Immersion in French Guiana for listeners of Radio 5e national session
From 8 to 13 December, students majoring in «Armament and Defence Economics» (AED), «Economic Defence and Security» (DSE) and «Digital Sovereignty and Cyber Security» (SNC) travelled to French Guiana for a study mission offering direct insight into the issues and challenges facing our forces deployed in overseas territories.
Jihadism as seen by those who fight it
19 January 2026 | 6 p.m. at the École militaire
Ronald Hatto: «Brutality and condescension could backfire on President Trump»
A specialist in strategy and international security issues at Sciences Po Paris, Canadian political scientist Ronald Hatto analyses the new US National Security Strategy, describing it as a «break» that could lead to «a reconfiguration of the geostrategic landscape in a way that would not benefit the United States in the medium and long term». Interview.
Military service, «society's contribution to national defence»
In Europe, national service is implemented in very different ways depending on the country. Researchers Živilė Kalibataitė and Toms Rostoks take a closer look at the arrangements in place in two countries that have reintroduced conscription: Lithuania in 2015 and Latvia in 2024.
Reflections on Austerlitz, a legendary battle for 220 years
Napoleon I's resounding victory at the «Battle of the Three Emperors» on 2 December 1805 is still studied and discussed today. Through the analyses of strategists of the past and the insights of contemporary historians, the IHEDN details the reasons for and extent of this lasting legacy.
A look back at the IHEDN Science Awards ceremony
On Thursday 20 November, IHEDN celebrated a highlight of its intellectual life with the presentation of its Scientific Awards, which since 1998 have recognised work contributing to French strategic thinking. The 2025 edition, marked by a particularly high number of nominations and the introduction of a new «Special Prize,» honoured four winners whose research sheds light on major contemporary issues in defence, security and international relations.
The prizes were presented by the Director of IHEDN during a ceremony at which each winner gave a speech discussing their work, motivations and prospects. These speeches illustrated the richness of the dialogue between the academic and strategic worlds that the Institute seeks to promote.
A moment of exchange and recognition that highlights the importance of supporting demanding, open and innovative research in order to better understand defence issues.
IGA Patrick Aufort: «Strengthening an agile defence industry capable of ramping up production quickly»
At the Defence Innovation Forum (FID), held from 27 to 29 November, General Engineer Patrick Aufort, Director of the Defence Innovation Agency (AID), explains to IHEDN the agency's missions and trends in the sector: drones, AI, directed energy weapons, quantum technology, hypervelocity, etc.
International Session for the Indopacific: a week of dialogue and cooperation
From 17 to 21 November, the IHEDN is hosting the 55 international auditors of the International Session for the Indo-Pacific (SIIP) at the École Militaire, organised with the Directorate for Security and Defence Cooperation (DCSD) of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. We take a closer look at the programme and the HIMANTURA 25 mission currently underway in the region.
Sophia Mahroug: in Iran, «the Revolutionary Guards are seeking to free themselves from clerical authority».»
On the occasion of the IHEDN 2025 Science Awards, we interview the winner of the thesis prize, a historian whose work based on digital sources sheds new light on the rise to power of the «pasdaran», the pillars of the Islamic Republic for over four decades.
The European Union's space strategy
This fact sheet looks at European space strategy, beginning with a review of its history and then presenting the players and institutions involved. It then analyses the priorities of the European Space Act, the first regulation on space policy at European level, presented in June 2025. Finally, it highlights the EU's strategic ambitions in the space sector, as well as the limits and divergences that are still holding them back.
