Ideas from Bratislava's strategic conference are shaping the security architecture of today's world - MZV EN
Ideas from Bratislava's strategic conference are shaping the security architecture of today's world
Updated 02.06.2023
Published 02.06.2023
At the end of May, Bratislava became Europe’s centre of attention.
Taking place on May 29-31, the 18th edition of the Globsec Bratislava Security Forum focused heavily on the war in Ukraine, overcoming global tensions. Some 1,300 guests – premiers, presidents, ministers, leaders of institutions – from 63 countries arrived.
Though now considered one of the biggest security conferences in the world, the Globsec forum originated as an idea by a few students in 2005, the year after Slovakia joined NATO and the European Union.
"At the time, many politicians thought that all big decisions were made in Brussels, and that Slovakia had no voice and had to be part of some bigger group," says Globsec President Robert Vass.
"As young people, we were having none of that. We wanted to show that even a small country has what it takes to form a global or international discussion. Maybe we were a little bit naive back then, as evidenced by the name—GLObal SECurity. But we were consistent, always tried to include a wider community and institutions," Vass recollects, adding that the diplomats they surrounded themselves with saw their spark and decided to ignite it.
What started in the Congress Hall of the Slovak Foreign Affairs Ministry became the third-biggest security conference in Europe. The conference is an expression of what Slovakia wants to be, the values it believes in, and the important global topics it can address and help solve.
This year's edition was prepared during an unstable internal political situation, division in society, as well as the war in Ukraine. Dozens of discussions took place to discover how to overcome all the challenges ahead.
Many of the debates were devoted to the ongoing support of Ukraine—how to approach its post-war reconstruction, the size of the conflict’s consequences, how to prosecute war crimes, and the future of Ukraine in Euro-Atlantic structures. Others focused on climate change as well as democracy, the dangers of populism, and challenges in the form of AI and technology.
French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer, and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, are just a few names among many.
The Globsec forum is not just a security conference where political elites come to shake hands. Cooperation in the fields of technology, economy, healthcare and sustainability are negotiated behind closed doors. The forum also shows that the Central and Eastern European region is key to securing global stability.
Decisions on truly global challenges ahead of us are being made in Bratislava.
Photos: GLOBSEC
