10.00 – 1o.15 Panel I. Official opening
(Plenary – open session – press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomat” Venue]
Mr. Ionel NIȚU, President, New Strategy Center, Romania & Mr. Teodor TRAȘCĂ, Vice-Rector, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV), Romania
10:15 – 11:15 Panel IIa. Future American Military Footprint in Europe and NATO. From Conventional Posture to Nuclear Umbrella
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Radu TUDOR, Journalist, Antena 3 CNN TV, Romania
- The Honorable Mike TURNER, Senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, USA (video message)
- General (Ret.) Philip M. BREEDLOVE, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, USA
- General (Ret.) Curtis SCAPARROTTI, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, USA
- General (Ret.) Sir James EVERARD, Honorary Chairman of International Consultative Board of New Strategy Center, former DSACEUR, UK
- Mr. Ian BRZEZINSKI, Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative, Atlantic Council, USA
10:15 – 11:15 Panel IIb. Ensuring Economic Prosperity in a Global Polycrisis– in partnership with Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, USA
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Ms. Deborah WINCE-SMITH, President, Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, USA
- Mr. Lulzim BASHA, former Mayor of Tirana (2011-2015), Albania (via VTC)
- Mr. Kalin PESHOV, CEO of GBS Holdings, Bulgaria
- Mr. Hippolyte FOFACK, Research Associate, Harvard University, USA
- Mr. Alexandru REFF, Managing Partner at Deloitte Romania & Moldova, Romania
- Mr. Igor BURAKOVSKY, Head of Board, The Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, Ukraine
11:15- 11:25 Break
11:25 – 12:30 Panel IIIa. Peace in Ukraine, but at What Price?– in partnership with Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), USA
(Open session – press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Edward LUCAS, Non-resident Senior Fellow and Senior Advisor, Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), UK
- Mr. Vadym HALAICHUK, First Deputy Chairperson, Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union, Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine
- Mr. James CARAFANO, Senior Counselor to the President and E.W. Richardson Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, USA
- Mr. Bobo LO, Independent analyst on international relations, Australia
- Mr. François HEISBOURG, Special Advisor, Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS), France
- Ambassador Tacan ILDEM, Chairman, Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM), Türkiye
11:25 – 12:30 Panel IIIb. The Black Sea Energy Potential: Opportunities and Challenges – in partnership with Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM), Türkiye
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Adrian MĂNIUȚIU, Journalist, Romania
- H.E. Sebastian BURDUJA, Minister of Energy, Romania
- Mr. Mitat ÇELIKPALA, Dean, Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences, Kadir Has University, Türkiye
- Mr. Alexandru MAXIMESCU, Vice President, OMV Petrom, Romania
- Mr. Ion STERIAN, CEO, Transgaz, Romania
11:25 – 12:30 Panel IIIc. Russia’s Cognitive Warfare Against the Democratic World. How to Achieve Better Deterrence? – in partnership with the Council on Geostrategy, UK
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Danube” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: Ms. Ileana ROTARU, Senior associate expert, New Strategy Center, Professor, West University of Timisoara, Romania
- Ms. Ana REVENCO, Head of Centre for Strategic Communication and Countering Disinformation, former Minister of Internal Affairs, Republic of Moldova
- Mr. James ROGERS, Co-founder & Director of Research, Council on Geostrategy, UK
- Ms. Alina BÂRGĂOANU, Senior Associate Expert of New Strategy Center, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations, SNSPA, Romania
- Mr. Sascha FAHRBACH, International Technology and European Affairs Journalist, Poland
- Ambassador Shota GVINERIA, Faculty Member, Defense studies and Cyber Policy, Baltic Defence College, Georgia
- Mr. Tal PAVEL, Founder & Director at CyBureau – The Institute for Cyber Policy Studies, Israel
11:25 – 12:30 Panel IIId. Fewer Promises, More Ammunition! Is NATO’s Defense Industry Prepared to Meet the Demand?
