Rethinking Armenia’s Geopolitical and Defense Trajectory, organized by the newly established Institute for Security Analysis (ISA), will feature a series of both public and closed-door discussions around national security and state building on Tuesday, November 28 and Wednesday, November 29.
Panelists will include personalities from a diverse range of disciplines and backgrounds. The summit will also be accompanied by capacity building workshops, advocacy efforts and stakeholder engagement.
The conference will be held at the Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel and on Zoom. To register for in-person attendance, go to https://bit.ly/Security-Summit-In-Person. For profiles of the speakers or to register for Zoom attendance, go to https://bit.ly/Security-Summit-On-Zoom. There is a $40 donation for Zoom attendance, which shall help defray the costs of the conference.
The Security Summit starts at 4 PM EVN (7 AM Eastern Time). Zoom attendees will have the opportunity to view a recording of the conference for one week. The language of the conference will be predominantly English. Simultaneous translation will be available from English to Armenian and Armenian to English. Scroll down for the conference agenda.
The Security Summit is sponsored by Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA), Armenian Network of America—Greater New York, Justice Armenia, Knights of Vartan Bakradouny Lodge, and National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR). ISA thanks the sponsors for their commitment to create opportunities for discussion and expanded discourse. The views and opinions of the summit speakers will be their own and not the views of the sponsors.
Critical security challenges — the 2020 Artsakh War, Azerbaijan's 2022 assault on Syunik and Vayotz Dzor provinces, and the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh's indigenous Armenian population — have exposed the limitations of Armenia's security strategies and highlighted an urgent need for fundamental modernization and institutional innovation.
The Security Summit aims to address these pressing issues head-on. Our goal is to create a dynamic platform where fresh, often unconventional ideas can be exchanged, thereby encouraging collaboration among defense specialists and fostering public engagement across national security discourse.
In the face of escalating regional threats and shifting power configurations, the Security Summit is committed to catalyzing grassroots and society-wide support dedicated to safeguarding Armenia's sovereignty and rapidly enhancing defense and security reforms. By bringing together policy experts, defense specialists, statesmen and active citizens, the summit aims to clarify — and actualize — smart and alternative options for extracting Armenia from its current crisis.
Join us in forging innovative solutions and strategies that will empower Armenia to navigate and overcome its security challenges and ensure a secure and resilient future.
Registration is required. For in-person and Zoom attendance, go to https://bit.ly/Security-Summit-In-Person and https://bit.ly/Security-Summit-On-Zoom, respectively. For questions, contact me or Alvard Zakaryan at alvard@securityandnalysis.net or +37495202148.
To learn about or support ISA and the work of its U.S.-based affiliate Justice Armenia, click here and here.
Thank you and best wishes for a joyous and blessing-filled Thanksgiving.
Conference Agenda
Note: Yerevan is 3 hours ahead of Paris, 9 hours ahead of New York, and 12 hours ahead of California. Zoom attendees will have one week to view a recording.
Day 1
Welcome Remarks
Panels
Security and Geopolitics
Panel I: Armenia's Road to 2020: Nurturing Failure, Azerbaijan's Aggression, and Russia's Role (4:05 PM EVN)
· Dr. Stepan Astourian, Turpanjian Center for Policy Analysis at the American University of Armenia
· Dr. Eduard Abrahamyan, Institute for Security Analysis
Panel II: The Emerging Geopolitical Order in the Caucasus: The Rise — and Threat — of Eurasianism (5:15 PM EVN)
· Dr. Eduard Abrahamyan, Institute for Security Analysis
· Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Glen Grant, National Security Expert
Break (6:30)
Politics
Panel III: Hybrid War: Disrupting Security, Society and Politics (7:00 PM EVN)
· Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Glen Grant, National Security Expert
Panel IV: Strategic Disaster: The Dangers of Appeasement (8:00 PM EVN)
· Dr. Thomas Young, Defense Security Cooperation University
· Colonel Vladimir Milenski, Ministry of Defense of Bulgarian
Day 2
Next Steps and Policy Solutions
Panel V: Salvaging Statehood: A Crisis Roadmap for the Armenian Republic (4:00 PM EVN)
· Dr. Thomas Young, Defense Security Cooperation University
· Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Glen Grant, National Security Expert
Panel VI: Next Steps: A Legal Strategy for Artsakh (5:15 PM EVN)
· Talin Hitik, Lawyer and International Law Expert
Break, 6:30
Panel VII: Shaping a Reform Agenda: A Whole-of-Society Approach to Territorial Defense (7:00 EVN)
· Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Glen Grant, National Security Expert
· Hratchya Arzumanyan, National Security Expert
