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Security - Defense

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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.

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Publications
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USA and the negociations with Iran 2/2 : U.S. views on the true nature of the Iranian regime

22 April 2015
Accroche

Robert Litwak from the Wilson Center joined Ifri on April 22, 2015 for a seminar on the U.S.-Iranian nuclear negotiations. In this video, he analyzes the different views on Iran and its regime. 

Robert Litwak is the Vice President for Scholars and Director of International Security Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

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USA and the negociations with Iran 1/2 : How does each side understand nuclear diplomacy?

22 April 2015
Accroche

Robert Litwak is the Vice President for Scholars and Director of International Security Studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Jihad in Syria and in Iraq: a Сhallenge for France

23 January 2015
Accroche

One week after the terrorist attacks in Paris, the police killed two jihadists in Belgium. Officials said that the two men were coming back from Syria and were on the brink of targeting Brussels. The capital of Belgium was already targeted a few months ago: in May 2014, Mehdi Nemmouche – a French citizen who had trained in Syria – killed 4 persons in Brussels’ Jewish museum.

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Don’t Overhaul French Anti-terrorism

13 January 2015
Accroche

For the past two years, French experts on terrorism have felt anxious. They often emphasized: “The question is not whether France will be targeted by a terrorist attack, but when.” The dreaded attack took place on January 7th, 2015. That evening, various speakers across the media expressed their solidarity with the victims, but also criticized intelligence agencies for their failure, and asked for the implementation of a completely different strategy or the adoption of a new antiterrorist law. Never mind that the last one was only voted on a couple of months ago — the mere occurrence of the attacks shows that something went wrong somewhere. The French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, didn’t hide this fact and asked for a thorough report. But let’s face it: No antiterrorist scheme is foolproof. The attack against Charlie Hebdo should not lead to an entire rethink of a French system that had become stronger over the years and now seems solid.

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American Cyberpower

13 January 2015
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"U.S. Foreign Policy and the Ukrainian Turmoil"

13 January 2015
Accroche

The speakers from the Annual Conference on the United States summarize their talks in short videos. Here, Jeff Mankoff analyzes the strategies put in place by the United States with hopes of containing the situation in Ukraine.

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NATO after the Wales Summit

26 November 2014
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Note Ukraine_Ifri
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Ukraine : the crisis begins

21 May 2014
Accroche

Il y aura un avant et un après. En Ukraine, en Russie, dans toute l’Europe, ailleurs.

La disparition de l’Ukraine comme entité souveraine – on en est plus près que jamais – serait un coup de tonnerre en Europe. Parce que l’espace qui lui survivrait serait très difficilement gérable, ouvrant le risque d’une longue guerre civile dans le style Balkans- années 1990. Et parce que la Russie est incapable de gérer seule cet espace où les Occidentaux n’ont guère l’envie de s’investir profondément.

Une Europe aux abonnés quasi-absents. La crise prend à contre-pied une Politique européenne de voisinage (PEV) brouil- lonne, éclaire l’impuissance militaire de l’Union de Lisbonne et son incapacité à s’entendre sur une stratégie commune face à un pro- blème fondamental dans son voisinage, tant demeurent prégnants les intérêts nationaux, et non politiques les mécanismes bruxellois.

Et loin, très loin, l’Amérique... Une Amérique finalement assez peu présente dans la crise, mais qui se voit, en un temps d’incertitude sur son propre positionnement stratégique, renvoyer la question fondamentale de ces 20 dernières années – qu’elle n’a pas plus que les autres les moyens de trancher : le système international retourne- t-il à grande vitesse vers une structure d’affrontement classique dont Moscou pourrait, avec Pékin, constituer l’épicentre ? Ou, bon an mal an, reste-t-il stable, avec de bons moyens d’amortir les cahots ici ou là inévitables ?

Sur l’ensemble de ces thèmes et bien d’autres encore, l’Ifri présente ici quelques brèves introductions à l’ensemble des débats ouverts par les événements ukrainiens. La crise ukrainienne ne fait que commencer.​

 

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The Baltic Forum 2013

25 October 2013
Accroche

Significant changes in global and regional energy supply and demand, as well as their influence on the political decision-making determine the need to restore proper expert analysis of problems and development perspectives.

Traffic streams, especially energy resource transit, are directly subordinate to the changes in the relations between the countries of the world. Logistics cannot be considered in isolation from the international security and energy policy.

The ensuring of Euro-Atlantic security to the countries and country groups in the surrounding turbulent world is one of the most important and topical issues for joint consideration.

