– “The War in Ukraine will have long-lasting repercussions for global security. The full scale of the impact will be known after the war”, concluded experts in a debate on the global politics and challenges held in Karpacz. – “How the challenges are defined depends on whom you ask. For Ukraine, the challenge is being stuck in a costly and prolonged war with no outlooks for peace on Ukraine's terms”, said Marek Budzisz, a Senior Fellow at Strategy & Future. – “For Central-European states, that is NATO’s eastern flank or eastern front, the challenge is the destruction of the old security policy and ineffectiveness of the previous approach to deterring Russia”, M. Budzisz noted.
Experts appreciated the unspoken stakes of the full-scale war that started in February 2022. – “It is the security of every independent state in the world that is at stake. That is why the US, European countries, and important free Asia-Pacific states support Ukraine. They see that it is not only the fate of Ukraine that is on the line. If the world allows the aggressor to take over Ukraine, it is a clear statement that no country is safe. It would be an encouraging message to all aggressors. It is not in the interest of the US, Europe, or any free country”, emphasised Kimberly Kagan, President of the Institute for the Study of War.
What has the war shown to date? – “Operationalisation of European security at the NATO level, not the European Union level, among other things. Reflections on the joint European army and joint leadership. I’m in favour of European integration, but I also distinguish between European integration and the European Union”, pointed out Prof. Wojciech Gizicki of the Catholic University of Lublin.
What else counts as a real security challenge in the context of the war? Paul Hurmuz brought up NATO’s problem with ensuring security on the Black Sea. – “Someone noticed it is a ‘Bermuda Triangle’ of NATO’s security. It is a region of strategic uncertainty and aggressive Russian operations. We are missing clear goals and strategies for adversary Russian efforts in the region, even after numerous incidents”, said the expert of the New Strategy Center.
PARTNER: ISW
