The world order is undergoing a profound and accelerating reconfiguration. In this multipolar context, actors such as China, Turkey, Russia, India, and Gulf region countries like the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia, are increasingly asserting themselves as essential strategic partners for the continent. Simultaneously, European states are also seeking to redefine their roles on the continent.

European energy policy sits at the fault line of geopolitical conflict, climate obligations, and transatlantic bargaining. While Hungary, Slovakia and others remain heavily reliant on Russian gas, the EU has sought to harden its stance through sanctions -most recently with Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement of a ban on Russian LNG imports in the 19th package.

Annual Conference of The Study Committe on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) ─ Faced with a profoundly disrupted strategic and economic environment, Franco-German cooperation is more than ever the central pillar of Europe's future. The war in Ukraine, energy and technological dependence, and uncertainty about the strength of the transatlantic ties require urgent deepening of European sovereignty, both in terms of defence and economic and industrial competitiveness.

As tensions continue to rise in the Taiwan Strait and discussions grow about hybrid frictions potentially escalating into a kinetic conflict in the coming years, neighboring countries are bracing for impact. Japan and the Philippines would be on the front lines if a crisis were to erupt in the Taiwan Strait.

Greece stands at the crossroads of Europe’s southern flank, the Balkans, and the Eastern Mediterranean, a pivotal position for regional security and stability.

This seminar, co-organized by Ifri, CAPS, and the GCSP, brought together a wide range of international experts to analyze political, security, and economic transformations in the Eastern Mediterranean, two years after October 7.

Amid growing strategic and geopolitical uncertainty, Europe is grappling with the notion of its strategic autonomy. For Europe’s partners in Asia, the concept is also becoming increasingly salient as the world enters an era of structural transformation.

The policy orientations of the Trump II administration profoundly challenge the foundations of international cooperation in space science and exploration. This shift reflects a broader trend of strategic disengagement and weakening of multilateral mechanisms in the space domain.

The United States’ strategic posture is currently marked by significant uncertainty and contradictory signals.

Egypt, with a population of over 115 million, is a key state in the Arab world. Its geographical position places it at the heart of regional tensions, which have been particularly heightened since October 7, 2023. Sharing a border with the Gaza Strip, it has been involved in providing humanitarian aid and in negotiating a ceasefire.