Paul Fritch is a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Middle East Institute Switzerland (MEIS) and a Non-Resident Executive Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP). A former career member of the United States Foreign Service, he has held senior executive positions at NATO, where he was instrumental in the creation of the NATO-Russia Council and the official launch of a NATO membership dialogue with Ukraine, as well as at the OSCE, where he provided support to six Chairmanships and coordinated preparations for the 2010 Astana Summit. He has also served at U.S. embassies in Bonn, Germany, and Moscow, Russia, and in a number of national security policy positions in Washington, most recently coordinating the State Department’s input into the 2021 Global Posture Review, 2022 National Defense Strategy and 2022 National Military Strategy. Paul is a four-time recipient of the State Department’s Superior Honor Award. He was recognised as the Department’s 2006 Linguist of the Year and was awarded a Presidential Medal from the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Paul Fritch
Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Middle East Institute Switzerland (MEIS) and a Non-Resident Executive Fellow at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)
Content by Paul Fritch
Commentary
Helsinki+50: Rediscovering the OSCE’s legacy
As the OSCE marks 50 years since the Helsinki Final Act, Paul Fritch argues that participating States and civil society should shift from debating its relevance to rediscovering its legacy. Despite recent crises, its rich experience in arms control, conflict resolution, and democratic governance offers valuable tools for addressing today’s security challenges, should states choose to act through it.
Commentary
The OSCE in Ukraine: “First Responder” or Last Resort?
Paul Fritch argues the case that despite its subtracters the OSCE mission to Ukraine has been an efficient and capable operator, restrained more by its mandate than by lack of ability.