St James’s Foreign Policy Group Hosts Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa

The St James’s Foreign Policy Group was proud to help organise the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa earlier this year - an important international gathering sponsored by Lord Ashcroft that brought together leading policymakers, defence experts, and parliamentarians from across the democratic world.

Set against the backdrop of Ukraine’s ongoing defence of its sovereignty, the three-day Forum explored the evolving security landscape of the Black Sea - now one of the most strategically significant theatres of global competition. Discussions centred on Ukraine’s advances in maritime warfare, the future of grain export routes and global food security, and the need for sustained Western resolve in countering Russian aggression.

Distinguished speakers included former British Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace, Chair of the Ukraine APPG Alex Sobel, former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, , and Labour MPs Fred Thomas, Alan Gemmell, Jess Asato, and Jenny Riddle Carpenter. The Forum also hosted former Australian Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Tony Abbott, who travelled to Odesa to express Australia’s steadfast support for Ukraine.

Participants heard first-hand from Ukrainian defence innovators, naval experts, and frontline officials about how Ukraine — despite lacking a conventional navy — has redefined modern maritime security through unmanned surface drones and tactical ingenuity. The Forum underscored that lessons from the Black Sea have global implications, particularly for the Indo-Pacific and other contested maritime regions.

As the war entered its fourth year, the Forum called for strategic, long-term international support for Ukraine — beyond the battlefield — to ensure lasting regional stability and deter future aggression.

The St James’s Foreign Policy Group remains committed to fostering informed dialogue and transatlantic collaboration on the world’s most pressing security challenges.