News

Helsinki Security Forum 2022 has come to a close

The inaugural Helsinki Security Forum has come to a close. The event brought together decision-makers and experts to address pressing topics concerning international security, this year with the theme of Northern European Security Redone.

The first day of HSF offered in-depth analysis on the return of war to Europe and the transformation of the international security order. The session was opened by the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, the Under-secretary of State for Foreign and Security policy at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Kai Sauer and Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Mika Aaltola.

The opening panel addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine in a panel entitled “Major War Returns to Europe”, with panelists Pavlo Klimkin (Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine), Anna Wieslander (Director for Northern Europe of the Atlantic Council), Andrew Michta (Dean of the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies) bringing forth their views on an ever pressing topic. The panel was moderated by Charly Salonius-Pasternak, Leading Researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

The widescale implications of the war in Ukraine were highlighted in nearly all of the discussions of the conference. A system-transforming conflict, the war will shape the European security architecture for decades to come, Michta noted. The war has extensive and long-term implications not just for Ukraine, but for the entire international community, and Russia relations must be carefully reconsidered globally.

The speakers stressed that particularly at these challenging times, maintaining transatlantic unity and facilitating cooperation is essential. As President Niinistö stated: “One thing is certain. In the coming months, our resilience will be severely tested. Whatever Russia does next, however difficult the energy crisis turns out to be, unity is our response. In Finland, in Europe, in the world”.

***

You can watch the raw livestream recordings of HSF 2022 on the Youtube page of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs https://www.youtube.com/c/FIIA_fi/playlists

Helsinki Security Forum will return in 2023 when participants will again discuss a pressing theme of international security. Save the date: Helsinki Security Forum 2023, September 29 – October 1.

Bart Gaens and Mikael Mattlin
for HSF Blog
23.11.2023

Reverberations in the Indo-Pacific of the War in Ukraine

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had significant ripple effects in Indo-Pacific security dynamics and ongoing great-power competition.

Discover more
Cordelia Buchanan Ponczek
for HSF Blog
21.11.2023

When considering defence and deterrence, remember Poland

Poland is on track to be one of Europe’s most significant military powers. This naturally has effects on both European...

Discover more
Mikael Wigell
for HSF Blog
16.11.2023

MANAGING THE NEW ECONOMIC SECURITY DILEMMA

Policymakers believed that growing interdependence would encourage states to abandon power politics in favour of cooperation and global marketplace. This...

Discover more