Conference Program

Summary:

The digital age has revolutionised warfare, creating a new battleground - cyberspace where invisible weapons can cripple critical infrastructure, sow disinformation, and destabilise states. Navigating this complex landscape requires new strategies from individual states and alliances like the EU and NATO, particularly to combat state sponsored cyber attacks.

Within the overlapping landscape of 22 member states, this research delves into the evolving roles of the EU and NATO as distinct yet intertwined security actors in the domain of cybersecurity. The EU, built on consensus and economic integration, seeks collective cyber defence through collaborative measures and strategic partnerships. In contrast, NATO, a military alliance forged for rapid action, relies on its Article 5 collective defence commitment and robust military capabilities to deter and respond to cyber threats.

Utilising Joseph Nye’s framework of cyber power, the research analyses each organisation’s cybersecurity strategy. It explores the tension between national interests and collective goals within these bodies, highlighting the EU’s increasing assertiveness and NATO’s unwavering focus on collective defence.

Ultimately, the research argues that both the EU and NATO play crucial roles in securing the cyber domain, despite their different approaches. Understanding their individual strengths and the potential for collaboration is key to ensuring effective cyber deterrence and resilience in the increasingly digitalised world.

Rationale:

Amidst escalating cyber threats, this study examines the evolving roles of the EU and NATO in cybersecurity, it seeks to contribute valuable knowledge and practical recommendations for enhancing collective cyber defense capabilities and promoting international cooperation.

In the face of rapidly changing global dynamics, this paper aims to unravel the intricate web of regional security shifts and their impact on global stability. Focused on transatlantic relations, the Ukrainian conflict, and recent developments in the Middle East, the study seeks to provide an understanding of the evolving international security landscape.

The first section will delve into the transformations in transatlantic relations, exploring the changing paradigms of security cooperation and conflicts between the United States and Europe. Emphasis will be placed on discerning the impact of these shifts on the broader global security architecture.

The second section will analyze the Ukrainian conflict as a focal point for regional security dynamics. By examining Russia's interventions, Europe's response, and the international community's reactions, the study aims to highlight the interconnectedness between regional conflicts and their global consequences.

In the third section, the paper will turn its attention to the Middle East, with a special focus on recent developments in Israel. It will investigate how conflicts in the region resonate globally, exploring the implications of the Israel-Palestine situation and broader security concerns.

Lastly, study will assess Turkey's role in shaping regional security dynamics. By scrutinizing Turkey's defense policies, interventions in regional conflicts, and its position in transatlantic relations, the paper aims to provide insights into how Turkey's actions contribute to both local and global security landscapes.

Through this comprehensive analysis, the paper endeavors to contribute valuable insights into the understanding of the evolving relationship between regional security dynamics and global stability.

Japan's cooperation with NATO dates back to the end of the first decade of the 21st century, and currently fits into the broader framework of its security policy in the Indo-Pacific region, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific. In 2013, during the visit of the NATO Secretary General to Japan, a Joint Political Declaration was signed, which established the principles of cooperation and defined areas of strengthening the partnership. In 2014, an Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program (IPCP) was agreed, which was subsequently revised and renewed in 2018 and 2020. From 2015, Japan also began to participate in NATO's Crisis Management Exercises (CMX). Today, NATO partnership with Japan means practical cooperation and includes information exchange, political consultations, and potential development. In the light of the current legal basis, it is difficult to expect that Japan will provide logistical support according to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, or that NATO will treat Japan in the same way as it treats the member states of the Alliance. However, with a full understanding of the limitations of both sides, cooperation in the practical and technical sphere can be of great importance, especially in the light of the policies of, for example, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, which have recently strengthened their relations with NATO, creating real prospects for their further development and strengthening.