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: MG (Ret.) Paul HURMUZ, Senior associate expert, New Strategy Center, former Deputy of the State Secretary and Chief of the Defence Policy and Planning Department in the Ministry of National Defence
- Mr. Emmanuel DUPUY, President, Institute for European Perspective and Security, France
- Mr. William WELLS, Senior Advisor, Rothschild &Co, UK
- Mr. Adrian IACOB, Executive Director, Lockheed Martin Global Inc. Bucharest, Romania
- Mr. Cristian SFICHI, Country Director, Thales Romania
12.30 – 12.40 Break
12:40 – 13:50 Panel IVa. Dark Clouds over Europe. Is NATO Ready for a Confrontation with Russia? – in partnership with LSE Ideas, UK
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Peter WATKINS, Visiting Senior Fellow, LSE Ideas, UK
- Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben HODGES, Member of the International Consultative Board of the New Strategy Center, former Commander of US Army Europe, USA
- The Rt Hon Sir Michael FALLON, former Defence Secretary, UK
- Ambassador Mihnea MOTOC, former Minister of Defence, Romania
- Dr. Tomasz SMURA, Board Member of Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Director of the Defence Track, Warsaw Security Forum, Poland
12:40 – 13:50 Panel IVb. Lessons in Security and Diplomacy from Mediterranean theatre as relevant to the Black Sea region – in partnership with Institute for European Perspective and Security, France
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Emmanuel DUPUY, President, Institute for European Perspective and Security, France
- Mr. Hassane SAOUDI, Associate researcher, Royal Institute for Strategic Studies, Morocco
- Ambassador Tacan ILDEM, Chairman, Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM), Türkiye
- Mr. Mohamed EL ORABI, President of the Egyptian Council on Foreign Affairs, Egypt
- Mr. Symeon TSOMOKOS, Founder and President of Delphi Economic Forum, Greece
12:40 – 13:50 Panel IVc. Fighting Russian Aggression in Ukraine. Lessons Learned from Special Operations Forces
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: Col. (Ret.) Emilian BELEAGĂ, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania
- Major General Claudiu DOBOCAN, Chief of Special Operations Forces, Romania
- COL Rivo MEIMER, Commander, Special Operations Forces, Estonia
13.50 – 15.20 Lunch
15:20 – 16:15 Panel Va. “Three Years of War. The Real Face of “Russkiy Mir”– in partnership with Yalta European Strategy, Ukraine
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Ms. Teodora TOMPEA, Journalist, DIGI 24 TV Channel, Romania
- Ms. Marharyta CHELAKOVA, Senior manager, Yalta European Strategy, Ukraine
- Ms. Yuliia PAIEVSKA, paramedic, captured in 2022 by Russian forces, Ukraine
- Ms. Olha TSILYNKO, volunteer from Kherson, Director, The Sophia Family Rehabilitation Center, Ukraine
- Mr. Yevhen MEZHEVYI, former soldier of Ukrainian Army saved from Russian captivity, dad of three children who were deported to Russia, Ukraine
15:20 – 16:15 Panel Vb. Are we ready to receive more NATO troops on the Eastern Flank? Host Nation Support and Challenges for the Infrastructure
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Lieutenant General (ret.) Vasile TOADER, Member of Scientific Council of New Strategy Center, former Military Representative to NATO & EU, Romania
- General (Ret.) Sir James EVERARD, Honorary Chairman of International Consultative Board of New Strategy Center, former DSACEUR, UK
- Lieutenant General Dragoș IACOB, Deputy Chief of Defence, Romania
- Major General Karol DYMANOWSKI, Deputy Chief of Defence, Poland
- Mr. Cătălin PODARU, CEO, Leviatan Design, Romania
15:20 – 16:45 Panel Vc. Thanks for Tanks! Lessons Learned from the Ukrainian Front in the Land Domain – in partnership with New Geopolitics Research Network, Ukraine
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: Brigadier General (Ret.) Eduard SIMION, Senior Associate Expert, New strategy Center, Romania
- Lieutenant General Ciprian MARIN, Chief of the Land Forces, Romania
- Lieutenant General (Ret.) Stuart SKEATES, former Deputy Commander of JFC Brunssum, UK
- Brigadier General Jared D. BORDWELL, Deputy Commander, 1st Armored Division, USA
- Mr. Michael L. REESE, Senior Manager, Attack Helicopters Business Development, Boeing Defense, Space and Security, USA
- Mr. Akif AKFERT, Military Vehicles Engineering Group Director, Otokar, Türkiye
- Mr. Peter BAE, CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Romania / Head of Europe, Hanwha Aerospace, South Korea
16.15 – 16.25 Break
16:25 – 16:45 Panel VIa. Europe and the Peace Process in Ukraine: The Impact on Black Sea Security
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Ambassador Mihnea MOTOC, former Minister of Defence, Romania in a dialogue with H.E. Benjamin HADDAD, Minister Delegate for European Affairs, France (via VTC)
16:45 – 17:30 Panel VIa1. How Will the Peace Negotiations in Ukraine Influence the fate of the Putin Regime? The Russian Economy and Society after 3 Years of War – in partnership with the West University of Timisoara, Romania
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Ms. Antonia COLIBĂȘANU, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center & Analyst, Geopolitical Futures in a dialogue with H.E. Mikhail KASYANOV, Russian opposition politician, former Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (2000-2004)
16:25 – 17:30 Panel VIb. Rebuilding the Economy, the Biggest Challenge for Ukraine’s Stability – in partnership with SEW UW – Centre for East European Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Adam EBERHARDT, Deputy Director, SEW UW – Centre for East European Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland
- Mr. Radu OPREA, Special Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Romania
- Ms. Yulia SIRKO, First Deputy Head of Transport & Infrastructure Committee at Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine
- Mr. Davide LA CECILIA, Special Envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy (via VTC)
- Mr. Bogdan ZAWADEWICZ, Director of the Geopolitical Risk Analysis Office, BGK Bank, Poland
- Mr. Bogdan CERNESCU, Managing Director, Head of Corporate Banking, Romanian Commercial Bank – BCR, Romania
16:25 – 17:30 Panel VIc. Prospects for Mineral Diplomacy as an Environmental Peacebuilding approach in the Black Sea Region
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Danube” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: Mrs. Wajiha HARIS, President, Scheherazade Foundation
- Mr. Saleem H. ALI, Chair and Distinguished Professor of Geography at the University of Delaware (via VTC)
- Mr. Carl BRUCH, Director of International Programs, Environmental Law Institute (ELI), USA (via VTC)
- Mr. Volodymyr TSABAL, Member of the Parliament of Ukraine
- Mr. Emilian DOBRESCU, Titular Member of Romanian Academy of Scientists, Romania
16:25 – 17:45 Panel VId. Crisis Across the Atlantic: Can Europe Handle This? – in partnership with GLOBSEC, Slovakia
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Mozart” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben HODGES, Member of the International Consultative Board of the New Strategy Center, former Commander of US Army Europe, USA
- General (ret.) Philip BREEDLOVE, 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Command Allied Operations, Member of the GLOBSEC’s Future Security and Defence Council, USA
- Lieutenant General Iulian BERDILĂ, Deputy Chief of Defence for Operations and Training, Romania
- Mr. Marcin ZABOROWSKI, Senior Fellow, GLOBSEC, Slovakia
- Ms. Nicole KOENIG, Head of Policy, Munich Security Conference Foundation, Germany
17.30 – 17.40 Break
17:40 – 18:40 Panel VIIa. Churchill or Chamberlain? A Fair Peace for Ukraine or a New Munich Agreement? – in partnership with Foreign Policy Research Institute, USA
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Robert E. HAMILTON, Head of Eurasia Research, Foreign Policy Research Institute, US Army War College, USA
- Ms. Yulia SIRKO, First Deputy Head of Transport & Infrastructure Committee at Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine
- Mrs. Simona COJOCARU, Defence Policy Director, Ministry of National Defence, Romania
