Australian Institute of International Affairs Chief Executive Officer Dr Bryce Wakefield attended the GLOBSEC 2026 Prague Forum last week, joining political leaders, policymakers, military officials, and strategic thinkers from across Europe and beyond at one of the continent’s leading security conferences.
Held in Prague, the forum focused on Europe’s response to a rapidly changing strategic environment, including Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, transatlantic relations, European defence cooperation, and strategic competition with China.
Wakefield participated in a panel discussion examining regional responses to the rise of China, where he outlined perspectives from the Indo-Pacific and highlighted the growing links between European and Indo-Pacific security challenges.
During the conference, Wakefield was also interviewed by veteran broadcaster Roger Hilton for a GLOBSEC podcast on developments in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, he appeared on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Global Roaming podcast, hosted by Geraldine Doogue and featuring an interview with ABC Europe correspondent Latika Bourke, discussing Europe’s changing strategic outlook and its implications for Australia.
Reflecting on the event, Wakefield emphasised both the quality of the discussions and the importance of Australian participation in major international security forums.
“GLOBSEC remains one of Europe’s premier strategic gatherings,” he said. “The ideas discussed there do not remain confined to conference rooms. They are carried back to ministries, parliaments, and capitals across Europe, where they help shape policy debates and strategic thinking.”
“For Australia, it is important that our perspectives are represented in these conversations. The security challenges facing Europe and the Indo-Pacific are increasingly interconnected, and there is enormous value in ensuring that Australian voices contribute to debates that ultimately influence policymaking among many of our closest international partners.”
Founded in 2005, GLOBSEC has grown into one of Europe’s leading international affairs and security forums, bringing together senior political leaders, officials, academics, and experts to discuss major geopolitical challenges facing Europe and the wider international community.
