25th Foreign Policy Conference

Populist authoritarians have recast themselves as champions of peace. Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán, Robert Fico, and others argue that standing up to aggressors only prolongs conflict – they’re wrong. 

The fall of Assad opened a new chapter in Syria, but rushed dialogue, stalled talks, and elite-led politics risk keeping peace out of reach. Lasting stability depends on a national dialogue that gives Syrians real ownership of their future.

Is Europe ready for the era of hybrid warfare? To defend against hybrid attacks, we must urgently build civil preparedness and societal resilience. When updating security assets, we must not only invest in hardware and software but also in 'wetware'.

A potential U.S. force posture reduction in Europe will leave the continent vulnerable to further Russian aggression. Europe needs a bold action plan to mitigate capability gaps and ensure deterrence of Russia with limited U.S. involvement.

Hybrid threats, rooted in authoritarian uses of technology, cause everyday harm. Collective resilience requires dismantling their ecosystems through reconceptualising these threats, comprehensive countermeasures, and cross-regional cooperation.

Today's preference for ceasefires over settlements reflects a loss of confidence in achieving lasting peace. However, inclusive mediation, backed by political will, can transform even intractable conflicts. The Horn of Africa is a key front in this struggle.

The Global Unit for Human Security addresses the concept of human security and develops it beyond a mere analytical tool. The aim is to develop a progressive framework for intersectional, human-centric and justice-oriented security policy making.