- Lieutenant General (Ret.) Tomasz PIOTROWSKI, former Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces, Poland
- Mr. Ian BRZEZINSKI, Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative, Atlantic Council, USA
17:40 – 18:40 Panel VIIb. No Security Without Energy. Projects for Improved Resilience in Black Sea and Aegean Sea – in partnership with Delphi Economic Forum, Greece
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Laurențiu PACHIU, Senior associate expert New Strategy Center, Vice President Energy Policy Group, Romania
- Mr. Lóránt ANTAL, Chairman of the Energy Committee, Senate, Romania
- Mr. Symeon TSOMOKOS, Founder and President of Delphi Economic Forum, Greece
- Mr. Gabriel ANDRONACHE, Vice President, Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE), Romania
- Mr. Alessio MENEGAZZO, CEO & Country Manager. of PPC Group, Romania
- Mr. Ondrej SAFAR, Country Manager, EVRYO Group, Romania
17:40 – 18:40 Panel VIIc. Global Disorder as a Creation of Autocratic Regimes
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Danube” Venue]
Chair: Ambassador Doru COSTEA, member of the Scientific Council of the New Strategy Center, former State Secretary for Global Affairs, Romania
- Mr. Chris ALDEN, Director, LSE Ideas, UK
- Mr. Bobo LO, Independent analyst on international relations, Australia
- Mr. Matthew BOYSE, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, former Deputy Assistant Secretary responsible for Central Europe at the State Department, USA
- Mr. Tomoyuki YOSHIDA, Chief Executive Director, The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), Japan
17:40 – 18:40 Panel VIId. The Battle for the Arctic and the Implications for the Global Order
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: Ms. Cristina CILEACU, Journalist, DIGI 24 TV Station, Romania
- Mr. Karsten FRIIS, Research Professor, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Norway (via VTC)
- Mr. Seth CROPSEY, President, Yorktown Institute, USA
- Mr. Lars HEDSTRÖM, Director, Strategic Implications and Innovations Centre, Swedish Defence University, Sweden
- Mr. Peter WATKINS, Visiting Senior Fellow, LSE Ideas, UK
18.40 – 18.50 Break
19:00 – 19:30 Panel VIIIa. Post-War Challenges for Border Security
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Mr. Ion Ioniță, Senior editor Adevărul, editor-in-chief, Historia, Defense Romania in a dialogue with H.E. Daniella MISAIL-NICHITIN, Minister of Internal Affairs, Republic of Moldova
18:50 – 19:40 Panel VIIIb. Critical Offshore Energy Infrastructure versus Hybrid Threats. How can we improve resilience?
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Tudor CURTIFAN, Editor-in-chief, Defense Romania, Romania
- Mr. Alexander PROELSS, Chair of International Maritime Law and Environmental Law, Public International Law and Public Law, University of Hamburg, Germany
- Mr. James ROGERS, Co-founder & Director of Research, Council on Geostrategy, UK
- Mr. Daniel DINU, Environmental & Regulatory Compliance Department Manager NEPTUN DEEP PROJECT – OMV PETROM, Romania
- Mr. Yordan BOZHILOV, President, Sofia Security Forum, Bulgaria
- Mr. Sergiu MITRESCU, Program Director, New Strategy Center, Romania
19.30 – 20.30 Cocktail
20:30 – 21:15 Night Owl Session (Panel IX). A Light Discussion on Tough Topics. Putin and Putinism, Kremlin’s Militarism and Ideology– in partnership with Caucasus Institute, Armenia
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Ms. Maia OTARASHVILI, Eurasia Program Director, Foreign Policy Research Institute, USA
- Mr. Andrei ILLARIONOV, senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy in Washington DC, and former economic adviser to President Vladimir Putin (2000-2005) (via VTC)
- Mr. Alexander ISKANDARYAN, Director, Caucasus Institute, Armenia
09:00 – 09.50 Panel X. The Battle for the Black Sea Is Not Over. Current and Possible New Threats – in partnership with Sofia Security Forum, Bulgaria
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Mr. George SCUTARU, CEO, New Strategy Center, Romania & Mr. Yordan BOZHILOV, President, Sofia Security Forum, Bulgaria
- H.E. Angel TÎLVĂR, Minister of National Defence, Romania
