2025 Edition of the Black Sea and Balkans Security Conference

The "Black Sea and Balkans Security Forum," organized by New Strategy Center, will take place on May 22-23, 2025, in Bucharest at the InterContinental Athénée Palace. This event, dedicated to defense, security, and international relations issues concerning the Black Sea and Balkan regions, is held in partnership with the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest.

The forum is set to be one of the most significant events focusing on security in the Black Sea area, featuring an ambitious agenda that includes 50 panels and 198 speakers. Participants will include renowned officials, diplomats, military leaders, and analysts from EU member states, NATO, and partner countries. The discussions will revolve around four main themes:

1. Transatlantic Relations and U.S. Military Presence: Re-evaluating the U.S. military presence in Europe and the Black Sea region.
2. Peace Negotiations for Ukraine: Addressing ongoing negotiations for a peace agreement in Ukraine and strategies to prevent further Russian aggression, particularly threats near the Danube and Romania’s border.
3. Russia’s Intentions: Examining Russia’s real intentions in Ukraine’s peace negotiations and the kind of Russian state the region can expect—whether aggressive or conciliatory.
4. Support for Moldova: Ensuring continued support for Moldova’s path toward European Union integration amidst Russia’s hybrid warfare.

Panels will also explore lessons learned from the Ukrainian front regarding military arts, security challenges in the Balkans, energy security, cognitive warfare, disinformation, and the use of disruptive technologies.

Prominent speakers include former NATO commanders like General (ret.) Phillip Breedlove and General (ret.) Mike Scaparrotti, as well as Russian opposition leaders Mikhail Kasyanov and Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Ukrainian resistance heroes who will share insights from their experiences during the Russian occupation or in captivity.

The forum aims to advocate for security and prosperity in the Black Sea and Balkans, promoting trade, connectivity, and energy resource exploitation. For a complete program of the conference, attendees are encouraged to visit the official website.