The undersecretary participated in the panel discussion “The Fading Pax Americana” with Germany’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tobias Lindner, French Ambassador Philippe Étienne, as well as Dr Małgorzata Bonikowska and Dr Nathalie Tocci representing, respectively, Polish and Italian think tanks. In his speech, the deputy minister focused on the significance of the West’s support for Ukraine in its fight and the possible consequences of the EU’s and the United States’ insufficient engagement in helping Ukraine repel the Russian invasion.

The deputy foreign minister also held bilateral talks with his Slovenian and Armenian counterparts, Marko Štucin and Vahan Kostanyan, with agendas including Poland’s priorities for the Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2025. Moreover, the Forum provided an opportunity for a meeting with High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt, which was devoted to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s domestic situation on the eve of local elections.

The Bled Strategic Forum conference is the Republic of Slovenia’s intragovernmental project organised by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Centre for European Perspective. It is one of the most visible events in the field of Slovenian foreign policy. This year’s edition was titled “A World of Parallel Realities.” Secretary General of the Bled Strategic Forum Peter Grk elaborated on the choice: “We are living in a time of great global transformation, which has the potential to shape our common future. At such a time, the ability to hear and listen in the international community is crucial if we are to find effective and sustainable solutions. This is what this year's Bled Strategic Forum offers—an inclusive platform where the diverse voices, views, and reflections of key players in the global multilateral environment are heard and taken into account. We believe that constant and constructive dialogue is the only way to build a multilateral system that operates on universally accepted norms.”