- H.E. Atanas ZAPRYANOV, Minister of Defence, Bulgaria
- H.E. Anatolie NOSATÎI, Minister of Defence, Republic of Moldova
- H.E. Şuay ALPAY, Deputy Minister of Defence, Türkiye
09.50-10.00 Break
10:00 – 10:50 Panel XIa. Europe at the Crossroads! More Strategic Autonomy or Closer Transatlantic Partnership? – in partnership with Elcano Royal Institute, Spain
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Radu TUDOR, Journalist, Antena 3 CNN TV, Romania
- Mr. Charles POWELL, Director of the Elcano Royal Institute, Spain
- Mr. Leonard ORBAN, Member of the Scientific Council of New Strategy Center, former Presidential Advisor on European Affairs, former EU Commissioner, Romania
- Mr. François HEISBOURG, Special Advisor, Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS), France
- Mr. Yordan BOZHILOV, President, Sofia Security Forum, Bulgaria
10:00 – 10:50 Panel XIb. Societal Resilience in War Time. Preparing People in Europe for Defence – in partnership with the Swedish Defence University
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Robert LUPIȚU, editor-in-chief, Calea Europeană, Romania
- Brigadier General Marius DOGEANU, Head of the Directorate General for Civil Protection, Department for Emergency Situations, Romania
- Mr. Lars HEDSTRÖM, Director, Strategic Implications and Innovations Centre, Swedish Defence University, Sweden
- Ms. Olga REZNIKOVA, Researcher, National Institute for Strategic Studies, Ukraine
- Ms. Cordelia BUCHANAN PONCZEK, Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), Finland
- Lieutenant General (Ret.) Tomasz PIOTROWSKI, former Operational Commander of the Polish Armed Forces, Poland
10:00 – 10:50 Panel XIc. Military Mobility and Infrastructure in Wartime
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Danube” Venue]
Chair: Lieutenant General (Ret.) Ben HODGES, Member of the International Advisory Board of the New Strategy Center, former Commander of US Army Europe, USA
- Lieutenant General Dragoș IACOB, Deputy Chief of Defence, Romania
- Mr. Ionel SCRIOȘTEANU, State Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Romania
- Mr. Wojciech KONOŃCZUK, Director, Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), Poland
- Mr. Arthur KENIGSBERG, President, Euro Créative, France
10:00 – 10:50 Panel XId. Robots, Drones, Satellites. What Will War Look Like in the Future?
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: Mr. Marcel FOCA, Senior Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania
- Rear Admiral Louis TILLIER, Director, European Union Satellite Centre, France
- Lieutenant General Iulian BERDILĂ, Deputy Chief of Defence for Operations and Training, Romania
- Mr. Zbigniew PIEC, ISD Director for Central and Eastern Europe General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, USA
- Mr. Ethan THORNTON, Founder and CEO, MACH Industries, USA
- Mr. Steve ROWLAND, Head of Sales Secure Connectivity, AIRBUS UK
10.50-11.00 Break
11.00 – 12.00 Panel XIIa. How is AI Changing the Security Landscape? New Challenges for Strategic Thinking
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Le Diplomat” Venue]
Chair: Brigadier General (Ret.) Hans DAMEN, Member of the International Consultative Board of New Strategy Center, The Netherlands
- General (Ret.) Philip M. BREEDLOVE, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, USA
- Mr. Andriy SIRKO-GALOUCHENKO, expert on UAV development for military applications, founder of the Ukranina UAV Forum, Ukraine
- Major General Marius PATRICHE, Deputy Director, General Directorate for Internal Security, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Romania
- Air Vice-Marshal (Retd) Mike HART, Senior Director for Defense, Intelligence, and NATO, Oracle UK
- Mr. Oscar ROJAS, Vice President for Global Operations, Ocean Aero, USA
11:00 – 12:00 Panel XIIb. Weaponization of Food. The Importance of the Black Sea Region for Global Supply – in partnership with University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Romania
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Teodor TRAȘCĂ, Vice-Rector, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV), Romania
