Programme 2012

ABCD 2012

European Security and Defence at a Strategic Crossroads

To see a short biography of a speaker, please click on the name (some links lead to the external websites – Estonian MoD, Estonian Defence Forces, ICDS and United Armaments International Ltd.)  

Wednesday, September 19

 20:00 Welcome reception hosted by Ambassador Matthew J. Bryza, Director of ICDS

Welcome speech by Urmas Reinsalu, Minister of Defence, Estonia

Thursday, September 20

 9:00-9:30 Registration of participants
 9:30-10:40 Opening session

Introductory remarks by Tony Lawrence, Senior Researcher, ICDS, Estonia

Opening words by Urmas Reinsalu, Minister of Defence, Estonia

 Keynote speeches by 

Admiral James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO Headquarters Allied Command Operations, and Commander, US European Command

and 

Rt. Hon. Liam Fox, Member of Parliament and former Secretary of State for Defence, UK

Discussion with the keynote speakers, moderated by  Sven Sakkov, Undersecretary for Defence Policy, Ministry of Defence, Estonia
 10:40-11:00 Coffee break
 11:00-12:40 Session 1

The last ten years: Lessons learned

What strategic lessons should Europe and the West learn from the past decade of wars? Have these wars generated strategic fatigue among US and European decision makers with regard to international operations? Has the recent operation in Libya ushered in a new NATO approach to operations, in which European Allies will bear a greater share of the operational burden?

Panellists: Heinrich Brauss, Major General (ret.), Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, NATO IS

Lawrence E. Butler, Ambassador, Civilian Deputy to the Commander and Foreign Policy Adviser, European Command, USA

Anthony King, Professor, College of Social Science and International Studies, University of Exeter, UK

Kjell-Ove Skare, Major General, Project Leader, Defence Staff of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Norway

Rob de Wijk, Professor, Director, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, the Netherlands
Moderator: Tomas Ries, Senior Lecturer, Department of Security, Strategy and Leadership, Swedish National Defence College, Sweden
 12:45-14:15 Lunch
 14:15-16:00 Session 2

The next ten years: Where do we go from here?

What should Europe’s security and defence role be in the coming decade? Is the US still willing to lead within Europe on security matters? Are we willing and able to follow the US lead in the new strategic environment? Can we afford not to do so? But can we afford to do so, given the long-term implications of the economic crisis and the cuts in defence spending in Europe and the US? What are the implications of these trends for the health of the transatlantic relationship?

Panellists: Trine Flockhart, Senior Researcher, Defence and Security Research Unit, Danish Institute for International Studies, Denmark

Thomas X. Hammes, Colonel (ret.), Senior Research Fellow, Institute for National Security Studies, National Defence University, USA

Hilmar Linnenkamp, Adviser, German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Germany

Mark C. Montgomery, Rear Admiral, Deputy Director, Plans, Policy and Strategy, European Command, USA

Veiko Spolītis, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Latvia
Moderator: Maurits R. Jochems, Ambassador to Estonia and next NATO Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, the Netherlands
 16:00-16:20 Coffee break
 16:20-18:00 Session 3

Our backyard: Time for a tidy-up?

Whether Europe plays a wider security role or not, there are unresolved issues on our own continent that deserve attention, including security in the Balkans and the Caucasus, and relations with Russia. What urgency should we give to addressing these problems? Will (and can) Europe take on these challenges alone?

Panellists: Bogdan Adam Klich, Senator, Poland

Linas Linkevičius, Ambassador to Belarus, Lithuania

Maarten de Sitter, Political Adviser to the Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum

Riho Terras, Brigadier General, Commander of the Defence Forces, Estonia
Moderator: Matthew J. Bryza, Ambassador, Director of ICDS, Estonia
 18:00-18:15 Conclusions by Jonatan Vseviov, Adviser, Ministry of Defence, Estonia
 18:30 Farewell reception, sponsored by United Armaments International Ltd. Location: Platz Restaurant (behind the Nordic Hotel Forum, at 7 Roseni St)
 
Please note that, in order to encourage candid exchange of views, the conference is held under the Chatham House Rule:
“When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information
received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.”