Diplomacy & Defense Think Tank News

According to Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of the United States (U.S.) Constitution, any ambassador that the U.S. President appoints shall be approved by the Senate to be confirmed. Once the President’s nomination for ambassador is submitted to the Senate, one or more of the standing committees within the Senate shall examine the nominee by holding a public hearing in which the nominee addresses the committee with an opening statement and takes questions from Senators on the committee. After the hearing, the committee then decides whether to recommend the nominee when voting is opened up to the entire Senate. Unlike legislation, which requires a three-fifths majority of Senators to end debate, presidential nominations, such as those for ambassadors, only need a simple majority of all Senators to end debate and proceed to a vote to confirm or reject the nominee.

In her Senate confirmation hearing on July 9, 2025, the Ambassador-nominee to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, explained that her previous experience as a prosecutor in San Francisco and Los Angeles, her work in television and the media, and her time as First Lady of San Francisco have equipped her with skills in negotiation, analysis, and diplomacy, which she believes will help her serve effectively in her new role. With regard to Greece and to bilateral relations, the nominated Ambassador applauded the partnership between Greece and the United States. In both her opening statement and her responses to questions, she routinely mentioned that Greece has exceeded NATO’s previous 2% GDP target for military spending by dedicating 3% to defence —the actual figure for 2024 is 3.08%, according to official NATO data. She further highlighted that Greece is on a trajectory toward meeting the new 5% defence spending pledge by 2035, which Allies agreed on during the NATO Summit in The Hague in June. She also pledged to increase military cooperation between the American and Greek military, as well as to enhance U.S. support for Greek military modernization.

Guilfoyle also emphasized U.S.-Greece energy cooperation, highlighting specific projects, such as the Revithoussa LNG terminal and the construction of the Alexandroupoli floating storage regasification unit, and noted that American natural gas accounts for 20% of Greece’s natural gas imports. While also highlighting the importance of Greece as an energy hub, she added that the U.S. is helping to connect Greece with nations in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as with both Cyprus and Israel. She stated that the Greek-American relationship is built on strong people-to-people ties, emphasizing the importance of the Greek-American and Orthodox communities within Greece, as well as their shared commitments to democracy and religious freedom.

In response to her statements, Guilfoyle received several questions about her stances on Greek and regional issues. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) inquired about the state of the 3+1 partnership between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, to which Guilfoyle restated America’s commitment to all three allies in the region. In response to Senator John Barrasso’s (R-WY) question about opportunities for greater cooperation, Guilfoyle responded by mentioning American cooperation with Greece, specifically aimed at limiting Russian and Chinese influence through investments in critical infrastructure. Multiple Senators, including Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and Senator Chris van Hollen (D-MY), posed questions on Greek-Turkish relations, in response to which Guilfoyle reaffirmed America’s commitment to Greece, reiterated Greece’s strategic importance as a U.S. ally and referred to her good working relationship with Thomas Barrack, the Ambassador to Turkey appointed under the current administration. She stressed the importance of cooperation between the ambassadors to Athens and to Ankara to support the resolution of disputes. She also criticized Turkey over the purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system, which, she posited, raises significant questions about Ankara’s alignment with NATO’s strategic objectives.

Indeed, Guilfoyle’s remarks reflect the growing depth of U.S.–Greece relations in recent years, particularly in the fields of defence, energy, and public opinion sentiment. More specifically, defence cooperation has expanded via the Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement (MDCA) —last amended in October 2021. In April 2024, Greece approved the purchase of 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters (worth approximately $1.24  bn) from the U.S., and in July 2024, it signed a Letter of Offer & Acceptance for 20 F‑35s (plus option for another 20) worth approximately $8.6 bn. The importance of these defence partnerships is underscored by ongoing tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. A recent European Parliament report (2025) criticizes Turkey’s foreign policy as increasingly confrontational and unaligned with EU norms and regrets the fact that Turkey is the only NATO member state not having imposed any sanctions on Russia. It condemned Ankara’s repeated violations of Greek airspace and overflights, as well as military drills in disputed maritime zones, calling on Turkey to respect international law.

