"From Strategy to Action": The 3rd Annual Two-Day International Conference "Comprehensive Security & Resilience — 2026" Held in Yerevan

YEREVAN, Armenia — Strategic competition, technological disruptions, and hybrid threats are unsettling global stability, placing security-vulnerable democracies under unprecedented pressure. Responding to this urgent imperative, the Women & Global Security Architecture (WGSA) think tank hosted the 3rd annual international conference “Comprehensive Security & Resilience — 2026” on September 17–18 in Yerevan.

Operating under the motto “From Strategy to Action,” this flagship multi-stakeholder platform convened high-level officials from the Republic of Armenia, international partners, defense policy experts, and civil society leaders for the third consecutive year. The forum aimed to translate battle-tested security solutions into practice, while fostering innovative approaches and forward-looking strategies.

The conference commenced with opening remarks by WGSA President Armine Margaryan, who underscored the strategic urgency of transitioning from traditional, siloed defense models toward agile, multi-layered resilience ecosystems:

“Modern asymmetric and hybrid threats require a seamless synergy between whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches. Building a comprehensive defense system is an ongoing institutional journey that demands coordinated civil participation, rather than relying solely on the state apparatus.”

H.E. Ms. Kirsti Narinen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to Armenia, highlighted the role of whole-of-society engagement in strengthening security resilience during her welcoming remarks:

“Comprehensive security means that vital societal functions are safeguarded through horizontal cooperation among all stakeholders. Democratic institutions, state agencies, businesses, NGOs, research centers, and citizens work together.”

Expanding upon this framework of collective responsibility, H.E. Ms. Alexandra Cole, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Armenia, stressed the imperative of operationalizing comprehensive security models alongside active civic participation:

“Citizens and institutions must not be viewed as passive actors or mere victims in the face of ongoing security threats… As the saying goes in English, ‘hope is not a strategy.’ We must recognize that hard work lies ahead to translate all our proposals regarding a comprehensive security and resilience framework into an actionable program.”

Delivering the keynote address for the second consecutive year, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan articulated the Government’s strategic priorities for reinforcing state sovereignty and institutional capabilities, noting that genuine security mandates a fundamental shift in perception:

“Many of our security challenges begin in our mindset—in our perception of reality and our environment… A country without a combat-ready army simply risks becoming an attractive target for aggression, inviting conflict. Within our security architecture, a combat-ready army operates strictly within the bounds of international legitimacy.”

Moving from macro-level strategies to executive implementation, the conference featured a series of high-level Fireside Chats and thematic panel discussions dedicated to key operational pillars of comprehensive security.

During the Fireside Chat “Operationalizing Comprehensive Security: Localizing Best Practices in Armenia,” Cyberwatch Finland Director Aapo Cederberg emphasized that effective national resilience rests on proactive risk management, “security-by-design” principles in digital infrastructure, and continuous public education models across all segments of society.

In the panel discussion “Countering Hybrid Threats: What Measures Are We Taking?” participants examined how Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) alongside domestic disinformation exploit cognitive vulnerabilities. The discussion highlighted how non-kinetic threats across Europe and the South Caucasus have intensified through cyberattacks and DDoS operations targeting critical infrastructure. The consensus underscored the need for robust regulatory frameworks, information sharing, and a long-term commitment to media literacy.

In the panel discussion “Operationalizing Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society Approaches,” the whole-of-society model was framed as a modern mechanism for civic preparedness. Panelists stressed that functional resilience requires continuous interagency readiness, joint civil-military exercises, and early warning systems.

The first day concluded with the high-level Fireside Chat “The Internal Front of Security: Institutional Stability, Civil Protection, and Societal Resilience” featuring Armenia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan. The Minister emphasized:

“Modern civil protection cannot remain an isolated emergency service; it requires institutionalized coordination, swift public communication, and deep integration with local communities to withstand hybrid crises.”

The second day of the conference opened with the panel discussion “Modern Warfare and Tactical Sovereignty: The Military Dimension of Comprehensive Security,” during which speakers analyzed lessons from high-intensity conflicts, underscoring the vital need for rapid technological adaptability, decentralized command structures, and a domestic defense industry.

This was followed by the Fireside Chat “The Role of Parliament in the Comprehensive Security System: Legislative Framework and Democratic Oversight” with Vilen Gabrielyan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security of the National Assembly of Armenia, who noted:

“Democratic oversight is not an impediment to national defense; it is the ultimate guarantee of institutional integrity and legislative adaptability.”

Completing the series of bilateral discussions, the Fireside Chat “Reframing Foreign Policy: Aligning Trade, Diplomacy, and National Resilience” featured Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Vahan Kostanyan, who remarked:

“Diplomatic engagement today is intrinsically linked to economic diversification, supply chain security, and strategic trade partnerships that mitigate asymmetric vulnerabilities.”

The thematic working sessions concluded with the panel discussion “The Armenia–EU Agenda: Achievements, Opportunities, and Challenges,” where participants mapped out prospects for Armenia–EU convergence, highlighting economic resilience, visa liberalization, civil society monitoring, and the security of strategic energy and transport corridors.

The official proceedings concluded with a closing address by H.E. Ms. Marge Mardisalu-Kahar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Estonia to Armenia, who reflected on the commonalities shared by small democratic nations facing external pressures:

“At the core of comprehensive security is indeed society as a whole—the undeniable realization that without societal cohesion and the strength of every link in the chain, a nation cannot remain resilient… You must plan rigorously, and we must practice, practice, and practice again.”

Reflecting on the conference’s outcomes and outlining next steps, Armine Margaryan reaffirmed WGSA’s institutional mission in translating high-level security dialogue into tangible policy outcomes:

“Resilience is neither a static state nor passive defense; it is an active, continuous national discipline. The insights, strategic models, and interagency workflows developed throughout this conference will be directly synthesized into a White Paper to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Defense and Security System in the Republic of Armenia and accelerate the nation’s transition from strategy to concrete action.”