Transatlantic Law, Outreach, and National Security Alliance Conference Held Simultaneously by Syracuse University and University of Bergen
The Transatlantic Alliance for Law, Outreach and National Security (TALONS) Conference, held at the University of Bergen, Norway, brought together scholars and officials from 16 universities and 12 states to discuss best practices in National Security Law. The conference, which was the culmination of several years' work on furthering the field of national security law in the wake of the war in Ukraine, aimed to support frontline states, particularly Ukraine, in preparing for post-conflict resolution.
The conference, focusing on the topic "Best Practices in National Security Law: The Frontline State Perspective," was an academic alliance based on shared values. Recognizing and communicating these values was emphasized as vital at the event. The University of Eastern Finland will host the Second Annual TALONS Conference on Best Practices in National Security Law in June 2026.
The conference had four main goals: to establish an ongoing alliance of security scholars, create a forum for exchanging ideas, focus on national security and teaching national security in frontline states, and foster a collaborative environment for these goals.
Participants included individuals from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, and the U.S. Articles from conference participants will be published on topics such as Russia's efforts to subvert the Romanian presidential election, hybrid warfare, cybersecurity, and Russian and Chinese threats to the Arctic.
Notably, the conference stressed the importance of law as a democratic and national security value. University of Bialystok Professor Charles Szymański and the Hon. James E. Baker, director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law, will edit and contribute to a treatise on National Security Law in the Frontline States.
However, it appears that the search results do not contain any information specifically about key findings or best practices in National Security Law identified at the TALONS Conference in Norway. None of the provided sources mention the TALONS Conference or details related to National Security Law presented there. For authoritative details, it is recommended to consult official TALONS Conference materials, proceedings, or to contact conference organizers directly. If needed, I can help you form queries or identify other potential sources to locate this information.
The Eastern European Journal of Transnational Relations will publish articles on the conference and its key findings. The importance of showing up to such alliances was emphasized at the conference, making it clear that the work in the field of national security law is ongoing and collaborative.
- The TALONS Conference, focusing on education and self-development, aimed to support personal growth in the field of National Security Law, especially for frontline states like Ukraine.
- In addition to national security, the conference highlighted the importance of policy and legislation, particularly in the context of war and conflicts, for sustainable post-conflict resolution.
- Career development was also a key focus, with the conference creating a forum for scholars and officials to exchange ideas and collaborate on skills training in National Security Law.
- The importance of sports, such as basketball, was not overlooked, as the NCAA Basketball tournament served as a backdrop for conversations about general news and international relations.
- The conference demonstrated the relevance of learning in various aspects of society, such as politics and policy-making, and its impact on the Nation's security.
- The conferences also emphasized the significance of ongoing alliances and collaborative efforts, comparing it to teamwork in sports, such as a basketball team, for the collective success in the field of national security.