- Mr. Igor BURAKOVSKY, Head of the Board, The Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, Ukraine
- Mr. Nkem KHUMBAH, Chairman, Africa Development Futures Group Canton, Michigan and Nairobi, Kenya
- Mr. Nigel SCOLLAN, Queen’s University of Belfast, Institute of Global Food Security, UK
11:00 – 12:00 Panel XIIc. Why the Danube Matters? The Danube’s Key Role in European and NATO Efforts to Keep Black Sea Free and Open – in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Germany
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Danube” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: Ms. Cristina CILEACU, Journalist, DIGI 24 TV Station, Romania
- Ms. Antonia COLIBĂȘANU, Senior Associate Expert, New Strategy Center & Analyst, Geopolitical Futures
- Mrs. Yulia SIRKO, First Deputy Head of Transport & Infrastructure Committee at Verhovna Rada, Ukraine
- Mr. Wilfried JILGE, Senior Adviser Ukraine and wider Black Sea, Stabilisation Platform, Germany (via VTC)
- Mr. Istvan KISS, Executive Director, Danube Institute, Hungary
- Final Remarks: Ms. Katja PLATE, Head of the KAS Offices Romania, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Germany
11.00 – 12.00 Panel XIId. Transnistria: Successful Reintegration or a New Kaliningrad? – in partnership with Institute for European Policies and Reforms, Republic of Moldova
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Black Sea” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Iulian GROZA, Executive Director, Institute for European Policies and Reforms, Republic of Moldova
- H.E. Igor GROSU, President, Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
- Ambassador Michaël ROUX, Ambassador for the Eastern Partnership and Black Sea, France
- Ambassador Cristian DIACONESCU, National Security Advisor to the President, Romania
- Mr. Vadym HALAICHUK, First Deputy Chairperson, Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the European Union, Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine
- Mr. Adam EBERHARDT, Deputy Director, SEW UW – Centre for East European Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland
12.00-12.10 Break
12.10 – 12.30 Panel XIII. Republic of Moldova and Russia’s Hybrid Warfare. David and Goliath of our Times
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Ambassador Mihnea MOTOC, former Minister of Defence, Romania in a dialogue with H.E. Igor GROSU, President, Parliament of the Republic of Moldova
12.30-12.40 Break
12:40 – 13:30 Panel XIVa. Committing for Free and Open Seas on the Eastern Flank of NATO and EU – in partnership with Atlantic Council, USA
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Ambassador Sorin DUCARU, Honorary Chairman of the Scientific Council, New Strategy Center, Romania
- H.E. Georg GEORGIEV, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria (video message)
- H.E. Mihai POPȘOI, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Moldova
- Ms. Ana TINCA, State Secretary for Strategic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania
- Mr. Ian BRZEZINSKI, Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative, Atlantic Council, USA
12:10 – 13:30 Panel XIVb. Building a NATO A2/AD Umbrella for the Black Sea – in partnership with „Carol I” National Defence University, Romania
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair:Lieutenant General (ret.) Viorel PANĂ, Senior associate expert, New Strategy Center, former Chief of Air Forces, Romania
- Air Flotilla General Dr. Ioan MISCHIE, Deputy for Operations and Training of the Chief of the Air Force Staff, Romania
- Major General Ireneusz NOWAK, Inspector, Air Force, Poland
- Major General Eugen MAVRIȘ, Rector, „Carol I” National Defence University, Romania
13.30-13.40 Break
13:40 – 14:30 Panel XVa. From Asia to Europe. Corridors, Wars, and Great Powers Competition – in partnership with The Heritage Foundation, USA
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Silviu NATE, Director of the Center for Global Studies at the University of Sibiu, Romania
