Klaus Zernack Colloquium 2026 #4

Klaus Zernack Colloquium 2026 #4

The Northern Turn and Baltic Sea Security:

Poland and Germany in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape

The debate will focus on the place of Polish-German relations within this evolving geopolitical framework. Particular attention will be devoted to the prospects for developing a shared strategic culture between Warsaw and Berlin in response to emerging security challenges in the Baltic Sea region, the implications of NATO enlargement to include Finland and Sweden, the future of energy and infrastructure cooperation, and the role of both countries in strengthening deterrence and resilience in Northern and Northeastern Europe.

The discussion will take as its point of departure the article by Damian Szacawa and Piotr Oleksy, The Northern Turn in Geopolitical Culture, which explores the transformation of geopolitical imagination in Central Europe and the growing strategic significance of the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe. The authors argue that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has not only reshaped Europe’s security architecture, but has also redefined the role of NATO’s northern flank and the Baltic area as a key strategic space.

The experts will also consider whether the “Northern Turn” may become a new platform for closer Polish-German cooperation despite existing political and historical differences. The discussion will address not only military cooperation and maritime security, but also the broader implications for European integration, policy towards Russia, and the future regional security order.

The aim of the debate is to reflect on how Poland and Germany can jointly contribute to shaping a new security architecture in the Baltic Sea region and what significance the “Northern dimension” may have for the future of Europe.
The Center for Historical Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, we are organizing a series of interdisciplinary debates featuring special guests.
These debates are part of the Klaus Zernack Colloquium, a format that the Center for Historical Research has been developing for years and which has gained widespread recognition.