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

Three years after the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the France-Ukraine 2025 Forum will welcome politicians, experts, academics, and civil society representatives from both countries to discuss three main topics: Ukraine's current military strategy and strategic perspectives;  the country's resilience and recovery; Ukraine's European and transatlantic perspectives, including the EU accession process and its aspirations to join NATO.

The evolving U.S. strategic posture and the intensification of the war in Ukraine are reshaping the security landscape in Europe. This context calls for a clear assessment of the balance of power between Europe and Russia.

The new German government, a "grand coalition" likely led by Friedrich Merz, will have to navigate a complex international environment, marked notably by a disruption of transatlantic relations. The Trump administration's attacks on traditional U.S. allies, the rapprochement between Washington and Moscow, as well as the uncertainties surrounding the future of NATO, are shaking the paradigms of German foreign policy.

European foreign intelligence services have had to continuously adapt to the rapidly evolving security landscape of the past few years. Following challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, financial crises, and hybrid threats, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has placed conventional military conflict at the centre of European security concerns.

Donald Trump’s announcement in January 2025 of his intention to seize Greenland has brought the Arctic back to the forefront of great power rivalries.

As security tensions mount in Europe's far north, particularly as a result of Russian destabilization and intimidation, France and Finland are developing their defense cooperation and strategic partnership. On this occasion, Ifri welcomes French and Finnish decision-makers and experts to discuss opportunities for strengthening Franco-Finnish cooperation, taking into account current strategic challenges and future prospects.

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