Interlinked Instability: Central and Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape

The “Interlinked Instability: Central and Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape” conference, held in Prague on March 3–4, 2025, brought together policymakers, academics, and security experts to discuss shared challenges between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. The event, organized by the CHOICE team in cooperation with the Association for International Affairs (AMO) and its Russian Team, highlighted the growing interconnection of security threats, particularly in light of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and China’s coercive actions in the Indo-Pacific.

The conference opened with a public discussion on the evolving relationship between the Czech Republic and Japan in the face of global crises. High-profile speakers, including Jiří Kozák (Deputy Minister, Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Nobushige Takamizawa (Visiting Professor, University of Tokyo), Barbora Marônková (Global Partners Lead, NATO Public Diplomacy Division), and Ivana Karásková (China Team Lead, Association for International Affairs – AMO), explored the importance of strengthening strategic partnerships to counter emerging threats. The panel was led by AMO’s Pavel Havlíček.

During the closed-door conference, three separate sessions took place. Welcomed by the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, Miloš Vystrčil, we started with the first panel examining the lessons learned from Russia’s war against Ukraine and their relevance for security in the Indo-Pacific. Experts discussed hybrid warfare tactics, resilience strategies, and the need for greater defense cooperation among democracies. Panelists included Hugo von Essen (Analyst, Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies, Sweden), Kateryna Musiienko (Senior Foreign Policy Expert, ANTS, Ukraine), and Sanshiro Hosaka (Research Fellow, International Centre for Defence and Security, Estonia).

Next session focused on China’s increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and its implications for European security. Speakers emphasized the importance of a coordinated transatlantic and Indo-Pacific response to counter economic and military coercion. The discussion featured Nobushige Takamizawa (University of Tokyo), Barbora Marônková (NATO), and Ivana Karásková (AMO), with Jana Sehnálková (Assistant Professor, Charles University) serving as chair.

The final panel explored opportunities for mutual exchange between Europe and the Indo-Pacific, identifying common ground in countering authoritarian threats. Discussions stressed the need for deeper cooperation in cybersecurity, economic security, and disinformation resilience. Panelists included Tsuyoshi Goroku (Associate Professor, Nishogakusha University), Jakub Landovský (Executive Director, Aspen Institute Central Europe & former Czech Ambassador to NATO), and Tatjana Jakšičová (Director, Control Policies Department, Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs).