The Athens Security Forum 2024 concluded successfully for yet another year, bringing together a multitude of representatives from the academic world, students, researchers, and members of the Armed Forces. The conference took place on November 19 and 20 at the Officers’ Club of the Armed Forces, with this year’s theme being “Europe at a Crossroads: Transatlantic Bridge or Rift?” The panels focused on a series of current strategic issues concerning Greece and Europe, as well as contemporary challenges threatening national, regional, and global security.
The first day covered themes related to European security, Euro-Atlantic relations, and the role of the United States in Eurasia. Discussions then turned to the implications of two wars in the region — the ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East — with a particular emphasis on the geopolitics of the Eastern Mediterranean. The day concluded with a discussion on Greece’s strategic and foreign policy objectives leading up to 2030.
The second day began with topics regarding China and its role in the regional and international system. Featuring top speakers from academic institutions in Greece and abroad, the panels highlighted strategic issues reflecting China’s objectives in a transitioning world. The first panel focused on China’s role in the regional security of Europe and the Mediterranean. Øystein Tunsjø, Associate Professor at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, emphasized the emerging bipolar geopolitical system shaped by the U.S.-China rivalry, while Christos Kourtelis, Assistant Professor of European Public Policy at Panteion University, conducted a comparative analysis of the EU and China’s influence in the Middle East and North Africa. The panel was moderated by Tasos Panoutsopoulos, Postdoctoral Researcher at the China Program.
The keynote address of the day was delivered by Aynne Kokas, CK Yen Professor and Associate Professor of Media Studies at the University of Virginia. Her speech focused on data trafficking, the necessity of safeguarding Greece’s digital sovereignty in global trade, and the use of data for military purposes.
The second panel of the day explored technological challenges and risks in Greece-China relations. Among the topics discussed were Chinese investments in Greece, including COSCO’s investment in the Port of Piraeus, and China’s role in the global supply chain. Speakers included Clark Banach, Director of Programs at Aletheia Research Institution and Teaching Professor at Canisius University, Ilya Roubanis, Senior Researcher at the Institute of International Relations (IDIS), and Plamen Tonchev, Head of the Asia Unit at the Institute of International Economic Relations. The panel was moderated by Aynne Kokas.
The day also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between IDIS and the Great Britain China Center, cementing Sino-Greek academic collaboration.
The conference concluded with panels dedicated to the geoeconomic challenges in the Middle East and maritime security in the Mediterranean.
The Athens Security Forum 2024 provided a unique opportunity for academics, international experts, and policymakers to discuss critical geopolitical and strategic issues, as well as the roles of Greece and Europe in a fluid geopolitical and economic environment.
