Budapest Transatlantic & Global Security Dialogues

October 1–3, 2025
Venue: Lajos Law Firm, Budapest
Guest of Honour: Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé

Over two days, in the historic setting of Budapest, scholars, diplomats, policymakers, and professionals will gather at Lajos Law Firm to explore the future of sovereignty, governance, and security in a world marked by profound transitions.

The conference, co-organized by Aubin Gonzalez Lapos, Executive Secretary General of France-Amériques, and Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé, Co-Director of the Network for Strategic Analysis (Canada), aims to foster transatlantic and global dialogue at the crossroads of Europe. It offers a unique opportunity to bring together different perspectives—from North America, Europe, and beyond—at a time when collective action and new partnerships are urgently needed.

This gathering is more than a series of panels. It is conceived as a space for dialogue, where academic reflection meets diplomatic practice and where diverse voices converge to reimagine strategic cooperation, technological transitions, and democratic resilience.

Day 1 — Wednesday, October 1, 2025

08:30 – 09:00 | Welcome Coffee & Registration

09:00 – 09:30 | Opening Remarks
Introduction by Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé and the organizers, outlining the objectives of the conference and the importance of Budapest as a hub for transatlantic and European dialogue.

09:30 – 11:00 | Session I – Redefining Sovereignty in a Fragmented World
A broad discussion on how sovereignty is reshaped in an era of interdependence, economic uncertainty, and hybrid threats. The session will examine how traditional concepts of state power must adapt to new realities.

11:30 – 13:00 | Session II – Democracies Under Pressure
This workshop will focus on electoral integrity, disinformation, and the resilience of civil societies. It will explore how democracies can withstand external influence and internal fractures while engaging their citizens in constructive dialogue.

13:00 – 14:30 | Networking Lunch

15:00 – 16:30 | Session III – Strategic Realignments Across the Atlantic
This panel will address the evolving dynamics of alliances, the reshaping of security guarantees, and the search for balance between sovereignty and cooperation.

17:00 – 18:30 | Session IV – Technology and Security in the 21st Century
From digital disruption to space and defence industries, this conversation will explore how innovation is transforming the strategic environment and what cooperation frameworks are needed between Canada and Europe.

18:30 – 19:00 | Closing Reflections (Day 1)
With concluding words from Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé, highlighting the lessons of the day and opening perspectives for the second day.

19:00 | Reception at Lajos Law Firm

Day 2 — Thursday, October 2, 2025

08:45 – 09:15 | Morning Coffee & Exchanges

09:15 – 09:30 | Welcome Back Remarks
Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé opens the second day with reflections on the interconnections between democracy, security, and cooperation.

09:30 – 11:00 | Session V – South–South Cooperation and Global Balance
A dialogue on how emerging partnerships and endogenous initiatives from the Global South can contribute to reshaping global governance, fostering resilience, and reducing inequalities.

11:30 – 13:00 | Session VI – Governance and Resilience in an Era of Transition
This workshop will explore new frameworks for inclusive governance, the role of civic participation, and the renewal of multilateral cooperation.

13:00 – 14:30 | Lunch Break

15:00 – 16:15 | Session VII – Strategic Autonomy and Defence Industries
This panel will examine Europe’s ambition to build greater strategic autonomy, the challenges for its defence industries, and opportunities for transatlantic industrial cooperation.

16:30 – 17:45 | Session VIII – Canada–Europe Strategic Dialogue: Building a Shared Future
The closing roundtable will bring together reflections on sovereignty, resilience, and cooperation, with concluding insights from Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé as Guest of Honour.

17:45 – 18:00 | Closing Remarks
Final words by the organizers, followed by thanks to all participants and partners.

18:00 | Farewell Cocktail at Lajos Law Firm

This two-day program at Lajos Law Firm in Budapest is conceived as a milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé and France-Amériques, extending bridges between Europe and North America while opening new avenues of dialogue with the Global South