Bulgarian President Rumen Radev called on world leaders to adopt a broader, more inclusive perspective on global peace and security strategies during his remarks at the international “Aqaba Process for the Balkans” forum held in Sofia on Friday.

Speaking ahead of the high-level gathering, Radev said, “The great challenge not only for the Balkans and Europe but also for the world today is to free itself from the self-deception that it is possible for peace and security to be guaranteed only for a given country and region or at the expense of someone else.”

The one-day event was hosted under the auspices of the Aqaba Process Initiative, co-chaired by Bulgaria and Jordan. Originally launched in 2015 by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the initiative seeks to address urgent global concerns such as terrorism, illegal migration, and radicalisation.

This marks the third edition of the forum with a focus on the Balkan region, aiming to promote regional cooperation and strategic dialogue on shared security challenges.

President Radev stressed the importance of collaborative leadership, saying it is vital for heads of state and policymakers to share insights and work toward common solutions. He urged that the voices of more leaders and experts be heard and respected.

Reflecting on global conflicts, Radev suggested that a broader, more diplomatic approach could have altered the trajectory of recent events, including Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive. He argued that relying solely on military solutions was a miscalculation by many European leaders who hoped Ukraine could negotiate peace from a position of strength.

“The lessons of history are often forgotten, that in times of global conflicts there cannot be isolated islands of peace and tranquillity,” he said.

The president also underscored the specific security concerns facing the Balkans, which are directly impacted by conflicts in nearby regions. He pointed to human trafficking, terrorism, radicalisation, and illegal migration as ongoing threats requiring collective action.

Nearly 30 delegations participated in the forum, including heads of state, government officials, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisation representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps in Bulgaria.