On 2 June 2026, the University College of Enterprise and Administration in Lublin hosted the conference “Bezpieczeństwo w XXI wieku. Współpraca transatlantycka w dobie wyzwań globalnych” (Eng. “Security in the 21st Century: Transatlantic Cooperation in an Era of Global Challenges”), organized by the Regional Centre for International Debate in the Lublin Voivodeship.
The event brought together experts in international security, foreign policy, and strategic analysis to discuss contemporary regional and global threats, as well as the future of transatlantic cooperation.
Representatives of the Institute of Central Europe contributed to the discussion. Dr. Grzegorz Gil, Director of IEŚ, highlighted the experience of the Lublin region during the initial phase of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He emphasized that local residents, local governments, and non-governmental organizations played a vital role in supporting refugees, effectively “passing the test” of humanitarian assistance under crisis conditions.
Dr. Gil also raised the question of whether the crisis-management and humanitarian support solutions developed in the Lublin region could be adapted for use in other parts of Poland. He noted that the region’s experience could serve as an important reference point for developing systemic solutions at the national level.
The conference also featured Dr. Jakub Olchowski, an IEŚ analyst, who addressed long-term shifts in U.S. foreign policy. He argued that the transformation currently taking place in the United States’ approach to Europe is neither sudden nor accidental, but rather the result of long-term domestic developments and broader geopolitical changes.
As he pointed out, the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region, together with demographic and social changes within the United States, is reshaping American foreign policy priorities. Europe, he noted, is no longer the central and exclusive focus of U.S. strategy, while cooperation is increasingly driven by selective and economic considerations.
The conference provided an important platform for exchanging views on the future of Euro-Atlantic security, the role of NATO, and challenges related to information warfare, migration, and regional conflicts.
The event concluded with an Oxford-style debate featuring students from Lublin’s universities.
Photo: Regional Centre for International Debate in the Lublin Voivodeship
Transatlantic Security and Emerging Threats: IEŚ Experts at a Conference in Lublin