At the same time, Greece has significantly strengthened its energy cooperation with the United States, positioning itself as a regional energy hub in Southeastern Europe and a key entry point for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the European market. In 2024, Greece imported approximately 1.609 billion kg of LNG, with U.S. exports accounting for nearly 75% of that total. This cooperation has been further institutionalized through infrastructure projects such as the Alexandroupolis Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU), which commenced commercial operations in October 2024, increasing Greece’s regasification and transshipment capacity. U.S. companies have also secured long-term access to this infrastructure; notably, Venture Global signed a five-year agreement to utilize capacity at Alexandroupolis to supply LNG to Central and Eastern Europe. In parallel, upstream engagement has expanded, with Chevron expressing interest in exploring hydrocarbons off Crete.

This growing closeness at the strategic and diplomatic level is reflected in the evolution of Greek public opinion. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, 56% of Greeks hold a favourable attitude toward the U.S. This trend is confirmed by a Pulse survey carried out on behalf of Kathimerini in 2024 which showed that 54% of Greeks evaluate the U.S. role on issues related to Greece positively, while 76% expressed trust in U.S. allies in the event of a military crisis with Turkey. Data from the Transatlantic Periscope(*) (2022–2024) suggests that the trend of Greek–U.S. relations averages 8.5/10, placing Greece among the United States partners within the European Union that rate the bilateral relationship most favourably.

This Flashnews article was authored by Athina Fatsea, Project Manager, Transatlantic Periscope and Jake Pryor, Trainee Research Assistant, Transatlantic Periscope.

(*) The Transatlantic Periscope curates essential news, opinions, and analyses related to the bilateral relationships between the United States, European Union member states, and the United Kingdom. The Bertelsmann Foundation is partnering with in-country experts from respected research organizations and academic institutions for each country version. ELIAMEP participates in this project as the curation partner for Greece.

 

Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by UN peacekeepers continues to undermine the organization’s legitimacy and effectiveness. While training on SEA is required for all UN personnel deploying to UN peace operations, there is little data available on how effective these trainings are. This paper presents the first quantitative analysis of SEA training’s effectiveness, using original survey data from more than 4,000 uniformed personnel in ten countries.

The analysis reveals that SEA training has a significant positive impact on attitudes and knowledge about SEA. Personnel who completed pre-deployment SEA training were substantially more likely to recognize that SEA would violate their national policy, to consider SEA to be serious, and to express willingness to report SEA. The analysis also found that UN deployment increases the likelihood that personnel will receive various gender-related trainings beyond SEA. However, despite pre-deployment SEA training being mandatory, a significant proportion of deployed peacekeepers reported never receiving this training.

Although the quantitative analysis shows positive links between SEA training and views on SEA and reporting, the paper also explores limitations in current approaches to SEA training. Interviews and workshops with training experts underscored the need for SEA trainings to contextualize and apply the material rather than focus on prescriptive instruction. SEA training also needs to focus on behavioral and cultural change rather than mere policy compliance. The paper concludes that while current SEA training shows measurable positive effects on attitudes and knowledge, improvements in delivery methods and enforcement of training requirements are necessary to maximize this training’s effectiveness and create lasting institutional change.

The post Training on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse for Uniformed Peacekeepers: Effectiveness and Limitations appeared first on International Peace Institute.

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IPI, together with the Permanent Missions of the Republic of Korea, Denmark, and Pakistan to the United Nations, cohosted a policy forum on the “Ten-Year Review of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) Report” on July 8th.

The purpose of this event was to revisit the findings and recommendations of the 2015 HIPPO report in light of current policy discussions. The event also served to launch an IPI publication on the ten-year review of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations Report written by Jenna Russo, IPI Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations; Bitania Tadesse, IPI Policy Specialist for Africa; and Ilianna Kotini, IPI intern at the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations.

This event and publication are part of IPI’s workstream on the HIPPO report funded by the Republic of Korea.

Opening Remarks:
H.E. Hyunwoo Cho, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations
H.E. Sandra Jensen Landi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations

Speakers:
Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute
Youssef Mahmoud, Senior Adviser Emeritus, International Peace Institute, and former HIPPO panel member (VTC)
Ian Martin, former HIPPO panel member and former Special Representative of the Secretary-General (VTC)
Eugene Chen, Senior Fellow, New York University’s Center on International Cooperation
Dirk Druet, Non-resident Fellow, International Peace Institute

Moderator:
Bitania Tadesse, Policy Specialist for Africa, International Peace Institute

Closing Remarks:
H.E. Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon, Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations

The post Ten-Year Review of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations Report appeared first on International Peace Institute.

