Held on 3-4 March 2022, the Baltic Defence College’s annual conference, titled “A Restless Embrace of the Past,” took place during a pivotal moment in global history, commencing just a week after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The event served as a critical platform for over 400 in-person and online participants to analyse Russia’s domestic motives and their profound impact on international security. Despite the geopolitical shift necessitating last-minute programmatic adjustments, the conference successfully gathered a diverse pool of transatlantic, Baltic, and Central European experts.

Keynote speaker Konstantin Eggert was joined by distinguished panellists, including former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and NATO Assistant Secretary General Baiba Bražė. Discussions delved into Russia-China relations, technological transformations, and the ideological constraints shaping Russia’s aggressive posture towards its neighbours.

Operating in a hybrid format, the conference facilitated intense debates between students, military personnel, and policymakers. By pivoting its focus to the immediate reality of the war in Ukraine, the 2022 iteration reaffirmed its role as a flagship academic event for understanding the historically imposed predicaments of regional security.