Wednesday, 3rd September 2025

Bled Strategic Forum Turns 20

Europe’s future debated in Slovenia as leaders call for resilience, clarity, and renewed cooperation

The 20th edition of the Bled Strategic Forum concluded on 2 September in Slovenia, bringing together over 2,000 participants185 speakers, and 31 high-level panels under the theme “A Runaway World”. Over two days, the event reaffirmed Bled’s status as a major hub for regional and global dialogue on diplomacy, democracy, and strategic foresight.

European Council President António Costa opened the forum with a keynote urging stronger EU resilience amid global instability. He called for deeper cooperation on defence, energy autonomy, and trade, warning that Europe cannot afford strategic hesitation in today’s fast-moving world.

Other high-level voices, including Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, tackled the erosion of democratic norms and the growing threat of disinformation.

More than a milestone, this year’s forum marked Bled’s transformation from a modest regional gathering into a signature diplomatic platform for Central and South-Eastern Europe. With parallel youth dialogues and closed-door bilateral meetings taking place alongside the main agenda, the forum delivered both substance and symbolism: a space where the region’s strategic direction is not just discussed—but shaped.

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