Ten years after the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) released its landmark report “Uniting Our Strengths for Peace,” UN peace operations face new challenges that test the UN’s capacity to adapt to an evolving global landscape. As the UN examines the future of peace operations, it is timely to review the recommendations of the HIPPO report, many of which remain pertinent to today’s policy discussions.

This report reassesses the findings of the HIPPO report in light of today’s peace operations contexts, analyzes where there has and has not been progress, and considers how the HIPPO report can be useful to current discussions. Overall, today’s peace operations operate in a more challenging environment than in 2015, facing a more divided Security Council, severe financial constraints, and questions about the UN’s legitimacy. Nonetheless, the report concludes that many of HIPPO’s core insights remain relevant, and the findings and recommendations of the HIPPO report can help inform current policy discussions on the future of peace operations:

• UN80 Initiative: The secretary-general should articulate a clear vision guided by the New Agenda for Peace and Pact for the Future, ensuring cuts do not compromise the UN’s readiness to deploy peace operations or institutional memory.
• Review on the Future of Peace Operations: The Secretariat should use this review to identify what forms of peace operations the UN is best positioned to support and the capacities needed to backstop these efforts effectively.
• Modular Approaches: The Secretariat should develop frameworks for implementing modular mission designs while ensuring critical areas of work like the protection of civilians, gender, and human rights remain prioritized in streamlined mandates.
• Peacebuilding and Prevention: All member states should develop national prevention strategies as called for in the Pact for the Future, and the UN should consider pooling early-warning resources with regional organizations.
• Political Primacy: The secretary-general should clarify what the primacy of politics means in contexts without viable peace processes, encompassing politics beyond the signing of a formal agreement at the national level.
• Advancing Partnerships: The UN should embrace more ambitious partnerships that leverage its normative independence while drawing on regional organizations’ proximity to crises, focusing on prevention and mediation alongside peace enforcement.

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The post Ten Years after HIPPO: Assessing Progress and Charting the Future of UN Peace Operations appeared first on International Peace Institute.

The publication “The rise of radical right and Eurosceptic political forces and the impact on the EU’s enlargement policy” is a result of the initiative think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration, funded by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans.

This policy brief which was prepared in collaboration with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Dialogue Southeast Europe presents the core findings and strategic recommendations of the full report. It is intended to provide the audience with a concise, accessible overview of the key insights and proposed actions.

With war raging on the European Union’s eastern border and the bloc seeking to redefine its geopolitical identity, another political transformation is unfolding within: the growing influence of radical right and Eurosceptic parties. Once largely marginalised actors, these forces are now increasingly reshaping Europe’s political priorities from within national parliaments and Brussels. This report takes stock of the growing influence of radical right and Eurosceptic political forces within the EU and examines the implications for EU enlargement policy.

In additional to the brief, a factsheet of the report was prepared in order to provide a condensed outline on how the growing influence of radical right and Eurosceptic parties is reshaping EU politics and what this means for the future of EU enlargement.

You can read the policy brief here.

You can read the factsheet here.

The full report is available here.

Face aux évolutions économiques, technologiques et démographiques, les entreprises doivent repenser leur organisation du travail. Le Club Futur du travail, porté par l’Institut Choiseul et LinkedIn, a réuni dirigeants et experts autour de quatre leviers stratégiques : freelancing, lien intergénérationnel, IA & soft skills, et leadership transformationnel.

ESPACE

· L’essor du freelancing, réponse agile à des besoins en compétences spécifiques

En forte croissance, le recours aux freelances s’impose comme une solution flexible pour répondre à des besoins ciblés, renforcer l’expertise et accompagner l’innovation. Il redéfinit les liens entre entreprises et talents.

· Le lien intergénérationnel, levier stratégique encore sous-exploité

Alors que quatre générations cohabitent en entreprise, la transmission, la coopération et la complémentarité deviennent des enjeux RH majeurs. Valoriser le lien intergénérationnel, c’est transformer une contrainte en levier d’intelligence collective.

