ADN 2026, a compass in a world of strategic uncertainties
The third edition of the Year of National Defence (ADN), a reference work coordinated by the IHEDN and published by La Documentation française, is now available in bookshops.
What defence for the Baltic States?
This fact sheet looks at the main features of the defence policies of the Baltic States. It first sets the scene by highlighting the salient features of their relationship with Russia since the collapse of the USSR. It then analyses the main defence measures they have taken since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. It concludes with their vision of the future of European security, based on strengthened national defence capabilities, solidarity between allies and a firm stance towards Russia.
General Manuel Alvarez: "To thank France, I wanted to join the army as soon as possible".
Manuel Alvarez joined the French Air Force as a private 2nd class at the age of 15, and has just left with 5 stars on his epaulettes. We take a look back at the inspiring career of this Spanish-born man, who reached the highest level thanks to the Republic's school system, military training and what he calls the "social staircase".
Cinema and defence, two intertwined worlds
This is the third episode in our summer series on "Culture and Defence". Initially a tool of communication and propaganda, war films have evolved over the course of history and conflicts. It has moved from heroic exaltation to denunciation of violence, from the memory of conflict to the exploration of soldiers' daily lives.
When music sounds the marching orders: the army, the nation and its harmonies
The second instalment in our summer series on "Culture and Defence": military music began as a means of tactical communication on the battlefield, but has evolved to go beyond this function alone. Today it is a universal language that speaks to both collective memory and individual emotions, and a powerful vehicle for national cohesion.
Closing of the 4th national session of the IHEDN
After an intense year of training marked by committee work, field visits and high-level conferences, the auditors of the 4th national session of the IHEDN met on 20 June 2025 at the École Militaire for a closing day rich in exchanges, concluded by an address from the Prime Minister, François Bayrou.
NATO Summit: "Ensuring that the family photo remains smiling".
The 32 member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meet on Tuesday and Wednesday in The Hague (Netherlands). Guillaume Lasconjarias, Director of Studies and Research at the IHEDN and former researcher at the NATO Defence College, explains what is at stake at this highly anticipated meeting.
Wargames, RADAR, novels... fiction in the service of defence
In addition to war games and the famous Red Team Defence, now RADAR, the growing use of the imaginary in defence circles is demonstrating its usefulness in training and foresight. We take a closer look at some of the key players in this major development.
Between commemoration and exploitation: 8 and 9 May 1945, the end of the war in Europe
As some European countries prepare to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, this celebration is being used in a variety of ways. At the heart of debates that are not solely historical in nature, two dates, 8 and 9 May, have taken on renewed importance in recent years, marking a dividing line in the memory of the victory over the Third Reich. Today, one of the great victors of 1945, Russia, has invaded Ukraine, and in the wake of this event, remembrance strategies are being put in place to serve highly political interests.
The Arctic, "mirror of international tensions
New maritime routes, militarisation, status of ships and exploitation of resources: Virginie Saliou, a researcher in maritime security at the Strategic Research Institute of the École Militaire (IRSEM), sheds light on the Arctic, a strategic territory that has become the theatre of growing rivalry between the great powers.
