Garry (USA), Chair, Renew Democracy Initiative
Kieli, Kasia (POL), President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Discovery Poland
Kissinger, Henry A. (USA), Chairman, Kissinger Associates Inc.
Koç, Ömer (TUR), Chair, Koç Holding AS
Kolesnikov, Andrei (INT), Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Kostrzewa, Wojciech (POL), President, Polish Business Roundtable
Kotkin, Stephen (USA), Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Kravis, Henry R. (USA), Co-Chairman, KKR & Co. Inc.
Kravis, Marie-Josée (USA), Chair, The Museum of Modern Art
Kudelski, André (CHE), Chair and CEO, Kudelski Group SA
Kuleba, Dmytro (UKR), Minister of Foreign Affairs
Lammy, David (GBR), Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, House of Commons
Leysen, Thomas (BEL), Chair, Umicore and Mediahuis; Chair DSM-Firmenich AG
Liikanen, Erkki (FIN), Chair, IFRS Foundation Trustees
Looney, Bernard (GBR), CEO, BP plc
Marin, Sanna (FIN), Prime Minister
Metsola, Roberta (INT), President, European Parliament
Micklethwait, John (USA), Editor-in-Chief, Bloomberg LP
Minton Beddoes, Zanny (GBR), Editor-in-Chief, The Economist
Moreira, Duarte (PRT), Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Zeno Partners
Moyo, Dambisa (GBR), Global Economist; Member, House of Lords
Mundie, Craig J. (USA), President, Mundie & Associates LLC
Nadella, Satya (USA), CEO, Microsoft Corporation
O’Leary, Michael (IRL), Group CEO, Ryanair Group
Orida, Deborah (CAN), President and CEO, PSP Investments
Özel, Soli (TUR), Professor, Kadir Has University
Papalexopoulos, Dimitri (GRC), Chair, TITAN Cement Group; Treasurer Bilderberg Meetings
Philippe, Édouard (FRA), Mayor, Le Havre
Pottinger, Matthew (USA), Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution
Pouyanné, Patrick (FRA), Chair and CEO, TotalEnergies SE
Rachman, Gideon (GBR), Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, The Financial Times
Ramírez, Pedro J. (ESP), Director, El Español
Rappard, Rolly van (NLD), Co-Founder and Co-Chair, CVC Capital Partners
Reynders, Didier (INT), European Commissioner for Justice
Röttgen, Norbert (DEU), MP, German Bundestag
Rutte, Mark (NLD), Prime Minister
Salomon, Martina (AUT), Editor-in-Chief, Kurier
Sawers, John (GBR), Executive Chair, Newbridge Advisory Ltd.
Schadlow, Nadia (USA), Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
Schallenberg, Alexander (AUT), Minister for European and International Affairs
Schmidt, Eric E. (USA), Former CEO and Chair, Google LLC
Schmidt, Wolfgang (DEU), Head of the Chancellery, Federal Minister for Special Tasks
Sebastião, Nuno (PRT), Chair and CEO, Feedzai
Sikorski, Radoslaw (POL), MEP, European Parliament
Silva, Filipe (PRT), CEO, Galp
Stilwell de Andrade, Miguel (PRT), CEO, EDP
Stoltenberg, Jens (INT), Secretary General, NATO
Subramanian, Arvind (INT), Senior Fellow in International and Public Affairs, Brown University
Tellis, Ashley J. (USA), Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs, Carnegie Endowment
Thiel, Peter (USA), President, Thiel Capital LLC
Tsu, Jing (USA), Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures, Yale University
Tugendhat, Tom (GBR), Minister of State for Security
Vadera, Shriti (GBR), Chair, Prudential plc
Vassilakis, Eftichios (GRC), Chair, Aegean Group
Waldron, John (USA), President and COO, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Wallenberg, Marcus (SWE), Chair, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB
Wennink, Peter (NLD), President and CEO, ASML Holding NV
Wright, Thomas (USA), Senior Director for Strategic Planning, National Security Council
Yang, Yuan (GBR), Europe-China Correspondent, Financial Times
Yergin, Daniel (USA), Vice Chair, S&P Global
Yinanç, Barçin (TUR), Journalist, T24 News Website
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Funny how the Bilderberg Group didn't even exist a few years ago and anyone that mentioned it was a conspiracy theorist. Apparently they don't care anymore or even that we know who is attending.
Given how they value secret and confidential. I am surprised they have published a participation list. Perhaps these are invitees to a distracting side show or this isn't the real list?