The Pact of Free Cities, a global network of mayors dedicated to defending democratic values, civil rights, rule of law, and quality of life is proud to announce a major expansion. On May 12th, during the Pact’s annual summit, ten American cities will join the alliance which has been consequential in the fight against rising authoritarianism in Europe. With its new members, the Pact furthers the message of democratic solidarity across the Atlantic while adding a powerful bloc of pragmatic U.S. voices to the organization.
Governor Gavin Newsom (California, USA) and Minister-President Minister-President Boris Rhein (Hesse, Germany), moderated by ALLIES Founder & CEO Ambassador (ret.) Nina Hachigian, convened at the 2026 Munich Security Conference to examine how state and regional leaders are sustaining transatlantic ties and renewing democracy against a backdrop of global uncertainty. By bringing local leadership to the forefront of the Conference, ALLIES advanced its mission to elevate the role of local leaders in protecting and renewing effective governance and democratic values.
ALLIES facilitated the Munich Security Conference’s first all-mayor panel on February 14, 2026, bringing together Mayors Vitali Klitschko (Kyiv, Ukraine; in absentia), Rafał Trzaskowski (Warsaw, Poland), and Michelle Wu (Boston, USA) to discuss the role of mayors protecting and renewing democratic values. The panel was moderated by ALLIES Founder & CEO Ambassador (ret.) Nina Hachigian.
Former U.S. Ambassador Nina Hachigian, who served as the first U.S. Special Representative for Subnational Diplomacy and as Los Angeles’ Deputy Mayor for International Affairs, announced the launch of the Alliance for Local Leaders International (ALLIES). This nonpartisan nonprofit empowers local and state leaders to collaborate across borders, share practical solutions, and strengthen the foundations of responsive and effective governance.
We are a nonpartisan nonprofit empowering local and state leaders to collaborate, share practical solutions, and strengthen governance across borders.