ICE in the podcast Slovensko a svet očami diplomatov
Bratislava, december 2025
(Note: The podcast is in Slovak)
Katarína Cséfalvayová was a guest on the podcast Slovensko a svet očami diplomatov (Slovakia and the World Through the Eyes of Diplomats), hosted by Martin Klus and produced by Hospodárske noviny. In the interview, she explains why the international environment has changed more profoundly in recent years than during the entire period since 1989, what this means for Slovakia, and what Europe can do to become better prepared and more resilient.
The world in accelerated geopolitical change
At the beginning of the discussion, Katarína notes that the pace of geopolitical change is unprecedented: “Over the past five to six years, the world has changed more than during the three decades following the fall of the Iron Curtain,” she says. Today’s international politics is marked by the return of war to the European continent, the forceful assertion of spheres of influence, and the emergence of a multipolar order that resembles a competition among powers rather than a balanced multipolar system. At the same time, the so-called weaponization of interdependencies is increasing. What was once meant to bring prosperity and stability — energy, raw materials, semiconductors, and critical technologies — is now often being used as a tool of pressure.
Underestimated hybrid threats and the erosion of trust
Katarína recalls that already during the annexation of Crimea, the West failed to respond adequately to Russia’s hybrid operations: “The biggest mistake was that we underestimated hybrid warfare,” she warns. Disinformation and long-term influence operations have weakened trust in institutions, media, and democratic processes in many countries. This is why, according to her, peace can no longer be taken for granted and must be actively protected.
A stronger Europe as part of collective security
One of the key topics of the interview is the development of European defence. Katarína stresses that this should be seen as a complement to NATO, not an alternative: “If Europe becomes more capable of defending itself, it will also strengthen the North Atlantic Alliance.” She also points to years of underinvestment in defence research and innovation. Dual-use technologies, which can be applied for both civilian and defence purposes, will be crucial in the future. Slovakia, she argues, has significant but largely untapped potential in this area: “We have a long history and strong industrial foundations in the defence sector, yet we barely talk about innovation in defence,” she adds.
Why the Institute for Central Europe (ICE) was established
The interview also addresses the reasons behind the creation of ICE. Katarína describes a growing gap between political debate and academic research — two worlds that should cooperate rather than bypass one another. “Political debate has drifted away from expertise and research, and academia often hesitates to enter the public space. ICE was established to reconnect these two worlds,” she explains.
ICE is built on close cooperation with universities, researchers, and expert institutions in Slovakia and abroad. Our work focuses on areas such as:
- defence and security,
- technological innovation,
- migration,
- green transformation,
- European policies and legislation.
Central Europe and the future of regional cooperation
Another topic of the discussion is the state of the Visegrad Group. Katarína acknowledges that political cohesion weakened after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, yet she argues that regional cooperation still makes sense. “I would not want to dismiss the V4 altogether. There are still areas where it can be useful, from infrastructure to innovation. Smaller states achieve greater results when they cooperate,” she says. At the same time, ICE seeks to bring a Central European perspective into debates in Western Europe, where the region is often discussed through stereotypes or without sufficient understanding of its specific context.
Regional transformation as a shared task
In the final part of the interview, Katarína addresses issues that affect the entire region: migration, energy, and the green transition. She emphasizes that Central Europe needs not criticism, but constructive solutions and the involvement of partners, from businesses to universities.
“There is much more that unites us than divides us. If we can build on that, our region can become one of the leaders of the green transition,” she concludes.
Listen to or watch the full interview here (in Slovak):
The episode is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQRfSVwtXK8
