A Nation Must Think Before it Acts
Central Europe on the World Stage
A nation must think before it acts.
Central Europe on the World Stage
October 20, 2026 | 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
About the Event
The Visegrád Four (V4)—Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia—stand at a pivotal moment in European geopolitics. Long viewed through the lens of regional integration, the V4 countries are increasingly central to European security architecture, NATO’s Eastern Flank defense, and the future of transatlantic strategy.
As global security dynamics shift, understanding the political trajectories and foreign policy directions of Central Europe is a vital piece of the conversation on transatlantic relations. What is the evolving role of the Visegrád Group in European politics? How will internal political shifts impact regional solidarity? Crucially, what does the future of the V4 mean for United States foreign policy and the broader transatlantic alliance?
Co-hosted with New Eastern Europe, this virtual event brings together leading experts to spotlight this critical region. Our panel will explore the past legacies, present security and political realities, and strategic future of Central Europe, highlighting why the region's geopolitical weight matters more to Washington and Brussels than ever before.
FPRI is happy to provide this event free of charge thanks to the generous support of our members, partners, and event attendees. If you are not currently a member, the suggested donation is $50.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Events and Development Manager, Christine Datesman at cdatesman@fpri.org
Speakers
Mitchell Orenstein - Mitchell Orenstein is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program and Professor and Chair of Russian and Eastern European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Adam Reichardt - Adam Reichardt is the Editor-in-Chief of the New Eastern Europe magazine based in Poland.
Zsuzsanna Végh - Zsuzsanna Végh is a program officer with the German Marshall Fund’s European Resilience program in Berlin.
Natalia Kopytnik - Natalia Kopytnik is the Director of Communications and Strategic Outreach at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. ; Moderator
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