· L’impact de l’intelligence artificielle sur la gestion des compétences et la montée en puissance des soft skills

L’intelligence artificielle accélère les mutations des métiers. Si les compétences techniques évoluent, les soft skills (empathie, esprit critique, adaptabilité) deviennent centrales. Une approche plus humaine du pilotage des talents émerge.

· Le rôle du leadership transformationnel, pour accompagner le changement de manière humaine et efficace

Face aux incertitudes, les organisations ont besoin de leaders inspirants, capables de donner du sens, d’embarquer les équipes et de piloter la transformation avec bienveillance. Un nouveau rapport au pouvoir et à la responsabilité s’installe.

Sudan’s war has left millions in need of protection, as civilians continue to endure mass displacement, famine, widespread violence, and grave human rights violations. Despite commitments to international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces have persistently targeted civilians, and international efforts to protect them have so far been insufficient. While ceasefire negotiations remain stalled, the protection of civilians cannot wait, and the international community must act now.

This report examines the policy options available to member states, the UN, and regional actors to support the protection of civilians in Sudan. It highlights feasible measures that can be taken even as ceasefire negotiations remain elusive, including the following:

• Navigating a Divided Security Council: Security Council members, particularly the three African members, could pursue a new resolution on Sudan with backing from the African Union (AU); utilize informal mechanisms like Arria-formula meetings and subsidiary bodies of the council to build consensus; and organize a field visit to Sudan to engage stakeholders and elevate international attention.
• Leveraging the Role of the General Assembly: The General Assembly could continue to hold the Security Council accountable by convening debates following any future vetoes, support UN and AU fact-finding missions, and exercise normative power by adopting a resolution on civilian protection in Sudan.
• Foresight and Planning by the UN Secretariat: The UN Secretariat could undertake proactive scenario-based planning for the deployment of a future protection force or ceasefire monitoring mechanism, including by developing a comprehensive political strategy and implementation framework.
• Joint Efforts with Regional Actors: The AU should ensure it has a cohesive approach to the protection of civilians in Sudan by enhancing communication among African capitals and between Addis Ababa and New York. The UN and AU should also ensure their efforts are complementary, including by collaborating on their fact-finding missions and improving engagement between their genocide prevention offices.
• Contact Group to Steer the Protection Agenda in Sudan: A coalition of committed member states could establish a contact group on Sudan to develop a coherent political strategy, engage the warring parties and their backers with sustained diplomatic pressure, and create a dedicated mediation track for civilian protection.

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The post Keeping Sudan in Focus: Policy Options for the Protection of Civilians appeared first on International Peace Institute.

Le cabinet de chasse de tête Sonnar et l’Institut Choiseul publient une enquête inédite sur les trajectoires des talents de l’hypercroissance.

Alors que les entreprises européennes doivent relever les défis de transformation, de croissance durable et de souveraineté économique, un levier majeur reste encore trop peu activé : le vivier de talents formés dans les startups et scale-ups de la tech. Ces profils, rodés à l’exécution rapide, à la culture du résultat et à l’innovation produit, cherchent aujourd’hui à mettre leur expertise au service de projets plus structurés et à impact concret. Pourtant, selon l’étude menée par Sonnar, cabinet de chasse de tête, et l’Institut Choiseul sur un échantillon de 215 répondants, seuls 6,1 % d’entre eux ont opéré une transition du Venture Capital vers le Private Equity.

Une génération tech arrivée à maturité, en quête d’impact concret sur l’économie réelle

Les talents interrogés dans le cadre de cette étude sont pour la grande majorité des profils expérimentés : 85 % ont plus de 5 ans d’expérience professionnelle et 71 % occupent aujourd’hui des postes de direction, de management ou d’expertise stratégique.

Au-delà du prestige des parcours, c’est une véritable évolution des aspirations qui se dessine. Cette génération, qui a contribué à construire les fleurons de la tech européenne, cherche désormais à s’inscrire dans des dynamiques de transformation plus tangibles :

• 70 % des répondants indiquent que leur principal moteur professionnel est de générer un impact tangible sur l’économie (créer de l’emploi, faire croître des entreprises, participer à la relocalisation de filières stratégiques, ou encore accompagner la modernisation d’acteurs industriels.).

• Ils manifestent un intérêt croissant pour des projets capables d’allier ambition, responsabilité, ancrage territorial et stabilité à long terme.

