Warsaw Security Forum | Poland, 2026

The Warsaw Security Forum is one of Europe’s leading security conferences. It brings together more than 2,000 politicians, military leaders, policymakers and experts to address the security and defence challenges facing Europe and the transatlantic alliance.

Thinking the Unthinkable was invited to open the Forum’s main stage with two town hall discussions led by Nik Gowing. Bringing senior voices together, the first session confronted the realities of an increasingly ruptured world. Nik led a second town hall on day two and seved as Master of Ceremonies, guiding discussions, panels and speeches from top officials.

What we achieved

Thinking the Unthinkable delivered two town hall discussions across the Forum, creating space for direct, challenging conversations about the threats facing Europe.

Led by Nik Gowing, the sessions brought together senior politicians, diplomats and security leaders to examine the erosion of stability, the changing nature of national secutiry and the urgent need for political leadership. Nik encouraged an open exchange of views and challenged contributors to address difficult questions, together.

Watch the highlights of the first town hall. With contributions from Baroness Catherine Ashton, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Daniel Fried, Michał Baranowski, Lt. Gen. (R) Ben Hodges, Ann Linde, Gen. (R) Wesley Clark.

Key Insights

The discussions highlighted how Europe’s security challenges are becoming increasingly interconnected. From attacks on democratic values and political polarisation, to Russia’s growing agression. The threats facing Europe are extending well beyond traditional defence. As Michał Baranowski observed, the challenge is to connect the dots between multiple unfolding crises at the same time.

A second theme was the need for greater honesty and urgency from our political leaders. There was a challenge to think with imagination, and to open minds to new sinsiter possibilities. Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir stressed the importance of trusting the public with the truth. While Nik Gowing drew parallels with his experiences in Poland during the Solidarity era, when the prospect of conflict seemed unthinkable. The central question is whether Europe’s leaders are prepared to confront the scale of the threats ahead, and act positively.