Rising geopolitical competition has amplified tensions between the United States and China, inciting an arms race and surrogate conflicts across the globe. Strife between Russia and the West, coupled with the war in Ukraine, has critically undermined the foundations of the European security architecture, triggering repercussions such as energy and food insecurity.
Given the impartiality and inclusivity of the GCSP, the Department of International Security Dialogue's portfolio is able to address these geopolitical tensions, with a particular emphasis on European security. Our dialogue initiatives have three distinct objectives. They aim to re-establish trust between conflicting parties, sustain dialogue on matters of shared interest and concern, such as strategic stability and nuclear risk reduction, and delve into future European security order discussions. The Department supervises numerous confidential dialogue processes, where several major unresolved questions of the European security order are being discussed. The topics include, but are not limited to, resolving existing dilemmas between key principles of European security, how to provide solid security guarantees to countries in the region, and assessing the impact of the war in Ukraine on multilateral institutions, with a special focus on the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The Department of International Security Dialogue actively collaborates with regional institutions and think tanks to organise joint dialogue events. For instance, the GCSP is part of the OSCE Network of Think Tanks and Academic Institutions, where it regularly participates in the ongoing security dialogue within the OSCE framework. It also partners with the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. Other institutional partners include the European Institute for Peace based in Brussels, the Friedrich Ebert Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Vienna, and the Strategic Foresight Group based in Mumbai, among others.
P5 Roundtable on Global Security and Catastrophic Risks
This roundtable is co-organised together with the Strategic Foresight Group, an international think tank based in Mumbai. It is one of the examples of the successful partnerships among the Department's dialogue processes. This roundtable represents a diplomatic initiative focusing on catastrophic risks that was launched in September 2022 in Caen, Normandy, France. The initiative is inspired by the Normandy Manifesto for World Peace, issued by a group of Nobel Laureates and social thinkers under the auspices of the Normandy Forum in 2019.
The objective is to discuss nuclear risk reduction measures among the P5 countries - China, France, Russia, UK, and USA. The continued deterioration of the global security environment has further increased the urgency of this topic. Mentions of the use of nuclear weapons for tactical purposes have risen in both politico-military and media circles, reinforcing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ warning that the world is one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation. Coinciding with the ongoing polarisation among the P5, it is crucial for experts to come together and find ways to promote both dialogue and common understanding to break this deadlock.
The GCSP has also received a mandate from the Swiss FDFA to run the following Track 1.5 dialogues:
Chambesy Roundtable: “Rebuilding European Security: Challenges and Opportunities”
The repercussions of the war against Ukraine are globally palpable. The outcome of this conflict remains uncertain. However, its cessation will inevitably require addressing several critical issues. This Track 1.5 dialogue aims to convene state representatives and experts to examine the long-term implications of the Ukrainian war on the future of European security, focusing on security guarantees, potential de-escalation strategies, and anticipated steps towards reconstructing the European security order.
OSCE Focus Conference: No Business as Usual: Leadership at a Time of Crisis
This event will assemble high-ranking participants from the OSCE community, providing an opportunity for enlightened and informal dialogue on some of the OSCE’s most pressing agenda items. Such topics include: the OSCE's role in Ukraine during and after the war; the OSCE as a unique dialogue platform, communication channel, and promoter of greater predictability; and the challenges of leading the organisation during tumultuous times, both politically and within executive structures. The OSCE Focus Conference will also foster discussions about the future of European security and the OSCE's role in this process.
Meet the team
- Ms Alexandra Matas, Director of International Security Dialogue Department, GCSP
- Ms Constance Dumont, Senior Project Officer International Security Dialogue Department, GCSP
- Ambassador Marc George, Senior Diplomatic Advisor, GCSP
- Dr Zachary Paikin, Senior Researcher, GCSP
- Mr Yannick Scheidegger, Junior Professional Officer, GCSP