Dear GLOBSEC community,

This award is a great honor for me, especially as it is given by GLOBSEC, the strongest geopolitical think tank. A powerful voice on security, not only in Central Europe but worldwide.

And especially because the award carries the title “transatlantic” award.

The term “transatlantic” is currently going through turbulent times, and that is why I want to share some thoughts about our transatlantic relations and our responsibilities.

Like in a family: it helps family relations if all sides understand their own responsibilities.

Europe is at a turning point.

Why? Because although we are not at war, we live in times of war. And the prospect of war changes everything.

We need to understand that between peace times and war times, there is a special defense readiness time. A time when intelligence services warn that aggression is possible, that war is possible.

A defense readiness time means that things need to start moving at a different speed and direction than they were in peace time. Because this is the only way to deter aggression.

And defense readiness time means we need to speak openly about the challenges we face.

In my opinion, we are facing a perfect storm in our security and defense readiness situation:

• The war in Ukraine continues - without clear perspectives for peace. Putin does not want peace. And diplomacy will not help. Only - strength.
• Russian aggressiveness is increasing. Even if peace were to be concluded in Ukraine, Putin will continue to mobilize Russias war economy and plan his next aggression, as our intelligence services warn. This time - against the EU.
• The forthcoming American shift towards the Indo-Pacific and diminishing presence on the European continent is a new reality. This does not mean American withdrawal from NATO.
• Our readiness for defense is not sufficient. It demands an urgent ramp-up and a long-term strategy to replace American capabilities in Europe.

Such a “perfect storm” means a deep defense crisis on the European continent. But as is often said - never waste a good crisis to take bold decisions and reforms.

There is a need for our clear actions and longer-term strategy.

First of all, we need to immediately address the material side of our defense readiness:

• It appears that in terms of capabilities we have only about 50% of what we need according to new NATO defense plans and agreed capabilities targets.
• And it is clear that preparedness to replace US capabilities in Europe will require substantial additional investments.
• IISS estimates that the cost to replace US resources in Europe will reach up to 1 trillion USD;
• I always repeat that we need to avoid an angry divorce with our transatlantic partners, and that is why we need to move forward with a rational agreement with them on the implementation of a progressive division of responsibilities;
• It is obvious that implementing such an agreement will take time, and time is what we need to agree with our partners. But we also need to immediately provide clear evidence that we are seriously taking care of our responsibility to defend Europe.
• The first evidence of our seriousness will be to support 5% of GDP defense spending.
• This is the only way our strategic transatlantic partnership can survive the turbulences of today and bring benefits to both sides of this partnership.

The material side of our defense readiness is very important, but it is not the only aspect we need to address.

Our defense readiness depends on Ukraine.

All of us want peace for Ukraine. But in Europe, we need to understand that peace is not of interest to Putin and diplomacy alone will not bring any kind of peace.

Until now, we have mainly been “waiting for peace” to happen.

A just peace in Ukraine can only be created by making Ukraine stronger. And the only ones who can make Ukraine stronger are we, Europeans and transatlantic partners.

And secondly, we must remember that there are currently only two battle-tested armies on the European continent, with the ability to use millions of drones: Russia and Ukraine.

Thus, we very much need Ukrainian battle-tested military forces and their war experience to strengthen our own defense.

That is why, while the Americans are preparing to shift to the Indo-Pacific and the Russians are growing stronger, we need to start discussing what the new European security architecture will look like.

And we need to understand at the very beginning of such discussions that Ukraine, with its battle-tested army and extremely innovative defense industry, will be the most important part of this new European security architecture.

This also means that we need Ukraines integration into the European Union as much as Ukraine needs this integration. Perhaps we need it even more. Because the future of Europe will be decided in Ukraine.

We live in defense readiness times, and we need to be strong not only materially.

Pax Europeae (Peace in Europe), as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently said in Aachen, is our responsibility.

We need to be ready to defend not only our territory but also to defend the hearts and minds of our people, which demands our responsibility and intellectual leadership in our region.

Central Europe needs to return to the forefront in the battle for freedom and peace on the European continent.

We are grateful to our European and transatlantic partners - who 20 years ago created for us the opportunity to enjoy freedom, peace, and economic success, when they opened the doors for our integration.

Now our task, the task of Central Europeans, is to create the same opportunities for success for our neighbors in Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.

The success of Ukraine is considered by Putin as the biggest threat to his regime. He is afraid of the inspirational power of Ukraines success.

That is why we need to convince our partners in Europe and our transatlantic partners that such an integration of Ukraine and others is first of all very much needed for the whole European Union.

Because that can positively change the geopolitical situation in the whole eastern part of the European continent.

And that is especially needed for Central Europe, since our security depends on what is happening in the eastern part of the European continent.

To convince all the transatlantic partners of such an ambitious agenda, we need intellectual leadership, and that leadership is provided by GLOBSEC.

We need you, Europe needs you.

Thank you for 20 years of intellectual leadership and for 20 years of inspiration!!!