The third and final day of the GLOBSEC 2024 Forum in Prague, Czech Republic heard from a wide variety of leaders and experts on a multitude of challenges the world currently faces. From the uncertainty in the Middle East and the growing role of Central Europe on the international scene to the expectation for COP29 and the future of Russia, discussions covered a broad spectrum of critical issues shaping global dynamics.
Middle East Fragility
The Middle East is facing one of the most complex and unique political crises in the 21 st century, with ripple effects from the war in Gaza, said Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. However, the upcoming elections in the United States are currently delaying the possibility of reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine. Mansour Almarzoqi, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies, Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, stated that “Netanyahu doesn’t have any interest in reaching a ceasefire, and the only country that can pressure him is the US.” Karim Haggag, Professor of Practice & Director of Middle East Studies at the American University in Cairo, emphasized that Egypt was the first Arab country to make historic peace with Israel. From the start, he underlines, Egypt’s approach recognized that peace would be incomplete without a just and lasting solution for the Palestinian issue. Despite the initial “cold peace,” the relationship between Egypt and Israel has matured into a long-standing and sophisticated one. However, public opinion in the region remains highly sensitive to the Palestinian issue, which continues to be central to regional politics and essential for normalization.
Central Europe’s Moment
Petr Kolář, Ambassador (ret.), Consultant, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor, highlights the existence of two distinct Central Europes: one defined by its post-communist experience and the other by its geographical location, adding “There are at least two central Europe’s one post-communist, one geographically. I believe the V4 is the thing we identify with most, because we have a common history and culture.” Ivan Korčok, Former Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia, criticized the appeasement approach toward Russia by leaders like Orbán and Fico: “Thanks to appeasement approach towards Russia by Orbán and Fico, Visegrad is clinically dead.” He also cautioned the Czech Republic about similar challenges they could face, particularly with the upcoming parliamentary elections, if they continue down a similar path.
The Rising Threat of Terrorism in Africa
In recent years, the Sahel has emerged as a central hub for terrorist activities, with various groups extending their reach into countries such as Somalia, Uganda, and Kenya. To tackle the threat of Al Shabaab, Ahmed Abdi, Member of Parliament & Secretary of the Somali Defence Committee, states that “it is necessary to fight the enemy directly, stifle resources, and tackle their ideological influence.” As the threat of terrorism continues to rise, Abdi underlined Russia’s worrying influence as it provides arms for regional conflicts, albeit at the cost of their natural resources, in comparison to the EU, which mostly provides training.
The Media’s Fight Against Disinformation and Information Overload
Politicians are increasingly turning to social media instead of traditional media to share information, which often results in the spread of disinformation. As such, to combat misinformation, Lili Takács, Journalist, 444.hu, stressed the importance of educating the public on media literacy to help them discern credible news from disinformation, especially in politically charged environments. On Hungary, Takács spoke about the obstacles that independent media faces, with Roman Imielski adding that, in Poland, the situation was similar; the government has faced allegations of limiting the freedom of the press through lawsuits and how social media algorithms are made to show the worst of politics to monetize more. Overall, the fight against information overload and smear campaigns is multifaceted, requiring not only robust journalistic practices but also a concerted effort from policymakers, tech companies, and civil society to create an environment where independent media can thrive and misinformation can be effectively challenged.
Russia Beyond Putin
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Co-founder of the Russian Anti-War Committee, stressed the need for counter-propaganda efforts to inform Russians about alternatives and about the need to tell Russians of the benefits of the West and, most importantly, to ensure that these ideas are accessible and inclusive. He also added that “many of the freedom and opportunities young Russians have been because of a dream to live lives like Westerners were realized.” Mikhail Zygar, Columnist at Der Spiegel, highlighted the importance of independent media and engaging the Russian diaspora in shaping an alternative narrative. The Director of the Free Russia Foundation, Roland Freudenstein, pointed out the skepticism among many Eastern European nations regarding collaboration with Russian democrats and warned against collective guilt, which could undermine democratic efforts.
Armenia Diplomatic Vision
In a one-on-one discussion with Robin Shepherd, Vahan Kostanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, stated that his country is eager to develop its relations with different players, like the EU, the United States, and the Middle East. Furthermore, he mentioned that Armenia is satisfied with the dynamics it currently has with the EU. Finally, he emphasized that Armenia supported Azerbaijan’s candidacy for COP29.
COP 29: Green Horizons
When the audience was asked what they expected at the upcoming COP29, the main answers were action, financial innovation, realism, and hope. In a sobering moment, Elnur Soltanov, Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan & Chief Executive Officer of COP 29, highlighted the importance of the upcoming conference: “the last nail in the coffin of the climate crisis will be dealt with by our children and their children,” “as the reality is that we are not on course to end this crisis.”
Closing Remarks
In the President of GLOBSEC, Róbert Vass’ closing remarks, he highlighted, “GLOBSEC and the success of this conference is not thanks to us. It’s thanks to the idea that we believe that we can change the international conversation from a small country from Central Europe. We can have a huge impact. And that idea is supported by so many of you by your participation and by your support throughout the year.” He also thanked the more than 2,300 participants from more than 80 countries who participated in this historical edition of the GLOBSEC Forum hosted in Prague under the auspices of the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel.