On May 16-17, 2018 the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Rondeli Foundation, Stratpol – Strategic Institute of Slovakia and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) hosted a two-day international conference South Caucasus Security Forum, conducted at Holiday Inn, Tbilisi, Georgia.

The South Caucasus Security Forum was held for the fifth time as it continues to provide a unique platform bringing together experts and policymakers from Europe, the United Stated, Russia, the Middle East, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to discuss both challenges as well as prospects for moving forward with the regional security agenda.

On the first day, Ekaterine Metreveli, President of Rondeli Foundation, Ondrej Zacha (Stratpol) and Felix Hett, Director of FES, Regional Office South Caucasus welcomed the audience. The Minister of Defence – Levan Izoria participated in the panel on NATO, together with the distinguished speakers from UK and US and discussed Georgia’s aspiration of becoming the member of NATO and the current and implemented reforms in the Defence Sector. The first day keynote address was delivered by the Director of Jamestown foundation – Glen Howard.

The second day of the conference was opened by David Dondua, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, who made an assessment the security situation in the region.

The two-day forum picked up with the last year’s discussion on the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), NATO and Black Sea Security, the crises in Eastern Europe and the future of the Eastern Partnership (EP). In addition, particular attention was devoted to the break-out sessions addressing topics such as Russia after the elections, the developments in the Middle East and implications of the Iran Nuclear Deal for the Eastern European neighborhood, China’s interest in the South Caucasus and Energy Security.

The strategic supporters of the 5th South Caucasus Security Forum included Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the U.S. Embassy to Georgia, Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to Georgia, the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.
South Caucasus Security Forum, May 16-17, 2018