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International Centre for Defence and Security
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In memoriam: Pauli Järvenpää

We mourn the loss of our former colleague and friend, Pauli Järvenpää, who made a lasting contribution to our work.
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In memoriam: Emmet Tuohy

We are deeply saddened by the passing of our former colleague and friend, Emmet Tuohy.
Image by: Ou Dongqu/Xinhua via ZUMA Press/Scanpix
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Analysis |

More Than Meets the AI: China’s Data Centre Strategy

In February 2022, Beijing launched Eastern Data Western Compute (EDWC), a national megaproject to compute data from China’s developed eastern areas in its rural western regions, which enjoy a regional advantage due to plentiful renewable energy and lower average temperatures.
Image by: AFP/Scanpix
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Policy paper |

Europe’s Forthcoming Sahel Strategy: A Limited Role in a Multipolar Region

Europe’s previous security strategy towards the Sahel region, anchored in French-led operations and EU capacity-building missions, failed to deliver a lasting impact. Ambitions were unrealistic, given the region’s vast needs, and efforts misaligned with local elites who prioritised regime survival over reform. Europe had little leverage once coups unfolded, and the juntas chose to realign with alternative partners.
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Commentary |

The Baltic Sea in Peace and War

In a string of incidents beginning in late 2023, commercial ships severed numerous pipelines and cables under the Baltic Sea. Departing from its insistence that the primary responsibility to respond to hybrid threats rests with targeted countries, NATO launched military activities which saw Allied ships and aircraft deploy to the region to deter and counter further attacks. These episodes highlighted both the need for states bordering the Baltic Sea to ensure a safe maritime environment, and the shortfalls in their capacity to do so at present.
Image by: Ibrahim ISHAQ / AFP / Scanpix
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Brief |

Russia and the Red Sea since 2022: Militarised Foreign Policy or Strategy of Conflict?

Accounting for over 10% of world trade, the Red Sea is an essential waterway and a chokepoint for international shipping. Piracy, instability, and inter-state conflict are long-term challenges that have kept regional and extra-regional powers engaged in contributing to the security of the area. Since 19 October 2023, the Red Sea attacks on commercial shipping by the Yemen-based Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) have only raised the stakes.

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Russia's War in Ukraine

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The Hague Summit

Tallinn Digital Summit 2025

The 8th edition of the Tallinn Digital Summit, taking place on 9-10 October 2025 at the National Library of Estonia, Tallinn, offers a unique invitation-only forum for constructive and pragmatic dialogue among leaders from political, business, innovation, financial, digital, and defence domains.

9-10 October 2025

Lennart Meri Conference 2025

The 18th annual Lennart Meri Conference took place on 16-18 May 2025 in Tallinn, Estonia. Three days packed with insights by distinguished policymakers, analysts, politicians, military officials and academia from around the globe in Tallinn, Estonia.

16-18 May 2025

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