This year's conference, bearing the theme "Incipit Vita Nova – So Begins New Life", a quote from Dante Alighieri, drew attention to the emerging security paradigm in Europe, arising from the ongoing war in Ukraine. Eeva Eek-Pajuste, the Director of the Conference, highlighted that the 'Collective West' perceives Russia's aggression as a brutal, bloody, and revanchist collapse of Europe's last colonial power. However, she stressed the need for enhanced dialogue and understanding, particularly as the war resonates differently in the Global South, unearthing colonial wounds.

Among the high-ranking attendees were Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, and Executive Vice President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager. The discussions were moderated by esteemed figures such as Constanze Stelzenmüller, Director of the Centre on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution.

General Řehka, representing the Czech Republic, contributed his expertise during the Night Owl session titled "A Play of Hopes and Fears: Military Lessons from Ukraine". This session explored the implications of the first full-scale war in Europe since World War Two, and how NATO Allies and Russia’s neighbours should adapt their military training and equipment. Journalist Kateřina Šafaříková, second Czech speaker at the confence, participated in a different Night Owl session, discussing the role of media during the war. Both panels were held under the Chatham House Rule, facilitating open and honest discussion.

The Lennart Meri Conference, named after the prominent Estonian leader and second President of Estonia (1992-2001), is organized by the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS). It continues to be an essential platform in the field of foreign and security policy in the Baltic region and Europe. The 2023 edition reaffirmed its significance, highlighting the need for collective responses to the challenging security landscape, with key insights from the Czech Republic contributing to the richness of the discourse.