Watch the discussion

Hybrid Warfare in the Strategic Spectrum: an Historical Assessment

Date de publication
30 December 2015
Accroche

"Hybrid Warfare" is a fashionable concept, but in order fo it to be really relevant, it has to be visualized within the whole strategic spectrum.

War’s Indirection or the Return of the Limited War

Date de publication
01 December 2015
Accroche

Over the last few years both the United States and Russia seem to have changed their conception of how to deploy force. 

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Cross-Domain Coercion: The Current Russian Art of Strategy

Date de publication
02 November 2015
Accroche

This paper traces the evolution of Russian views on the art of coercion, and on the role of nuclear weapons in it, from the post-Cold War “regional nuclear deterrence” thinking to the current “Gerasimov Doctrine”.

Activists Without Borders

Date de publication
30 June 2015
Accroche

Various associations organise trips to Israel and/or to the Palestinian Territories. Someone who has no previous knowledge of the Near East and who takes part in a journey organised by a pro-Israeli group, would return to France with a very different vision of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to that of someone who had travelled with a pro-Palestinian group.

For more information concerning the complete work, please click on this link.

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Deploying the Bundeswehr: more transparency, more flexibility, but Parliament’s consent remains key - The Rühe Commission’s final report

Date de publication
17 June 2015
Accroche

Besides the often invoked historical dimension behind Germany’s strategic culture of restraint, there are today very tangible legal reasons that prevent assertive German military interventionism (which are, of course, directly linked to the historical dimension): any intervention of the German armed forces requires the Bundestag’s consent. 

European Defence: Minilateralism is not the enemy

Date de publication
30 May 2015
Accroche

To access the whole publication, please click on this link.

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Conventionalizing Deterrence? U.S. Prompt Strike Programs and Their Limits

Date de publication
14 January 2015
Accroche

About a decade ago, the U.S. started to examine options to develop and acquire Conventional Prompt Global Strike capabilities. This move fits in an effort to conventionalize deterrence, an effort initiated decades before and undertaken for profound and diverse motives. Although it has been renewed under the Obama administration, which aims to reduce the U.S. reliance on nuclear weapons, this ambition has resulted in very little concrete progress.

The Amphibious Endeavour: Tactical Risk, Strategic Influence

Date de publication
26 February 2014
Accroche

Despite a centuries-long history, amphibious operations were rarely in the spotlight before the Second World War. Meteorological constraints and joint planning challenges both emphasize their risky and complex character. Lessons learned highlight indispensable operational requirements such as superior naval power, favourable strength ratio for disembarked forces and the advantage of surprise.

The Return of Robert Gates

Date de publication
12 January 2014
Accroche

The memoirs of public men are exercises in self-promotion and self-justification. They are designed to etch a portrait of the (wo)man that will live across time. It's the legacy thing. These days, that legacy pertains also to the "here and now" since memoirs are not necessarily the conclusion of a career but rather the curtain-raising on its next act.

Political and Economic Effects of Qaddafi's Death on Chad

Date de publication
30 December 2013
Accroche

On 24 August 2011, President Idriss Déby Itno of Chad recognised the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the only legitimate authority in Libya. Until then, the Chadian president had been a firm ally of the Guide of the Great Jahamiriya, President Qaddafi of Libya. Déby had sustained his long-time friend and helper with military equipment and soldiers from Chad from the beginning of the uprisings.

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Ifri, a foundation recognized as being of public utility, relies largely on private donors – companies and individuals – to guarantee its sustainability and intellectual independence. Through their funding, donors help maintain the Institute's position among the world's leading think tanks. By benefiting from an internationally recognized network and expertise, donors refine their understanding of geopolitical risk and its consequences on global politics and the economy. In 2024, Ifri will support more than 70 French and foreign companies and organizations.

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Related centers and programs
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T-72B3 battle tank, NATO
European & Transatlantic Security
Accroche centre

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.

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Legionnaires patrolling during the sentinel operation in Paris
Internal Security
Accroche centre

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.

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Nuclear ballistic missile submarine, in transit on the surface
Deterrence and Proliferation
Accroche centre

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.

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Group of kamkazza combat drones against the background of sky and clouds, top view, 3d rendering. Concept: war in Ukraine, drone attack.
Observatory on Future Conflicts
Accroche centre

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.

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 A soldier watching a sunset on an armored infantry fighting vehicle
Security Studies Center
Accroche centre

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.

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French soldiers during an exercise in the forest
Defense Research Unit
Accroche centre

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.

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