Private Equity : un environnement stratégique encore peu lisible pour les talents de la tech

L’univers du Private Equity offre des conditions propices à l’expression de ce nouveau projet professionnel : des entreprises matures à transformer, des trajectoires entrepreneuriales dans l’existant (PME/ETI en croissance, transmission, digitalisation), et un cadre stratégique structuré.

Pourtant, les passerelles concrètes entre ces deux univers restent trop faibles : seuls 6,1 % des talents interrogés ont effectué une transition du Venture Capital vers le Private Equity, et moins de 5 % dans l’autre sens. Les mouvements restent donc marginaux, malgré une convergence croissante des enjeux de pilotage, d’innovation et de croissance durable.

Ce décalage entre l’envie et la réalité s’explique par des freins clairement identifiés :

• Une incompréhension culturelle (63,7 %) entre les codes managériaux de la tech et ceux des entreprises plus traditionnelles,

• Une difficulté d’adaptation mutuelle (57,1 %), en raison d’environnements radicalement différents en termes de temporalité, gouvernance et processus,

• Un manque de structures d’accueil adaptées ou visibles (37,3 %), comme des dispositifs de transition, mentoring ou missions mixtes,

• Une sous-valorisation de l’expérience startup dans les processus de recrutement classiques (27,8 %).

Trois leviers pour créer des ponts entre VC et PE

Face à cette situation, l’étude menée par Sonnar et l’Institut Choiseul ne se limite pas à un constat. Elle propose des actions concrètes pour mieux faire circuler les compétences entre deux écosystèmes qui ont tout à gagner à se rapprocher.

• Repenser les pratiques de recrutement : les talents issus de la tech sont souvent cantonnés à des filières « VC uniquement » ou « startup uniquement », par habitude ou méconnaissance de leur transférabilité. Il est urgent pour les RH et les cabinets de recrutement de valoriser leur capacité d’exécution, l’agilité organisationnelle et le sens du résultat comme des compétences activables.

• Déployer des missions de secondment : sur le modèle des cabinets de conseil, ces immersions temporaires de 6 à 12 mois permettraient à des profils issus du VC ou de la tech de s’engager dans des projets PE (dans les fonds ou en entreprise) et inversement.

• Renforcer les formations ciblées : les compétences tech (produit, data, stratégie go-to-market) sont souvent bien maîtrisées par ces talents, mais il leur manque parfois les fondamentaux du Private Equity : structuration financière, logique LBO, gouvernance consolidée.

Un moment charnière pour réconcilier innovation et solidité

Les signaux sont là : les talents tech veulent sortir de l’hypercroissance pour investir leur expertise dans des modèles plus stables. De l’autre côté, les entreprises PE-backed ont besoin de profils capables d’accélérer leur modernisation, de digitaliser leur offre, de structurer leur organisation.

Organiser la rencontre entre ces deux mondes est un enjeu stratégique pour toute l’économie européenne. Il ne s’agit plus d’opposer agilité et rigueur, innovation et rentabilité — mais de penser leur complémentarité.

Socle invisible mais indispensable de nos économies, les semi-conducteurs conditionnent notre autonomie stratégique. De l’intelligence artificielle à la défense, de l’automobile à l’aéronautique, ils sont la clé de voûte de l’innovation et de la compétitivité mondiale. Dans un contexte de tensions géopolitiques et de croissance exponentielle de la demande, la sécurisation de cette chaîne de […]

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IPI and the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) cohosted an event on “Modular, Effective, and Sustainable? Leveraging Insights from Security Sector Governance to Shape Tomorrow’s Peace Operations” on June 3rd.

Recent discussions at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin emphasized the urgent need for more modular peace operations, improved mission effectiveness, and strengthened sustainability, particularly in the context of transitions and long-term peacebuilding. As the UN undertakes the review on the future of all forms of peace operations mandated by the Pact for the Future and undertakes efforts to shift toward more focused, adaptable models, key questions arise about how to reshape peace operations to meet today’s challenges.

Insights from peace operations’ support to security sector governance and reform (SSG/R) offer critical lessons. One concern is that modularity may lead to fragmented efforts, particularly if SSG/R continues to be treated as a stand-alone activity rather than a means to achieve broader strategic goals. DCAF’s recent study, “Review of Security Sector Reform Language in the Mandates of UN Peace Operations,” commissioned by Switzerland, highlights missed opportunities and recommendations to improve such efforts.

Opening Remarks:
Riccarda Chanda, Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations
Beatrice Godefroy, Deputy Director of DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (virtual)

Speakers:
Vincenza Scherrer, Head of Policy Engagement, DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance
Daniel Prins, Chief of SSR Unit, UN Department of Peace Operations
Carole Baudoin, Security Sector Reform Chief, MINUSCA
David Haeri, Director, Division for Policy, Evaluation and Training, UN Department of Peace Operations

Closing Remarks:
Ed Caelen, Military Advisor, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations

Moderator:
Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute

The post Modular, Effective, and Sustainable? Leveraging Insights from Security Sector Governance to Shape Tomorrow’s Peace Operations appeared first on International Peace Institute.

Vous rêvez de vous installer dans la cité phocéenne ? La recherche d’un appartement à Marseille peut vite devenir un véritable casse-tête. Entre la forte demande locative et les spécificités de chaque quartier, il est facile de se sentir dépassé. La ville compte plus de 860 000 habitants et attire chaque année de nouveaux arrivants, ...

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Face à la raréfaction du foncier, l’urgence écologique et la transformation des modes de vie, la ville de demain ne pourra plus s’étendre indéfiniment. Notre dernier Briefing Choiseul Ville de demain, consacré aux nouveaux modèles urbains, souligne une priorité : réinventer l’usage plutôt que l’espace.

Valoriser l’invisible : Yespark et l’espace sous-utilisé

Parmi les solutions innovantes, Yespark propose une réponse concrète au manque de stationnement en zone tendue : revaloriser les parkings privés inoccupés. Grâce à une application simple, les automobilistes accèdent à des places souterraines proches, limitant la congestion urbaine. Ces espaces deviennent des ressources actives : recharge électrique, autopartage, stationnement vélo… Une transition soutenue par une fiscalité adaptée, à l’image de la réglementation COBRACE en Belgique.

Mutualiser les logements pour limiter l’artificialisation

Dans les métropoles sous tension, de nouveaux modèles de coliving émergent, inspirés de plateformes comme Airbnb, mais tournés vers l’usage intermittent et complémentaire d’un même bien immobilier. Le logement devient un lieu partagé, ajusté aux rythmes de vie contemporains. Une manière d’accueillir sans construire, en s’appuyant sur le numérique comme levier d’efficacité.

Réversibilité du bâti : Covivio et la reconversion des bureaux

Enfin, la reconversion des bâtiments tertiaires en logements constitue un levier stratégique pour répondre à la crise du logement sans artificialiser davantage les sols. Covivio illustre cette approche à travers des opérations emblématiques, comme la transformation des anciens locaux d’IBM à Bordeaux en 700 logements. Malgré les obstacles techniques et réglementaires, ces projets démontrent que réhabiliter vaut souvent mieux que démolir.

La ville de demain se construit sur l’existant. Entre transformation du bâti, partage des usages et valorisation du foncier invisible, elle invente un urbanisme de l’intelligence collective, au service d’un espace public apaisé, adaptatif et résilient.

Informal “minilateral” coalitions of the willing and interested have long been a feature of peacemaking. Groups of states identified as “friends” of the mediator or a particular peace process and contact groups bringing together interested powers date back to concert diplomacy traditions and proliferated at the end of the Cold War as conflict resolution activity surged. The incidence of such informal mechanisms grew exponentially between 1990 and 2009.

This report assesses how these mechanisms have evolved in the years since 2010 and investigates their place in parallel to the UN’s efforts to mediate internationalized internal conflicts in Libya, Syria, and Yemen; peace processes in the Philippines, Colombia, and Mozambique taking place in relatively benign regional settings, as well as the anomalous case of Venezuela, where efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the political crisis were mired in international divisions; the geopolitically contested contexts of Myanmar and Afghanistan; and the democratic transition and descent into war in Sudan.

The report concludes that groups have the potential to build internal coherence among their members, as well as to elevate public messaging and facilitate information sharing, but they can also become a forum for competition between their members. In this context, the report offers lessons to help those considering whether a group is appropriate. The “right” group structure will depend on the context, and the adage of “form follows function” is critically important. It is key to set realistic expectations and, in some cases, accept that the “right” structure will be no group at all. Successful groups and partnerships all point to the importance of skilled individual mediators committed to working with each other, whether within a group or without an established mechanism. Finally, some contexts may defy attempts to design or deliver a coherent international peace architecture. In these cases, more modest goals related to specific or localized gains and incremental support to conflict parties and other affected communities should be pursued.

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The post Minilateral Mechanisms for Peacemaking in a Multipolar World: Friends, Contact Groups, Troikas, Quads, and Quints appeared first on International Peace Institute.

Radio remains the most popular medium of communication in many countries where UN peacekeeping operations are deployed, and several missions have leveraged UN radio stations to communicate with local populations. UN strategic communications via radio can help reduce violence against civilians, both during and after armed conflict. This protective effect of UN radio is evident even in areas where no UN military peacekeepers are deployed.

This issue brief examines the protective impact of UN radio and the mechanisms through which strategic communications by peacekeepers may reduce violence. It identifies four main pathways: building trust in the mission and enhancing cooperation with peacekeepers’ protection activities; filling gaps in reliable information that might otherwise be filled by misinformation that incites violence; fostering pro-peace behavioral change among ordinary civilians; and incentivizing rank-and-file combatants to exercise restraint. The brief also argues that messages are more effective when they are perceived as accurate and informative by local audiences.

As the UN seeks to enhance strategic communications in peacekeeping operations, it must carefully manage several trade-offs. These include trade-offs between empowering civilians vs. exposing them to risk; ensuring that messaging is coherent vs. tailoring it to the local context; sustaining independent media vs. promoting national ownership; and expanding access to data vs. maintaining security and host-state consent.

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The post UN Strategic Communications and the Protection of Civilians: The Role of UN Radio appeared first on International Peace Institute.

UN police (UNPOL) have long contributed to protection of civilians (POC) mandates, yet their role remains underexamined and often undervalued. As UN peace operations shift toward more flexible, lighter-footprint mission models and increasingly emphasizes regional partnerships, preventive approaches, and people-centered security, UNPOL could take on an expanded role. This could include greater involvement of UNPOL in addressing emerging protection threats related to urban violence, transnational crime, and cyber-related risks. However, future POC strategies must balance UNPOL’s strengths with other security tools to align expectations with capacity.

This issue brief examines UNPOL’s contributions to POC, focusing on their recent experience, emerging functions during mission transitions, and potential place in future models for peace operations. It highlights how UNPOL have played a vital role in reducing violence, engaging communities, supporting host-state law enforcement, and sustaining protection efforts during mission drawdowns. However, persistent challenges—including coordination gaps, militarization trends, limited data on effectiveness, and political constraints—continue to restrict their impact.

To make UNPOL’s contributions to POC more effective, the UN needs to focus more on police in high-level policy discussions, improve coordination across the rule-of-law sector, and strengthen data collection to assess the impact of UNPOL efforts. As peace operations adapt to evolving challenges, ensuring that UNPOL are properly resourced and embedded within mission planning will be key to realizing their full potential in protecting civilians.

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L’essor fulgurant de l’intelligence artificielle et l’urgence climatique sont les deux grandes transformations du XXIe siècle. Longtemps parallèles, elles convergent aujourd’hui dans un contexte de tension inédite : si l’IA est perçue comme un levier pour accélérer la transition écologique – optimisation énergétique, préservation de la biodiversité, anticipation des risques – elle soulève également des inquiétudes quant à sa consommation de ressources. 

Les usages concrets de l’IA au service de l’environnement

À l’occasion du Club Choiseul Innovation, le 14 mai 2025, l’Institut Choiseul a révélé un nouveau Briefing consacré à la convergence inédite entre technologie et environnement : gains d’efficacité énergétique, réduction des émissions, préservation de la biodiversité, anticipation des risques… Les cas d’usage se multiplient à mesure que les innovations s’intensifient.

En particulier et concernant l’IA, elle ne représentait encore qu’environ 0,03 % de la consommation énergétique mondiale d’après le CESE. Cependant, force est de constater que les recherches via la plateforme ChatGPT consomment 10 fois plus d’énergie par rapport à une recherche équivalente, selon Google.

