GLOBSEC begins in Bratislava

GLOBSEC, an annual transatlantic security conference, is taking place in Bratislava, Slovakia, on May 14-16.

Live stream GLOBSEC here

This year’s conference is held at a time of one of the most serious global security challenges since the end of the Cold War: the Ukrainian crisis. Turbulent events in Ukraine and Crimea have shaped the agenda that will dominate GLOBSEC. Participants will discuss the implications of the crisis for Central Europe and the broader transatlantic community.

High-profile participants are experts in a diverse range of fields at this year’s conference. They include: Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden since 2006; Julian Borger, Pulitzer Prize winning Guardian Journalist; Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary; Timothy Snyder, author of six award-winning books including “Bloodlands”; and Edward Lucas, longstanding International Editor at The Economist and author of "Deception", a book about Russian espionage.

Guests representing the Baltics include: HE Linas Linkeviciis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania; and HE Edgars Rinkevics, Minster of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.

GLOBSEC has put Central Europe on the map of transatlantic thinking. The regional dimension of the Forum is emphasized by the participation of highest level decision - makers from the Visegrad Group and wider Central European region alongside their Euro-Atlantic partners. GLOBSEC moves the region from the periphery to the core of transatlantic policy shaping, giving Central Europe a respected voice in the creation of the transatlantic agenda.

Founded in 2005, the GLOBSEC Bratislava Global Forum has grown from a student initiative into the premiere forum on foreign policy, economy and security in Central Europe in the World.

Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, will deliver a keynote speech at the GLOBSEC. Secretary General of NATO will focus on priorities of the autumn NATO Summit in Cardiff and the future of NATO after the summit.