CONFERENCE: Security and Defence in the Baltic Sea Region • 14 May 2024

DATE: 14 May 2024
TIME: starts at 13.00
VENUE: Estonian Embassy in Helsinki. Itäinen Puistotie 10, Helsinki Finland.

Agenda

12:00 – 13:00 Registration, reception
13:00 Introductory remarks
Sven Sakkov, Estonian Ambassador to Finland
Sirle Sööt, Chair, Estonian World Council, Association of Estonians in Sweden
Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia (Livestream)

13:30 KEYNOTE
Douglas Hickey, US Ambassador to the Republic of Finland
Introduced by Tuuli-Emily Liivat, Global Estonian Youth Network

14:00 PANEL DISCUSSION: “NATO’s Role in Baltic Sea Region Security”
Martin Roger, Director-General for NATO and Trans-AtlanticRelations, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Joakim Paasikivi, Lieutenant Colonel,Swedish Defence University
Andres Kasekamp, Professor of History, Chair of Estonian Studies,Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
Moderator Sven Sakkov, Estonian Ambassador to Finland

15:00 Coffee Break
15:30 KEYNOTE: “Russian Information Warfare as Security Threat”
Jessikka Aro, Finnish journalist and writer, author of “Putin’s World War. Russia’s Covert Operations to Destroy the West”

16:15 PANEL DISCUSSION: “Civil Preparedness and Disinformation”
Jay Janzen, Strategic Communications Director (J10) at NATO
Jakub Kalensky, Senior fellow, Atlantic Council Eurasia Centre, former Deputy Director of COI Hybrid Influence
Marko Mihkelson, Member of Estonian Parliament, Chair of Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee
Moderator Marcus Kolga, President, DisInfoWatch, Fellow McDonald Laurier Institute, Central and Eastern European Council in Canada

17:30 Closing Remarks
Ilona Kolberg, Network of Estonian Organisations in Finland
Märt Vesinurm, Network of Estonian Organisations in Finland

Conference moderator: Reet Marten Sehr, Chair Estonian World Council Foreign Relations committee, Chair, Estonian Central Council in Canada