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Arno Mikkor/Lennart Meri Conference, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The 2026 Lennart Meri Conference will run for three days and, under the theme ‘Fortune Favours the Brave’, will focus on Europe’s strategic reorientation in an era of global instability. In light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, China’s growing economic and military power, and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the rules-based world order is under immense pressure. Against this backdrop, the conference poses the fundamental question regarding a European grand strategy: How can Europe regain its capacity to act, provide credible deterrence, and at the same time remain a reliable partner for its global allies?
As a key partner, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation is actively contributing its expertise in foreign and security policy to the conference. It advises on the conference’s programme, supports dialogue between political decision-makers, experts and civil society, and thus makes a significant contribution to the development of viable strategic approaches for Europe’s future.
The focus is primarily on strengthening military capabilities, diplomatic influence and economic competitiveness. Participants are seeking pragmatic ways to reconcile idealism with realism and to enhance societal resilience in the face of hybrid threats. Particular attention is being paid to transatlantic cooperation and collaboration in the Nordic-Baltic region, as the 2026 conference coincides with Estonia’s chairmanship of the NB8 cooperation.
The conference’s message is clear: hope alone is not a strategy. What is needed is resolute leadership and a willingness to proactively shape one’s own future, rather than merely reacting to crises. Inspired by the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, LMC 2026 poses the crucial question of whether Europe is prepared to take the necessary risks to sustainably protect its values and interests in a radically changing world.
