As the United States, China, and India solidify their lunar ambitions, Europe is still seeking to define its stance: should it be a reliable partner or an autonomous strategic player? This conference will examine the stakes of this new race to the Moon and Europe’s interest in asserting itself as a lunar power through partnerships, industrial ambitions, and whether its participation in the new lunar race serves as a lever for strategic autonomy and internal cohesion, or an illustration of its dependence.

Since the return of high-intensity warfare in Europe and the rise of strategic tensions in the Indo-Pacific, the issue of managing escalation between nuclear powers has taken center stage in U.S. strategic thinking and, to a lesser extent, in the European one.

The first edition of the “Paris Dialogue” took place on 8 and 9 June. The initiative was launched by Ifri, France’s leading think tank, and AGDA, a center of excellence based in Abu Dhabi. It is co-chaired by Thierry de Montbrial, executive chairman of Ifri, and Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to H.H. the President of the United Arab Emirates, and deputy chairman of the board of trustees of AGDA.