Eeben Barlow: THE IX MOSCOW CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
THE IX MOSCOW CONFERENCE ON INTERNATIONAL SECURITY by Eeben Barlow
I had the pleasure of being invited to Moscow to participate in the IX Moscow Conference on International Security in June 2021. Having been a speaker at the previous conference in 2019 (last year’s conference was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic), I was invited back to the conference. Although informed I was to partake in a session to discuss the challenges and problems when rebuilding African armies, my preparations were in vain as it never happened due to several factors beyond everyone’s control. Despite this change in plan, there were some positives…There were many very good and interesting discussions, and some less so.
The Radisson Collection Hotel was as grand as ever. Not only is the hotel steeped in history, it also served as the conference venue. Being there allowed me to reconnect with some African ministers, diplomats, and officers I have not seen in a long time and meet many new ones.
What was pleasing was the excitement and positivity I encountered that Executive Outcomes (EO) has been reactivated.
These ministers, diplomats and officers have long realised the massive disinformation campaign to stop EO—driven primarily by South African-generated deception and other foreign interests— and in the process, how it ruined their chances to bring about an end to conflicts across the continent. As a result of this foolishness, many governments still view South Africa through a very jaundiced lens.
The city was exactly as I remembered it; clean and packed with incredible architecture, museums, churches, and more. With a history that has also covered turbulent times, the people have not gone about systematically destroying buildings and ruining the city. In fact, anarchy is not tolerated there. Unfortunately, Covid has also left its impact on Moscow and many places of interest were closed. Here are some of the photos that were taken.+9
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