"War in Ukraine: one year on, what lessons can we learn?" This was the title of the conference organised on 16 February at the École Militaire by several organisations, including the IHEDN and the IRSEM. Opened by Lieutenant General Benoît DurieuxThierry Burkhard, Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, brought together specialists from a wide range of civilian and military disciplines, researchers, doctors and officers from the three services, who shared their analyses of the lessons to be learned from the conflict.
Here is a selection of rich, dense materialHere are some of the key points raised by five speakers over the course of the day.
Armaments training, a strategic contribution from IHEDN
To mark the Institute's 90th anniversary and the 19th Entretiens Armement & Souveraineté, we focus on one of the major themes of the national session: Armaments and the Defence Economy. Bringing together engineers, officers, business executives and legal experts, it covers all aspects of this field, providing a crucial forum for sharing views in the context of high-intensity warfare.
Europe, NATO, ministries: how the armed forces health service anticipates a possible conflict
How can we prepare for what the military call a «major engagement scenario»? The field of health is a good example of this: in recent years, the French armed forces' dedicated service has been stepping up cooperation at national, European and international interdepartmental levels. Focus on a resilience project.
Reinforcing the spirit of defence in higher education in the Paris region
The Institut des Hautes Études de Défense Nationale, the Île-de-France Academic Region and the Paris Defence and Security Zone have signed an ambitious partnership agreement to develop the spirit and culture of defence among students in the Île-de-France region. A joint commitment to forge lasting links between academia, the armed forces and young people.
A new partnership to promote equal opportunities and civic engagement
The Institut des Hautes Études de Défense Nationale and the Un Avenir Ensemble foundation have signed a partnership agreement designed to encourage the diversification of audiences and strengthen the civic commitment of young people. This cooperation is based on shared values: equal opportunities, national cohesion and a spirit of defence.
Martial Foucault: «Globalisation is increasingly perceived as an area of rivalry».»
At a time when «states are pursuing strategic objectives using economic instruments», Martial Foucault, a political economy researcher and Director of the Strategic Research Institute at the École Militaire, puts the spotlight back on the notion of ’militarised interdependence« or the »weaponisation of globalisation«. Interview.
Tehran-Washington 1979-2025. The Great Satan put to the test by the Islamic Revolution
18 May 2026 | 18:30 at the École militaire
British defence policy
This fact sheet looks at the history and foundations of British defence policy, reviewing the development of the «special relationship» with the United States and the United Kingdom's anchorage in NATO. It then shows how the Strategic Defence Review published in 2025 represents a turning point, establishing a «NATO-First» posture, refocusing on Euro-Atlantic security and explicitly preparing for a high-intensity conflict. Finally, it highlights the strategic role that the UK could play in the defence of Europe, particularly at the interface between NATO and the EU, as the transatlantic link recomposes itself.
Raoul Castex: an admiral strategist at the heart of the spirit of defence
To mark the 90e As the IHEDN celebrates its 400th anniversary and the French Navy celebrates its 400th anniversary, we look back at the life of Admiral Raoul Castex (1878-1968), founder of the Institute. An exceptional sailor and major military theorist, he was able to impose a global vision of strategy that still informs our thinking today.
Franco-British defence cooperation
This fact sheet focuses on Franco-British military cooperation, from its historical foundations marked by the Entente Cordiale of 1904, the First World War, the Battle of Dunkirk (1940) and the Suez Crisis (1956) to post-Cold War operational rapprochement. It analyses the role of the Treaties of Lancaster House (2010) and Lancaster 2.0 (2025), which institutionalise the Franco-British Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) and strengthen nuclear and capability coordination, while highlighting the limits of this solidarity in the face of national trade-offs and divergent industrial choices. Finally, it sheds light on the prospects for the relationship, between opportunities for European rapprochement post-Brexit and the challenges posed by competition in the development of military capabilities. It also sheds light on the differing approaches of Paris and London to Ukraine, in a context of strategic recomposition of European defence.
Successful take-off for the 248e session in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region
From 17 March to 17 April, 46 students from a wide range of backgrounds will be meeting in Belfort, Besançon, Chalon-sur-Saône and Dijon to gain a deeper understanding of the defence, security and resilience issues shaping our strategic environment and having a direct impact on our regions.
