New Strategy Center participated in the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece, a prestigious event and a long-standing platform for dialogue in the Mediterranean region, from 26-29 April.

NSC presented at Delphi the study “Security implications of new gas discoveries in the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean”, published in collaboration with the Greek Energy Forum (GEF). The authors of the paper, Sergiu Mitrescu, NSC Programme Director and Michalis Mathioulakis, GEF Academic Director, presented the results of the research in a dedicated panel moderated by Nik Gowing, founder of Thinking the Unthinkable, UK. The study analysed new gas projects in the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean from a geostrategic perspective, presenting the impact in the two regions, but also the security challenges, especially in the context of Russia’s current war in Ukraine.

Also at the Delphi Economic Forum, the New Strategy Center co-organized the panel “Battle for the Black Sea: The Strategic Importance of the Region in the Context of the War in Ukraine”, moderated by George Scutaru, CEO, NSC.  The panel had as speakers: MG (Ret) Vakhtang Kapanadze, former Chief of the Georgian Defense Staff, Amb. Lazăr Comanescu, Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization and former Foreign Minister of Romania, Dr. Antonia Colibășanu, Senior Associate Expert NSC and COO Geopolitical Futures and Dr. Greg Mills, Director Brenthurst
Foundation, UK.

Discussions highlighted the impact of the war on Black Sea freedom of navigation and global food security, energy and connectivity stakes, with the Black Sea being the crossroads of several energy and trade routes. The strategic importance of the Black Sea goes beyond the region, which is why a long-term, predictable and consistent Black Sea policy is needed from the EU and NATO. Discussions also focused on the competition between the major powers in the region and the importance that players such as the US, Russia and China attach to the Black Sea.
The presence of the New Strategy Center at the Delphi Economic Forum is part of the efforts that the NSC has been making since its beginnings to promote the strategic relevance of the Black Sea.