Keynote Interview “Uncomfortable Neighbours: The Impact of Crises on Regional Governance" | 02.06.2021

Keynote Interview “Uncomfortable Neighbours: The Impact of Crises on Regional Governance” Dr. Artis Pabriks Deputy Prime Minister/ Minister for Defence of Latvia Edward Lucas Center for European Policy Analysis 

Datum: 02.06.2021

Uhrzeit: 16:00 - 18:00 Uhr

Veranstaltungstitel: Keynote Interview “Uncomfortable Neighbours: The Impact of Crises on Regional Governance”

Veranstaltungstyp: Sonstige

Veranstalterkategorie: Förderprojekte

Veranstalter: Interdisziplinäres Forschungszentrum Ostseeraum (IFZO)

Ort: Greifswald

Recent engagements of Baltic Sea region countries with Russia have exposed certain hard security issues to the general public, including a somewhat strained relationship between countries. Apart from deterrence and sabre rattling together with the deployment of Russian and NATO troops along the borders, there are differing attitudes toward Russia as is evidenced by the Nord Stream 2 controversy.

Despite integration since the 1990s, the past decade has engendered several debates over welfare policies, sustainability and security. Moreover, while regional NATO-Partners have been alarmed by Russia’s projections of power, Germany finds itself torn between cooperation with or against Russia.

Should such developments be understood as manifestations of transformative crises, especially with reference to the region’s security architecture?

In line with the IFZO-research focus on “transformations in the Baltic Sea r egion”, the objective of this panel discussion is to ascertain and debate the role of current transformation processes together with their impact on regional security.

Key questions include these: Are military manoeuvres still -- or again -- a viable and acceptable tool for maintaining a balance within the region? Are current deterrence strategies having the intended effect? Is sustainability transformation weakening deterrence strategies, as oil and gas become economically less important for Russia’s economy, but remain controversial nonetheless? Will Germany’s role change in this regional balance if it begins to insist on “values”? Will the new US-administration strengthen the role of NATO and in so doing also aid the different minority voices inside the alliance?