Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Amsterdam, God’s Embassy, Friday, 10th of June 2022 At the 11th Salt & Light event of Sallux speakers shed light on ongoing several regional geopolitical issues. The aim of the discussed topics was to help shape an understanding of the interrelation of these issues and how to approach them from a Christian perspective. So far Christian involvement in geopolitics (and foreign policy overall) has been by and large a collection of scattered points mainly focused at four areas. Namely: Afterward the presentation, the program continued with presentations by two more speakers: Mr. Henk Valk, foreign policy advisor of the Christian Union Party (CU) of the Netherlands and Mr. Arjen Klein, expert on defense policies at the Reformed Political Party (SGP). They presented a similar summary of thoughts to geopolitics, but rather from the Dutch perspective. They highlighted that ‘Our values ARE our interests’ which we should stand for and that our government has the duty to protect them. They explained how the Dutch Human Rights policies stem from these values but are not the same.
The first presentation was held by Johannes de Jong, managing director of Sallux. He discussed how the situation in Ukraine has forced all of Europe to take geopolitics seriously and not as an issue that only plays ‘outside Europe’. As a consequence of the conflict fundamental interrelated questions were raised, such as: whether the freedom of Ukraine more important than that of other peoples. Or, why do we support the opposition of Belarus but not that of Sudan, Iran and other countries?
- Freedom Of Religion and Belief (FORB) especially for persecuted Christians
- Israel
- The importance of religion overall in foreign/global affairs
- Social justice/aid.
The director explained how, although each of these points are valuable, even taken together they are insufficient in shaping a full Christian vision on foreign affairs and geopolitics.
He raised the question of how we as Christians, can change these traditional views and develop a holistic geopolitical approach to geopolitics and formulated an alternative vision in line with Christian core beliefs and values.
Furthermore, the director suggested specific directions to continue diplomacy with all the world in ways which hold up fundamental freedoms without favoring bad actors actively undermining our societies and global security.
Eventually, the speakers both offered specific strategies which could open a window to a stable economy upholding these values.
The event ended with a Q&A round with lively discussions and an opportunity for participants to exchange views on the novel approaches to geopolitics from a biblical perspective.
Sallux is in particular thankful to be blessed with our long-standing members the ‘European Economic Summit’ and the ‘Scientific Institute of the Reformed Political Party of the Netherlands’ for facilitating and hosting this year’s Salt & Light event.