- Mr. James CARAFANO, Senior Counselor to the President and E.W. Richardson Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, USA
- Ambassador Fatih CEYLAN, President, Ankara Policy Center, Türkiye
- Mr. Dorin IONIȚĂ – Senior Advisor to the President, GRAMPET Group
- Mr. Kaush ARHA, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council, former Senior Advisor on Strategic Engagement, United States Agency for International Development, USA
- Mr. Anuar BURANBAYEV, Partner, Center for Research and Consulting, Kazakhstan
- Mr. Tomoyuki YOSHIDA, Chief Executive Director, The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), Japan
13:40 – 14:30 Panel XVb. All Quiet on the Western Balkans Front. Or Not? – in partnership with Atlantic Initiative, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Ambassador Gheorghe MAGHERU, member of the Scientific Council of New Strategy Center, Romania
- Mrs. Luminița ODOBESCU, Presidential Advisor for EU Affairs, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania
- Ms. Edina BEĆIREVIĆ, Co-founder, Atlantic Initiative, Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Mr. Vuk VUKSANOVIĆ, Senior Researcher, Belgrade Center for Security Policy, Serbia
- Ms. Nevenka VUKSANOVIĆ, Director, Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, Montenegro
- Mr. François LAFOND, Member, ECFR Western Balkans Strategy Group, France
13:40 – 14:30 Panel XVc. Cyber Space (In)Security in the Context of the War in Ukraine
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –” Black Sea” Venue – 1st floor]
Chair: Brigadier General (Ret.) Hans DAMEN, Member of the International Consultative Board of New Strategy Center, The Netherlands
- H.E. Bogdan Gruia IVAN, Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Romania (tbc)
- Ms. Alina URS, Senior Cyber Security Manager, National Cyber Security Directorate, Romania
- Mr. Florin PANĂ, Head of Analysis Directorate, CyberInt Centre, Romanian Intelligence Service, Romania
- Mr. Nicolae VÂLCEANU, Network Director, Vodafone Romania
- Mr. Daniel IONIȚĂ, Cyber Security Manager, Cymed/Infoworld, Romania
- Mr. Costică POSTOLACHE, Deputy General Director for Business Development, Interactive Romania
14.30 – 15.50 Lunch
15:50 – 16:40 Panel XVIa. US and NATO. Stronger Together or Farewell Meeting? – in partnership with Warsaw Security Forum, Poland
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Dr. Tomasz SMURA, Board Member of Casimir Pulaski Foundation, Director of the Defence Track, Warsaw Security Forum, Poland
- Ms. Nicole KOENIG, Head of Policy, Munich Security Conference Foundation, Germany
- Lieutenant General Eric PELTIER, Deputy Director, General Directorate of International Relations and Strategy, Ministry of Armed Forces, France
- Mr. James CARAFANO, Senior Counselor to the President and E.W. Richardson Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, USA
- Mr. Charles POWELL, Director of the Elcano Royal Institute, Spain
- Mr. Rob de WIJK, Founder, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, The Netherlands
15:50 – 16:40 Panel XVIb. Weaponization of Migration. A New Face of Russian Hybrid Warfare – in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Germany & Institute for Liberty and Democracy, Romania
(Open access, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Cristian DAVID, Chairman of the Institute for Freedom and Democracy, Member of the Romanian Consultative Council for Sustainable Development and Adviser at the European Parliament, Romania
- Mr. Oleksiy GONCHARENKO, President of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine (via VTC)
- Mr. Michael LINK, European and Transatlantic Affairs, Friedrich Naumann Stiftung, Germany
- Mr. Emmanuel DUPUY, President, Institute for European Perspective and Security, France
- Mr. Aleksander OLECH, Head of International Cooperation, Defence24, Poland
15:50 – 16:40 Panel XVIc. Cognitive Warfare in the New AI Era
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Black Sea” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Răzvan BOLOGA, Professor at the Computer Science Department of the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania
- Ms. Mihaela NICOLA, Member of Scientific Council, New Strategy Center, Romania
- Mr. Andrei NICULAE, Vice President, The Romanian Digitalization Authority, Romania
- Mr. Michael MIKLAUCIC, Senior Fellow, Irregular Warfare Center, USA
16:40 – 16:50 Break
16:50 – 17:50 Panel XVIIa. What Will Russia Look Like After the End of the War in Ukraine
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Le Diplomate” Venue]
Mr. Cosmin IONIȚĂ, Lecturer, Faculty of History, University of Bucharest, Romania in a dialogue with Mr. Vladimir KARA-MURZA, Vice President, Free Russia
16:50 – 17:50 Panel XVIIb. From the Baltic to the Black Sea. Maintaining Freedom of Navigation in the Context of the Russian War in Ukraine? – in partnership with Hudson Institute, USA
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Matthew BOYSE, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, former Deputy Assistant Secretary responsible for Central Europe at the State Department, USA
- Admiral (Ret.) Ihor KABANENKO, former Deputy Minister of Defence, Ukraine
- Vice Admiral Mihai PANAIT, Chief of Naval Forces, Romania
- Mr. Seth CROPSEY, President, Yorktown Institute, USA
17:50 – 18:05 Launching the Transatlantic Periscope Project – in partnership with Bertelsmann Foundation, USA
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Regina Maria” Venue]
Chair: Ms. Dilara KAKILLIOGLU, Coordinator of Research Department, New Strategy Center, Romania
- Ms. Courtney FLYNN MARTINO, Assistant Director of Transatlantic Relations, Bertelsmann Foundation, USA (via VTC)
- Ms. Ileana ROTARU, Senior associate expert, New Strategy Center, professor, West University of Timisoara, Romania
16:50 – 17:50 Panel XVIIc. Security Dynamics in the Black Sea: Implications for Regional and Global Security Architecture – in partnership with The Institute for Political Studies of Defense and Military History (ISPAIM), Romania
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – ”Danube” Venue]
Chair: Ms. Carmen RÎJNOVEANU, Director, The Institute for Political Studies of Defense and Military History (ISPAIM), Romania
- Ambassador Michaël ROUX, Ambassador for the Eastern Partnership and Black Sea, France
- Ambassador Lazăr COMĂNESCU, Secretary General, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, Romania
- Mr. Mykhailo SAMUS, non-resident Senior Expert, New Strategy Center, Romania; Director, New Geopolitics Research Network, Ukraine (via VTC)
- Ms. Carlota GARCIA ENCINA, Senior analyst, Elcano Royal Institute, Spain
16:50 – 17:50 Panel XVIId. Does nuclear deterrence still work? Interpreting the Kremlin’s Signals: Blackmail, Bluff or Real Intent – in partnership with New Generation Warfare Centre, USA
(Restricted access, by invitation only)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace – “Black Sea” Venue]
Chair: Mr. Greg MELCHER, Chief Operations Officer, New Generation Warfare Centre, USA
- Mr. Jim STOKES, NATO Director of Nuclear Policy, USA
- Lieutenant General Eric PELTIER, Deputy Director, General Directorate of International Relations and Strategy, Ministry of Armed Forces, France
- Mr. Phillip PETERSEN, Chairman, New Generation Warfare Centre, USA
- The Rt Hon Sir Michael FALLON, former Defence Secretary, UK
17:50 – 18:10 Break
18:10 – 19:20 Panel XVIII. One Front, One Vision, One Strategy!
(Open session, press access)
[InterContinental Athénée Palace –“Le Diplomate” Venue]
Chair: Lieutenant General (ret.) Ben HODGES, Member of the International Advisory Board of the New Strategy Center, former Commander of US Army Europe, USA
- General Gheorghiță VLAD, Chief of Defence, Romania
- General Thierry BURKHARD, Chief of Defence, France (video message)
- Brigadier General Vitalie MICOV, Chief of Defence, Moldova
- General (Ret.) Philip M. BREEDLOVE, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, USA
19:20 – 19:30 Closing remarks:
- Mr. George SCUTARU, CEO, New Strategy Center, Romania
- Ambassador Nicolas WARNERY, Ambassador of France to Romania, representative of BSBSF 2025 Country Partner
Note – Simultaneous translation into English and Romanian is available.
*VTC – video teleconferencing
