Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović participated in the Yerevan Dialogue 2025 international conference, engaging in a panel discussion entitled “Smart, Nimble, and Agile: Foreign Policy for a Fractured World Order.”

During an engaging exchange with esteemed panelists from various European and Asian nations, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović tackled the obstacles small states face in a world that is becoming increasingly unpredictable, stressing the significance of strategic adaptability, regional collaboration, and a consistent foreign policy framework.

Commenting on the role of small nations within a fragmented international landscape, Ivanović remarked that “geography is destiny,” but emphasized that this should not be interpreted as a call for passivity or constraints; instead, it necessitates a thoughtful, responsible, and strategic outlook.

For smaller countries like Montenegro, geographical location and regional volatility are crucial in shaping developmental trajectories. He noted, for example, that the European Union’s new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans prioritizes regional cooperation and economic advancement, eclipsing political divisions.

He reiterated the necessity for a credible and attainable EU enlargement strategy.

If Montenegro, as a frontrunner in the EU integration journey, fails to become a member of the European Union after its numerous achievements, it would send a disheartening message to other candidate nations and erode the credibility of the EU itself, he emphasized.

Ivanović also pointed out the importance of institutional resilience and the capability to swiftly adjust in a continuously evolving global context.

We are navigating through remarkably unstable times. The essential strategy is to maintain stability and focus through smart, rapid, and strategically deliberate actions, he concluded.

Joining Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović on the panel were Peter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Ruben Rubinyan, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly; Charles Flanagan, former Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Sachin Pilot, former Indian Minister of Telecommunications, IT, and Corporate Affairs. The session was moderated by Zbigniew Pisarski, founder and President of the Casimir Pulaski Foundation in Poland.

The panel served as a platform for discussing innovative diplomatic strategies and regional connectivity in a time when predictability is increasingly elusive, and maintaining stability requires proactive and strategic involvement from all members of the international community.