Atlantic Council Chairman Jon Huntsman kicked off the conference Toward a Europe Whole and Free to a packed house at Atlantic Council headquarters. Immediately following his welcome, Tomáš Valášek, Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to NATO, and Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson made a joint presentation outlining the challenge of a Europe whole and free.
As the world stands by watching how the crisis in Ukraine will unfold, leading historians discuss the lessons gleaned from the past hundred years of Europe's history that defined the contours of today's European security landscape. This panel discussion featured Dr. Robert Kagan of Brookings, H.E. Alexandr Vondra of Civic Forum, and Fred Kempe of the Atlantic Council.
Speaking on World War I and how it shaped the international system, Kagan illustrated that Europe, on its own, has never successfully dealt with a predatory power in its midst. This stems from a continual unwillingness to fully commit to defending its neighbors -- allowing other nations to be picked off one by one while other powers look after their own interests. History has shown that Europe as a strategic entity does not function unless the United States is willing to play an on-the-scene role on a permanent basis with sufficient and reliable commitments to the defense of its allies. Kagan claimed that the world is once again facing this situation; that Europe on its own is unable to meet the challenge of a rising hegemon and predatory power, and the uncertain response of the United States to turmoil in Europe's East is once again contributing to the potential breakdown of European peace and security.
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