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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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France starts 2025 with fresh controversy, questions over Africa

11 December 2025
Nom du journal, revue ou émission
Voice of America
Accroche

France starts 2025 with a further drawdown of its military presence in its former African colonies, and fresh tensions ignited this week with controversial remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Arctic: A New Era of Geopolitical Tensions? The Alert from the Norwegian Intelligence Director

19 March 2025
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An interview with Nils-Andreas Stensønes, Director of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, conducted by Daphné Benoit, Head of international affairs, AFP, on the occasion of Ifri's conference "New geopolitical realities of the Arctic", 19 March 2025.

Nils-Andreas Stensønes, Director of the Norwegian Intelligence Service
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The Economist (logo)
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Europe thinks the unthinkable on a nuclear bomb

12 March 2025
Nom du journal, revue ou émission
The Economist
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Poland wants co-operation with France on a nuclear deterrent. That could take many forms.

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A Transatlantic Defense Industrial Base? Two Contrasting Views

Date de publication
12 March 2025
Accroche

The evolving landscape of global defense cooperation has brought the transatlantic relationship between the United States (US) and Europe into sharp focus. As geopolitical tensions rise and the threat environment becomes more complex, the question of how Europe can best ensure its security while navigating its relationship with the United States has become paramount. This double feature report offers two contrasting views on the dynamics of US-Europe defense industrial relations, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for both parties.

Jonathan CAVERLEY Ethan B. KAPSTEIN Élie TENENBAUM Léo PÉRIA-PEIGNÉ

(Replay) US-China-Taiwan Relations: What to expect in the Trump II Era?

11 March 2025
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Replay of Ifri's Center for Asian Studies' conference "US-China-Taiwan Relations: What to expect in the Trump II era?", held at Ifri on Tuesday 11 March 2025.

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IISS
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Better know a nuke: France

06 March 2025
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IISS
Accroche

In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by nuclear policy experts Héloïse Fayet, Emmanuelle Maitre and Dr Liviu Horovitz to discuss the history and the current trajectory of France's nuclear arsenal.

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Politique étrangère, n° 1/2025

France Contested in Overseas Territories - Politique étrangère, Vol. 90, No. 1, Spring 2025

Date de publication
04 March 2025
Accroche

New Caledonia, Mayotte: France's overseas territories were severely shaken in 2024. Beyond explanations of the economic situation, the place of these overseas territories in French policies and strategies is once again being called into question.

Are France's overseas territories the remnants of an outdated colonialism? Or, on the contrary, are they supports for an extended French presence that the opening-up of the world makes indispensable, and barriers raised here and there against the appetites of new powers? In any case, what policies should the Hexagone pursue in these regions, to promote better development and more effective integration into their environment? And is the legal status of these overseas territories untouchable?

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Ukraine: A Year of Uncertain Peace - Politique étrangère, Vol. 90, No. 1, Spring 2025

Date de publication
04 March 2025
Accroche

During his election campaign, Donald Trump promised to settle the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. As the American president settles into the White House, different options are emerging for the future of this conflict. Some are more likely than others, but none can be ruled out. European countries appear increasingly divided over Russia, and the European Union risks paying a high price if it fails to come up with a solid common strategy.

Pierre VIMONT
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Trump 2: Challenges for the US Military Posture - Politique étrangère, Vol. 90, No. 1, Spring 2025

Date de publication
04 March 2025
Accroche

The distribution of operational leverage points in US strategy has changed significantly over the past two decades, with a sharp reduction. Donald Trump's distancing and repeated criticism of traditional US alliances threaten to undermine the entire architecture of the US presence in the world, beyond the concrete, real and, in particular, industrial impasses of America's military posture.

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I see some degree of — I don’t want to say panic — but really alarmed Europeans who realize they need to stick together as much as possible.
If the Europeans want to step up and make up for the loss of American aid to Ukraine, it needs to happen now, they need to put the money on the table; they need to pass on the orders to the defense industry.
Europe is lacking ammunition, we’re lacking replacement parts, we’re lacking readiness.

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A Transatlantic Defense Industrial Base? Two Contrasting Views

Date de publication
12 March 2025
Accroche

The evolving landscape of global defense cooperation has brought the transatlantic relationship between the United States (US) and Europe into sharp focus. As geopolitical tensions rise and the threat environment becomes more complex, the question of how Europe can best ensure its security while navigating its relationship with the United States has become paramount. This double feature report offers two contrasting views on the dynamics of US-Europe defense industrial relations, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for both parties.

Jonathan CAVERLEY Ethan B. KAPSTEIN Élie TENENBAUM Léo PÉRIA-PEIGNÉ

The China-Russia Partnership and the Ukraine War: Aligned but not allied

Date de publication
20 February 2025
Accroche

China and Russia maintain a strategic partnership rooted in shared opposition to the U.S. and liberal democracies, but their relationship is shaped more by pragmatism than trust.

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France’s Contributions to Pacific Maritime Governance

France’s Contributions to Pacific Maritime Governance

Date de publication
20 February 2025
Accroche

France stands out as the only European country capable of making a substantial security contribution to the South Pacific, with a permanent presence of 2,800 military personnel extensively skilled in regional cooperation.

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The United Nations Mission in Congo or the exemplary uselessness of the United Nations peacekeepers

Date de publication
07 February 2025
Accroche

During the M23 conflict in 2012-2013 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations (UN) took the diplomatic initiative (by initiating the Addis Ababa agreement) and the military initiative (by launching a coordinated counter-offensive with the Congolese army). Since the resurgence of this conflict in 2022, the United Nations, which still has more than 10,000 peacekeepers deployed in eastern DRC, no longer plays any role. 

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Hostage diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The case of Europeans detained in Iran

Date de publication
13 December 2024
Accroche

The so-called hostage diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran refers to a political and diplomatic strategy in which Tehran uses the detention of Western nationals, dual citizens, or Iranian citizens residing in Europe, Australia, or the United States as leverage in diplomatic negotiations. This practice aims to exert pressure to secure political, economic, or diplomatic concessions as part of Tehran’s asymmetric response strategy. Hostage diplomacy remains a controversial yet effective tool from the perspective of the Islamic Republic of Iran, given its context of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

Clément THERME
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From Cuba to Ukraine: Strategic Signaling and Nuclear Deterrence

Date de publication
03 December 2024
Accroche

Strategic signaling—the range of signs and maneuvers intended, in peace time, to lend credibility to any threat to use nuclear weapons—is back.

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Rebooting Italy's Africa Policy: Making the Mattei Plan Work

Date de publication
25 November 2024
Accroche

Against the backdrop of increasing anti-French rhetoric across parts of Francophone Africa, the relative failure of the counterinsurgency operation in the central Sahel (Operation Barkhane) and diplomatic rifts with several Sahelian countries, Paris has been rethinking its relationship with the continent for several years now. As a former imperial power that has seen its colonial domain in Africa gain independence between 1956 (Morocco-Tunisia) and 1977 (Djibouti), France has invented two successive roles for itself in Africa since 1960, particularly in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa.

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Deep Precision Strikes: A New Tool for Strategic Competition?

Date de publication
19 November 2024
Accroche

Reaching deep into the enemy’s system to weaken it and facilitate the achievement of operational or strategic objectives is a key goal for armed forces. What capabilities are required to conduct deep strikes in the dual context of high-intensity conflict and strengthened enemy defenses?

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The dilemma of the Franco-African military relationship: reinvent or turn the page?

Date de publication
18 November 2024
Accroche

The origins of military presence and cooperation in Africa can be traced back to the tacit decolonization pact between the countries of French-speaking Africa. This cooperation led to the creation of African armies in the former colonies, as part of a project to prevent the spread of communism and maintain France's influence in the newly independent countries. 

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The High Authority for Peacebuilding (HACP) in Niger 2011-2023. Placing the State at the heart of conflict prevention and management.

Date de publication
06 November 2024
Accroche

Like other Sahelian countries, Niger has been affected by terrorism for almost two decades now. This issue has highlighted both the limits of these countries’ security systems and, more profoundly, their inability to offer stability to the populations of certain parts of the country. In a way, these “jihadized insurgencies” are a continuity of groups that regularly take up arms against central states.

Abderrahmane CISSÉ
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France starts 2025 with fresh controversy, questions over Africa

11 December 2025
Nom du journal, revue ou émission
Voice of America
Accroche

France starts 2025 with a further drawdown of its military presence in its former African colonies, and fresh tensions ignited this week with controversial remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron.

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The Economist (logo)
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Europe thinks the unthinkable on a nuclear bomb

12 March 2025
Nom du journal, revue ou émission
The Economist
Accroche

Poland wants co-operation with France on a nuclear deterrent. That could take many forms.

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Japan Times_logo
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Will Europe's pivot to Asia have any teeth?

25 October 2024
Nom du journal, revue ou émission
The Japan Times
Accroche

Spurred by fears of a ‘new Ukraine’ in East Asia, European powers are ramping up their presence in the Indo-Pacific.

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After the success of its army in Mozambique, Rwanda expects economic rewards

11 July 2023
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Companies affiliated with the powerful Crystal Ventures holding company, the financial arm of Kigali's ruling party, are already present in Mozambique.

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France is already sending an armored ‘oddity’ to Ukraine. Now this can send a little odd.

13 March 2023
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France may send Ukraine its AMX-10Ps, an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle that was phased out of service by the French army nearly a decade ago.

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Analysis: France and Britain’s relationship built on defence co-operation

11 March 2023
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Training and equipping of Ukrainian forces is an immediate priority.

Élie TENENBAUM Alice BILLON-GALLAND
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High hopes UK-France summit will reset soured post-Brexit relations

10 March 2023
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As Emmanuel Macron prepares to welcome Rishi Sunak to Paris, hopes are high that the first UK-France summit since 2018 will turn the page on years of strained post-Brexit relations.

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France's Macron Set For Four-nation Tour Of Africa

01 March 2023
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President Emmanuel Macron kicks off a tour of Central Africa on Wednesday in a diplomatic drive to test out a new "responsible relationship" with the continent as anti-French sentiment runs high in some former colonies

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US Navy, French Navy And Royal Navy See Eye To Eye On Interoperability

24 January 2023
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The heads of the three leading NATO navies, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Mike Gilday, First Sea Lord, Admiral Ben Key, and the Chief of Staff of the French Navy, Admiral Pierre Vandier, met last week in France for the first ever "Paris Naval Conference".

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CNO Delivers Remarks at Paris Naval Conference

20 January 2023
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CNO Delivers Remarks at Paris Naval Conference

Below is a transcript of the remarks as delivered:

THOMAS GOMART: Just a quick announcement before starting. If you don't want to practice your French you can use receptors which are with this gentleman over there or at the table, because I will speak French and switch to English for the session.

Arctic: A New Era of Geopolitical Tensions? The Alert from the Norwegian Intelligence Director

19 March 2025
Accroche

An interview with Nils-Andreas Stensønes, Director of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, conducted by Daphné Benoit, Head of international affairs, AFP, on the occasion of Ifri's conference "New geopolitical realities of the Arctic", 19 March 2025.

Nils-Andreas Stensønes, Director of the Norwegian Intelligence Service

(Replay) US-China-Taiwan Relations: What to expect in the Trump II Era?

11 March 2025
Accroche

Replay of Ifri's Center for Asian Studies' conference "US-China-Taiwan Relations: What to expect in the Trump II era?", held at Ifri on Tuesday 11 March 2025.

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IISS
URL de Spotify

Better know a nuke: France

06 March 2025
Nom du journal, revue ou émission
IISS
Accroche

In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by nuclear policy experts Héloïse Fayet, Emmanuelle Maitre and Dr Liviu Horovitz to discuss the history and the current trajectory of France's nuclear arsenal.

Replay - Paris Naval Conference 2025: Naval Power in support of Maritime Economy

04 February 2025
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Replay of the third edition of the Paris Naval Conference (CNP), bringing together high-level speakers from the military, industry and academia, for the aim of addressing the issues of securing the maritime economy for the world's navies.

Naval Power and Maritime Economy: Rear Admiral Olivier Berdal, Chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy

04 February 2025
Accroche

On the sidelines of the Paris Naval Conference 2025, on February 4, 2025, organized by Ifri and the French Navy (Marine nationale), Rear Admiral Olivier Berdal, Chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy, shares insights on the crucial role that naval power plays in support of maritime economy.

