2025 Paris Defence and Strategy Forum Report

For the second year running, the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, held in Paris, France, was one of the most influential platforms for shaping global security at the start of the year. The event brought together world leaders, policymakers, and defence and security experts to address the most urgent geopolitical issues. As we look back on this year’s Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, there are several key topics that must be further analysed.  

Alliances and Defence Architectures 

In a rapidly changing world, international collective security organizations are being called upon to rethink their actions and operations and to step up cooperation efforts between their members. When alliances are being forged between our strategic competitors, such the one  between Russia and China,  when the future of the transatlantic alliance is uncertain and when European defence has yet to be built, it is necessary to continue to reflect on the future of international alliances, particularly at the European and Atlantic levels. In Europe, the EU's most important defence partner remains the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); this architecture however also relies on the EU member state’s own multilateral and bilateral defence cooperation arrangements. How can these partnerships between states develop and evolve, and to what end? These are current issues that were addressed at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum.  

Regional and Geopolitical Challenges 

The global landscape is undergoing significant changes, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, to the Middle East, Africa and the Black Sea. These changes present complex challenges that require strategic responses, especially for Europe. The continent must navigate the reconfiguration of regional power dynamics and the emergence of new threats such as cyberattacks, all while asserting its influence and reinforcing its security. A clear issue highlighted during the forum: to prevent any destabilisation of Eastern Europe and give Ukraine the means to defend itself in the long term. In this context, the PDSF 2025 provided a comprehensive framework for enhancing global security by fostering cooperation, strengthening defence capabilities, and promoting stability, on the European scale.

Capacities and Tools for Armed Forces 

Confronted with a proliferation of new areas of conflict, such as cyberspace, high altitude and the information sphere, alongside numerous technological transformations like drones and artificial intelligence, our societies and their security are undergoing profound changes. All environments such as land, air and sea are affected, as well as outer space. Strategic thinking must be at the forefront of these transformations and reflect on their implications. Faced with the uncertainty of the continuity of the American nuclear umbrella, the European continent is reevaluating its nuclear security architecture. 

General ideas stand out: Europe's defence industry is too fragmented, needs to achieve greater coherence between its defence programmes, and standardise its processes. According to Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for defence and space, the defence industry remains one of our principal resources, member states “need investment and financing capacity, and the President’s announcements are a first step”, referring to the 800 billion “ReArm Europe” programme announced at the beginning of March by Ursula von der Leyen. For Andrius Kubilius, it is necessary to “invest more, invest better, invest European”. Two main points seem to have been particularly highlighted during the Forum: the need to build a European pillar within NATO, and the need to create a continental technological defence and industrial base (DTIB). 

The Paris Defence and Strategy Forum 2025 highlighted the need for enhanced global security through cooperation and strategic adaptation. Key discussions emphasized strengthening defence capabilities and addressing geopolitical challenges, particularly regarding the Russian threat in Eastern Europe. The forum also stressed the importance of consolidating Europe's defence industry and investing in technological innovation to ensure long-term security.

By Césarine Gamet & Elyse Béasse

Suggested Citation:

Gamet, C. & Béasse, E. (2025). 2025 Paris Defence and Strategy Forum Report. EPIS Blog.