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Outcomes from the Annual Plenary Meeting, Regional Meetings, and trilateral research initiatives are published periodically and distributed to policymakers and leaders in both government and the private sector.
Key Figures in the Development of the Trilateral Commission
David Rockefeller
Founder of the Trilateral Commission
David Rockefeller was the central figure behind the establishment of the Trilateral Commission in 1973. Advocating stronger cooperation among Japan, the United States, and Europe, he worked with political scientist Zbigniew Brzezinski to develop the concept and institutionalize a framework for policy dialogue among non-governmental leaders. He continued to support and guide the Commission for many years after its founding.
Zbigniew Brzezinski
U.S. National Security Advisor (1977–1981)
Zbigniew Brzezinski was the key intellectual architect of the Trilateral Commission. Together with David Rockefeller, he led the initiative to establish the organization in 1973. He argued that democratic nations in North America, Western Europe, and Japan needed to cooperate strategically and conceived the Commission as a platform for such policy dialogue. As its first Director, he helped shape the Commission’s direction and left a lasting influence on debates about the international order.
Kiichi Miyazawa
Prime Minister of Japan (1991–1993)
Kiichi Miyazawa was one of the prominent Japanese political leaders closely involved in the Commission from its earliest years. From the 1970s onward, he emphasized the importance of cooperation among Japan, the United States, and Europe, representing Japan’s active role as one of the three pillars of the trilateral framework. With deep expertise in finance and foreign affairs, he contributed actively to the Commission’s discussions and helped strengthen Japan’s presence within the organization.
Georges Berthoin
Honorary International Chairman, European Movement
Georges Berthoin was a central European figure in the founding of the Trilateral Commission in 1973 and served as the first Chairman of the European Group. A French diplomat with extensive experience in the external relations of the European Community, he played an important role in institutionalizing strategic dialogue with North America and Japan while promoting European integration and transatlantic cooperation.
Max Kohnstamm
First Secretary-General, European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
Max Kohnstamm played a key role within the institutions of the European Community and was committed to strengthening transatlantic relations and expanding Europe’s global role. Sharing the vision of trilateral cooperation articulated by David Rockefeller and Zbigniew Brzezinski, he contributed to the development of the European network and the intellectual foundations of the Commission.
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