Rear-Admiral Olivier Berdal, Chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy

Naval Power and Maritime Economy: an interview with Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord, Royal Navy

04 February 2025
Accroche

On the sidelines of the Paris Naval Conference 2025, on February 4, 2025, organized by Ifri and the French Navy (Marine nationale), Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord, Royal Navy, shares insights on the crucial role that naval power plays in support of maritime economy.

Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord, Royal Navy

How do maritime companies cooperate with the navies? An interview with Christine Cabau (CMA-CGM)

04 February 2025
Accroche

On the sidelines of the Paris Naval Conference 2025, on February 4, 2025, organized by Ifri and the French Navy (Marine nationale), Christine Cabau, Executive Vice-President in Charge of Assets and Operations, CMA-CGM, shares insights on how maritime companies collaborate with the navies to secure maritime economy.

Christine Cabau-Woehrel, CMA CGM

Naval Power in Support of Maritime Economy: An Interview with Vice-Admiral Jeffrey Anderson (U.S. Navy)

04 February 2025
Accroche

On the sidelines of the Paris Naval Conference 2025, on February 4, 2025, organized by Ifri and the French Navy, Vice-Admiral Jeffrey Anderson, Commander of the 6th Fleet, U.S. Navy, and Commander of the Striking and Support Forces NATO, share insights on the crucial role that naval power plays in support of maritime economy. 

Vice Admiral Jeffrey Anderson (U.S. Navy)

How do maritime companies cooperate with the navies? An interview with Simon Bergulf, MÆRSK

04 February 2025
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On the sidelines of the Paris Naval Conference 2025, on February 4, 2025, organized by Ifri and the French Navy (Marine nationale), Simon BERGULF, Group Representative Europe Public and Regulatory Affairs, Head of Energy transition and Operations, Maersk, shares insights on how maritime companies collaborate with the navies to secure maritime economy.

Simon Bergulf, Mærsk

Naval Power and Maritime Economy: Rear Admiral Søren Kjeldsen, Chief of the Royal Danish Navy

04 February 2025
Accroche

On the sidelines of the Paris Naval Conference 2025, on February 4, 2025, organized by Ifri and the French Navy (Marine nationale), Rear Admiral Søren Kjeldsen, Chief of the Royal Danish Navy, shares insights on the crucial role that naval power plays in support of maritime economy.

Rear-Admiral Søren Kjeldsen, Admiral Danish Fleet

Naval Power and Maritime Economy: an interview with Admiral Nicolas Vaujour (Chief of Staff of the French Navy)

04 February 2025
Accroche

On the sidelines of the Paris Naval Conference 2025, on February 4, 2025, organized by Ifri and the French Navy (Marine nationale), Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of Staff of the French Navy share insights on the crucial role that naval power plays in support of maritime economy.

Admiral Nicolas Vaujour

How do maritime companies cooperate with the navies? An interview with Evan FUERY, EQUINOR

04 February 2025
Accroche

On the sidelines of the Paris Naval Conference 2025, on February 4, 2025, organized by Ifri and the French Navy (Marine nationale), Evan FUERY, Senior Vice-President for Corporate Security and Crisis Management, EQUINOR, shares insights on how maritime companies collaborate with the navies to secure maritime economy.

Evan Fuery, Equinor

Replay - Affirming European security in times of uncertainty: Poland’s priorities for its Presidency

16 January 2025
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Poland will assume the presidency of the Council of the EU throughout the first semester of 2025, when geopolitical tensions are likely to peak. Watch the replay of the videoconference "Affirming European security in times of uncertainty. Poland’s priorities of its presidency of the Council".

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I see some degree of — I don’t want to say panic — but really alarmed Europeans who realize they need to stick together as much as possible.
If the Europeans want to step up and make up for the loss of American aid to Ukraine, it needs to happen now, they need to put the money on the table; they need to pass on the orders to the defense industry.
Europe is lacking ammunition, we’re lacking replacement parts, we’re lacking readiness.

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Merz's statement now needs to be followed up in the long term at political level, on both the French and German sides. It's been on the table for five years, and if we don't talk about it now, when Europe is in danger, we'll never talk about it.

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