Black Sea Energy and Security Conference

Panel 1: The Changing Military Balance in the Black Sea

Ambassador Ross Wilson
Distinguished Senior Fellow, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center
Atlantic Council
 
Captain Steven Horrell
US Navy Senior Fellow, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security
Atlantic Council 

H.E. George Cristian Maior
Ambassador to the United States
Romania

Ambassador William Courtney
Adjunct Senior Fellow
RAND Corporation

Ambassador John Herbst
Director, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center
Atlantic Council 

Panel 2: Energy Security in the Black Sea

Mr. Edward Chow
Senior Fellow, Energy and National Security Program
Center for Strategic and International Studies 
 
Mr. Steve Nicandros
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Frontera Resources
 
Mr. David Koranyi
Director, Eurasian Energy Futures Initiative
Atlantic Council
 
Dr. Alina Polyakova
Deputy Director, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center
Atlantic Council

The Black Sea is the crossroads between the regional powers Russia and NATO, and is also the site of potential development of oil and natural gas. The Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 profoundly shifted the balance of power in the Black Sea region, and Russia’s military campaign in Syria has escalated tensions with Turkey. Today, countries neighboring the Black Sea, as well as their Western allies, view this region as key to energy and security strategy. This Atlantic Council conference will focus on the future of the Black Sea region, implications for NATO, and the interests of regional players. 

We hope you can join us for this important and timely discussion.