Mathilde Velliet: «The very forces that were driving the United States towards openness are now pushing it towards isolation»
Mathilde Velliet, a researcher at IFRI and winner of the 2026 IHEDN thesis prize, shows how, in the field of strategic technologies, the United States has resolved its dilemma between prosperity and security in relation to China. Increasingly, from Obama to Trump, as one senior official put it to her, «we all started out as doves and ended up as hawks». Interview.
14 July 2026: a symbol of unity and a showcase for Europe’s strategic reawakening
With this year’s National Day parade centred on the continent’s strategic autonomy, the event will highlight the national security continuum, as well as the flags of the European Union, NATO and the forty or so countries participating in the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine. Here is a detailed overview.
Conveying the nobility of the humble: each IHEDN intake is under the patronage of a Companion of the Liberation.
In order to continue its mission and pass on the spirit of commitment and defence to the generations of decision-makers of today and tomorrow, the IHEDN now names its regional sessions and specialised courses after a Companion of the Liberation or a Recipient of the Resistance Medal.
The curtain falls on the 252e session in the Corsica region!
From 1er As of 19 June, 44 trainees had gathered in Corsica and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region for three weeks of training comprising strategic immersion, high-level discussions and field visits.
End of the 5the National session: identifying strategic opportunities in global crises
On 12 June 2026, the 5the The national session marked the end of its training year. As the culmination of this intensive year of training, the closing day showcased the wealth of insights from the participants through four round-table discussions.
Committee reports from the national session: coercive diplomacy, industrial sovereignty, advanced nuclear deterrence…
Whilst the 5e The IHEDN’s national session has just concluded; we are providing summaries of the work carried out by the auditors« committees for its five major programmes, which focused on this year’s theme of »strategic opportunities’. These reports are intended to inform the deliberations of public authorities.
The three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – in the world of 2026: a European perspective, new threats and global defence
7 July 2026 | 6.30 pm at the École militaire
The United Kingdom: a linchpin of naval projection and contemporary technological alliances
To mark the study visit to the United Kingdom organised by the «Maritime Challenges and Strategies» specialisation of the IHEDN’s national session, we take a closer look at the British government’s far-reaching and innovative initiatives in this field. As a leading maritime and nuclear power, it aims to strike a delicate balance between global naval projection and robust economic and industrial security.
Eurosatory 2026: what is «multi-domain superiority»?
This week, the world’s leading defence and land and air-land security exhibition is taking place near Paris. For the 2026 edition, the event is structured around key themes, foremost among which is multi-domain superiority. What exactly does this term mean, given that it has become both an inescapable reality and a challenge in contemporary theatres of conflict?
A look back at the 2026 IHEDN Science Awards ceremony
On 9 June, our Institute held its scientific awards ceremony. Four researchers were honoured for the quality, originality and strategic significance of their PhD or Master’s thesis work. The prizes were presented by the Director of IHEDN at a ceremony during which each winner gave a speech reflecting on their work, motivations and future prospects, illustrating the richness and importance of the dialogue between the academic and strategic worlds.
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