SIPRI at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum

On 25 March, SIPRI convened a roundtable discussion at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum to examine the role of development cooperation in national security strategies.

Moderated by Dr Florian Krampe, Director of the SIPRI Climate Change and Risk Programme, the session brought together policymakers and researchers to discuss how development cooperation can complement broader security approaches. Participants included Aayesha Hassan, Somalia's Special Envoy for Stabilization; Anne Grillo, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; Dr Florence Cassam Chenaï, SIPRI Senior Researcher; and General Tom Middendorp, Chair of the International Military Council on Climate and Security.

The discussion focused on the security implications of recent aid cuts and their impact on long-term stabilization efforts, with reflections drawn from developments in Chad, Mauritania and Somalia. Speakers highlighted the importance of aligning security and development interventions through coordinated and well-sequenced approaches in order to support more sustainable outcomes. The roundtable also examined how development cooperation can contribute to comprehensive security strategies in a defence-focused policy setting.