Quai d’Orsay and Hans Blix

SFG President Sundeep Waslekar and Executive Director Ilmas Futehally were invited for a series of consultations with leaders and experts in Paris and Stockholm in March 2024 on global security environment.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a discussion on Sundeep Waslekar’s book  “Entre Guerre et Paix” at its historic Quai d’Orsay headquarters - under the auspices of its diplomatic academy in cooperation with Normandy for Peace. It was chaired by Ambassador Didier Le Bret and attended by senior diplomats, leaders of armed forces, and well known strategists. Following the Quai d’Orsay seminar, SFG had bilateral discussions with several experts including Francois-Xavier Priollaud, Vice President of Region Normandy, Gaidz Minassian of Le Monde, Francois de Jouvenel of Futuribles think tank, representatives of the Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament and other experts.

There is a great concern about the Ukraine war and the mood is hawkish. But beneath the surface SFG team were asked several questions about how to solve this huge conflict, role of third parties, post war security architecture and framework for long term peace and disarmament.

In Stockholm, Dr Hans Blix, 95 year old legendary diplomat and former Foreign Minister of Sweden, and Sundeep Waslekar presented their books on ending wars in a gathering of diplomats and scholars - hosted by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Also highly stimulating discussions were held with Stefan Lofven, former Prime Minister of Sweden and Chair of United Nations High Level Advisory Board on Multilateralism. SFG met heads of other organizations and experts including Kevin Casas-Zamora, eminent author Julie Lindahl and others.  There were major questions about the future of Ukraine war, long term framework for global security, and the forthcoming UN Summit of the Future. Many in Sweden are looking for solutions and want to envisage a post war security architecture.