MSC 2024 High-Level Dinner

Chatham House Rules-Based Discussion on Key Issues for Transatlantic Security

• Ramping up European defence capabilities in the face of the mounting global and regional threats;
• Emerging leadership and role of Central and Eastern Europe in the changing European security architecture;
• Ensuring European military and financial support to Ukraine in the face of Donald Trump’s reelection in 2024 and U-turn in the US foreign policy;
• Upcoming 2024 NATO anniversary summit in Washington: what is next for the Allies and Ukraine’s bid to get the membership;
• Confiscation of Russian frozen assets and their transfer to Ukraine.

Key Conclusions from the Closed-Door Discussion

• Solidarity among the NATO states plays a fundamental role in our resilience. Despite the possessed technological superiority, our political statements undermine our capabilities. While we should strengthen the European pillar of NATO, the role of the non-NATO partners is indispensable for our security.
• The lack of a common vision on the issue of Russian frozen assets is still prevailing. Arguments of economic nature are raised. It is feared that this might have a negative impact on the European economy.
• It is the right moment to start taking Putin’s intentions seriously as the threat that his regime poses to the West is real.
• Ukraine needs to be guaranteed a long-term financial and military support to be able to repel the Russian aggression;
• We are witnessing epochal changes, which require us to think and act in new ways. It is crucial to convey a clear message to the Western countries’ electorate that the Russian threat is imminent and we cannot afford to downplay it.