European Security and Defence
As a foreign and security policy think tank, the continuous analysis of the European Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is of central importance for the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy. The further development of the CSDP, as well as security policy cooperation between the EU and NATO have a direct influence on the security and stability of the European neighbourhood as well as on European unity and, therefore, represent essential aspects of our activities. In the course of its intensive analytical work, the AIES regularly organises background discussions with international experts and makes its research recommendations available to the general public as well as to Austrian decision-makers.
Current AIES activities on the topic. Research also in the database.
Events
Cold War 2.0 (?): The Transformation in the International System
26.11.2025 / Lecture by AIES Research Fellow Ulf Steindl
Unmanned Protection of Critical Infrastructure
21.10.2025 / Closing Event of the USKIT Research Project
New strategic perspectives for the Middle East
10.09.2025 / Discussion with Middle East expert Gudrun Harrer and AIES president Werner Fasslabend
Scandinavian Best Practices in Countering Hybrid Threats
10.09.2025 / Workshop with experts from Sweden and Finland
AIES Keynote on Cybersecurity and Geopolitical Developments
09.09.2025 / Michael Zinkanell presented at a DigitalCity.Vienna networking event
Digital threats and geopolitical developments
08.09.2025 / Michael Zinkanell gave a keynote speech on cybersecurity
Europe's security architecture in a phase of geopolitical upheaval
22.07.2025 / Visit of the Bundeswehr to the AIES
In the media
13.11.2025 / ELIANET
Can Europe Seize the Opportunity to Strengthen Its Strategic Capabilities?
Contribution by AIES Associated Fellow Leopold Schmertzing
21.08.2025 / Alpbach Panorama
United in Defence?
AIES Research Fellow Ulf Steindl interviewed Jan Farfal of Alpbach Poland
15.03.2024 / Defense News
Sweden and Finland have dropped neutrality. Austria still fetes it.
Statements by AIES Research Fellow Christoph Schwarz
19.02.2024 / Al Jazeera English
Two years into Russia’s war in Ukraine, how strong is NATO’s unity?
Statements by AIES Research Fellow Chistoph Schwarz
27.06.2022 / NRC (The Netherlands)
Poetins invasie is het begin van een nieuwe Koude Oorlog
Interview Velina Tchakarova
20.01.2022 / CNN
Biden reveals an uncomfortable truth about NATO's divide on Russian aggression in Ukraine
Statement by Velina Tchakarova
20.11.2021 / CNN
The EU realizes it can't rely on America for protection
Statement by Velina Tchakarova
14.06.2021 / The Probe
The Biden-Putin meet in Geneva is a spill-words summit
Statements by Velina Tchakarova
Publications
Tauende Arktis: Der künftige Konfliktraum mit Russland?
Ulf M Steindl: Tauende Arktis: Der künftige Konfliktraum mit Russland? AIES Studies 3/2025.
Recharging European Defence - European Forum Alpbach 2025
Ulf M Steindl: Recharging European Defence - European Forum Alpbach 2025. Austria in Europe Days: Security Track Report. AIES Comment 2025/8.
European Security Put to the Test Volume III
Klemens H. Fischer (Hrsg.): European Security Put to the Test, Volume III: Geopolitics in Times of Permanent Crisis, Nomos Verlag 2025, 552p., ISBN 978-3-7560-3093-4.
Drittstaaten als Partner in der EU-Verteidigung
Niklas Hintermayer: Drittstaaten als Partner in der EU-Verteidigung: Argumente für eine verstärkte Zusammenarbeit. AIES Focus 2025/6.
Podcast
11.11.25 / Aus Sicherer Quelle – by Christoph Schwarz & Nick Nieschalke, S01 E01
Das internationale System mit Carlo Masala 2
Wie funktioniert das internationale System? Wer bestimmt die Spielregeln und was haben Gorillas und Schimpansen damit zu tun? Carlo Masala, Professor für Internationale Politik an der Universität der Bundeswehr in München, ist bei uns zu Gast um diese und viele weitere spannende Fragen zu besprechen.
Videos
29th European Forum Vienna: Day 1
06.11.25 / AIES Event in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Wilfried Martens Zentrum für Europäische Studien und dem Think-Tank Campus Tivoli (ehemalige Politische Akademie)
Artificial Intelligence as a game changer for cyber policies?
20.06.24 / AIES moderation at the Cyber Summit in Paris