La France mise sur une IA frugale et responsable

Face à ce paradoxe, la France cherche à concilier performance technologique et sobriété environnementale. Le Plan IA (10 Mds €) et la Stratégie nationale pour l’intelligence artificielle (1,8 puis 1,5 Md €) placent désormais la frugalité numérique au cœur des priorités. Le concept d’IA frugale, structuré par un référentiel public, vise à réduire l’empreinte carbone des systèmes intelligents tout en maintenant leur efficacité. Dans ce paysage, les Greentechs françaises, dont le nombre a presque triplé entre 2021 et 2023, incarnent cette dynamique d’innovation au service du climat.

Un levier stratégique à encadrer collectivement

L’IA s’impose comme un atout essentiel pour relever les défis environnementaux actuels. Son potentiel en matière de prévision climatique, d’optimisation énergétique ou de préservation de la biodiversité est immense. Mais son développement doit être maîtrisé. À travers le concept d’IA frugale et le soutien des politiques publiques, la France peut devenir une référence en matière de sobriété numérique. La transition écologique passera ainsi par un écosystème vertueux, alliant innovation technologique, encadrement institutionnel et engagement sociétal.

Le bail code civil fait parler de lui. Et pour cause : de plus en plus de propriétaires y voient une solution miracle pour contourner les contraintes de la location classique. Cette pratique, qui s’est développée notamment à l’approche des Jeux Olympiques 2024, soulève de vives inquiétudes. Vous êtes propriétaire et on vous a parlé ...

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Votre chaudière ronronne paisiblement mais elle réclame son check-up annuel. En tant que locataire, vous vous posez sûrement la question : qui doit s’en charger ? La réponse est claire : c’est votre responsabilité. Une obligation légale qui soulève souvent des interrogations et parfois même des tensions avec les propriétaires. Loin d’être une simple formalité, ...

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Vous avez un projet immobilier en tête ? Achat, vente ou location, vous ne savez pas vers quel professionnel vous tourner pour être accompagné au mieux. Pas de panique, nous allons vous présenter la Bourse de l’immobilier, un réseau d’agences immobilières réputé et de confiance à travers toute la France. Que vous soyez un particulier ...

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À la croisée des chemins entre production énergétique et activité agricole, l’agrivoltaïsme se développe rapidement en France. Face aux tensions foncières, climatiques et économiques, il apparaît comme un levier stratégique pour conjuguer transition écologique, dynamisme rural et souveraineté énergétique.

Une pratique à encadrer pour répondre aux défis territoriaux

Déployé sur des terres agricoles, l’agrivoltaïsme permet de produire de l’électricité solaire tout en maintenant une activité agricole significative. Des ombrières mobiles aux serres photovoltaïques, en passant par les trackers intelligents comme dans le projet de la Grappe du Tardenois (Aisne), les technologies se multiplient.

Le cadre juridique, longtemps flou, s’est structuré avec la loi APER (2023) et ses décrets d’application en 2024. Il impose un taux de couverture maximal (40 %) et réaffirme la vocation agricole des terrains. Reste un enjeu majeur d’acceptabilité locale, que les développeurs tentent d’anticiper via des comités de suivi, des permanences d’information et des outils pédagogiques.

Une opportunité économique, agricole et citoyenne

L’agrivoltaïsme offre de nouveaux revenus pour les agriculteurs tout en améliorant leur résilience face aux aléas climatiques. Selon un baromètre publié par Ipsos et Sun’Agri, près des deux tiers des exploitants voient cette pratique comme une opportunité. Elle permet aussi de dynamiser les territoires grâce à des retombées fiscales (IFER, taxes foncières) et au développement de l’autoconsommation collective.

Les projets comme celui du Tardenois, porté par European Energy, témoignent de cette valeur ajoutée territoriale : production fourragère renforcée, énergie locale pour 30 000 foyers, 730 000 € par an de retombées fiscales… tout en respectant les paysages et l’identité agricole des lieux.

Vers un modèle d’aménagement sobre et concerté

Loin d’un usage opportuniste du foncier, l’agrivoltaïsme bien encadré constitue une réponse cohérente aux défis énergétiques et agricoles. Encore faut-il que sa mise en œuvre reste progressive, transparente et concertée. Il s’agit moins de juxtaposer deux activités que de construire un véritable projet de territoire durable.