The 2BS Conference Budva, Montenegro

Discussions were once again dominated by the crisis in Ukraine with real concern shown about the serious damage to the international system precipitated by Russian actions, and with some of the liveliest discussions of the entire conference revolving around what NATO's response should be. What all participants were able to agree on however were that those values on which the NATO alliance is based, values such as: democracy, human rights and a respect for the rule of law, remain fundamental to all its activities, and that those countries which share these values are to be welcomed to join the alliance, whilst those which reject them will likely face an increasingly robust response in the future.