The Global Special Operations Forces Foundation (GSOF) – the professional association dedicated to advocating for SOF globally – is holding a symposium in Europe this year from 24-26 October in Brno, in the Czech Republic. The Global SOF Foundation is a non-profit organisation that is growing an international network of military, government, commercial, and educational stakeholders in order to advance SOF capabilities and partnerships to confront global and networked threats. It hosts a series of events, mainly in the United States, but launched its European symposium in 2016.
GSOF Symposium Europe 2023 (GSOF Europe) addresses a gap in the national security conversation: it aims to connect like-minded public and private bodies to increase the understanding of special operations. The symposium highlights the role that special operations can play in addressing global security challenges, especially those emanating from unconventional and transnational sources.
With GSOF Europe the Foundation helps to provide unique speakers at a tailored event to offer perspectives on an element of warfare not discussed at length in the public domain.
The Programme
GSOF Europe’s content programme is very strong, with a wide array of speakers addressing subjects of interest to the special forces community. The programme has been split into two sections: the first is an open symposium that is available for all visitors at GSOF to listen to, while the second is for military and government attendees only.
From the open symposium sessions Brigadier General Claudiu Dobocan (Commander, Special Operations Forces, Romania) will speak on a panel about the Role of SOF in Competition, Crisis and Conflict. Dr Isaiah ‘Ike’ Wilson III (Former President of the Joint Special Operations University) will give a speech on ‘What Winning (Can) Look Like: Utility of Special Operations in Compound Security Competition.’
Exhibitors
GSOF Europe places defence product manufacturers directly in front of specialist military procurement teams from across the globe. Exhibitors from Australia, Slovenia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and many more will be showcasing their products at the event.
Exhibitors will have the chance to engage with a wide range of stakeholders from the global SOF community to understand the requirements and capability gaps of different nations’ militaries and then tailor their products as a result.
A Global Reach
GSOF Europe will have a distinctly global flavour, with SOF representatives from all over the world expected to be present at the event, including from the Czech Republic as the host nation, but also from other nations including Colombia, Lithuania, Romania, Thailand and Ukraine.
