Security - Defense
As a result of global strategic competition, security and defense issues are marked by the return of major wars and nuclear deterrence, the transformation of terrorism and the race for military technologies.
Related Subjects
Missile Defense and International Security in the 21st Century
Missile defense appears as a topic of intense international debate every ten years.
Beyond the Cold War Nuclear Legacy: Offense-Defense and the Role of Nuclear Deterrence
The Israeli Changing Security Agenda: Army- Society Relations
This 'Note' aims at giving a better understanding of the very specific and complex ties which link the Israeli nation to its army.
'With the withdrawal of US troops from Germany, Berlin is facing a historic dilemma'
Donald Trump's announcement of the withdrawal of US troops is forcing Berlin to confront the long-standing taboo on its own defense, explains Paul Maurice, a specialist in Franco-German relations at the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) at French Institute of International Relations.
Poking the bear? Armenia welcomes European leaders in Russia's backyard
Just as Europe frets over fresh Trump tariffs, a US troop drawdown announced for Germany and the message it sends to a hostile Russia, how about not one but two summits in former Soviet state Armenia. Before a first-ever gathering of EU leaders in Yerevan on Tuesday comes the European Political Community: a talk shop with regional players which also include Ukraine and NATO heavyweights like the UK, Norway and an outside guest who shares superpower proximity problems.
Germany re-arms: what does it mean for Europe?
Paris sees risks for its industry and the continent’s sovereignty in Berlin’s rapid defence build-up. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s defence spending push has raised concerns about locking in procurement choices and giving German industry an advantage over its neighbours.
Replay - The United States and Europe Adrift: Transatlantic Security in the Trump Era
Against an international backdrop marked by the war in Ukraine, Russia’s emergence as a lasting threat to Europe, and an uncertain U.S. commitment to the Old Continent, questions about the future of the transatlantic relationship are mounting.
Conversation with Nabil Fahmy, designated Secretary General of the Arab League - WPC 2026
Conversation with Nabil Fahmy, designated Secretary General of the Arab League, chaired by Thierry de Montbrial, Founder and Executive Chairman of Ifri and the World Policy Conference.
War in the Middle East: Regional Fractures, Global Shockwaves, and the End of the Old Order
Panel from the World Policy Conference 2026, organized by Thierry de Montbrial and Ifri, from April 24 to 26, 2026.
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Related centers and programs
European & Transatlantic Security
The European & Transatlantic Security Program aims to contribute to the strategic debate by developing analyses around three main axes: European defense and the security architecture of the European continent, institutional and strategic links between the Treaty Organization of North Atlantic (NATO) and the European Union (EU), as well as the evolution of the transatlantic relationship.
Internal Security
The distinction between internal and external threats is often exaggerated, as the borders are so porous. Conflicts taking place thousands of kilometers from France can have tragic resonances on national territory. Radicalization, terrorism and even organized crime have an international dimension that cannot be ignored.
Deterrence and Proliferation
The conflicts in Europe, Asia and the Middle East demonstrate a return of nuclear power to the balance of power. Arsenals are being modernized and expanded, while arms control is collapsing. This research program aims to analyze these phenomena.
Observatory on Future Conflicts
The Observatory of Future Conflicts is a research program carried out by the French Institute of International Relations and the Foundation for Strategic Research on behalf of the three army headquarters aimed at studying developments in tensions and armaments at the horizon 2040 in a transversal perspective, taking into account the issues of each army.
Security Studies Center
Heir to a tradition dating back to the founding of Ifri, the Security Studies Center provides public and private decision-makers as well as the general public with the keys to understanding power relations and contemporary modes of conflict as well as those to come. Through its positioning at the juncture of politics and operations, the credibility of its civil-military team and the wide distribution of its publications in French and English, the Center for Security Studies constitutes in the French landscape of think tanks a unique center of research and influence on the national and international defense debate.
Defense Research Unit
The Defense Research Unit is a program that aims at stimulating the strategic debate by dealing with subjects at the junction of the “technico-operational” and the “political-strategic”. A unique structure in France, it brings together civilian researchers and “military fellows” from each of the three armies to produce work on defense policies, the capability and strategic adaptation of armies, and foresight on tomorrow's conflicts.