Great power competition is reshaping the international order, with profound implications for Europe’s security, prosperity and global role. The “Geopolitics and Great Power Rivalry” programme at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) examines how strategic competition among major powers –particularly the United States, China and Russia – interacts with regional dynamics in Europe, the transatlantic space and the Indo-Pacific. It analyses the evolution of grand strategy, alliance politics and deterrence in an increasingly contested and fragmented geopolitical landscape, paying particular attention to how Europe navigates systemic rivalry while sustaining cooperation with key partners. A distinctive focus of the programme is the challenge of strategic simultaneity: how major powers and their allies manage competing demands across multiple theatres under conditions of finite resources and growing risk, and how this shapes prioritisation, burden-sharing and alliance adaptation.

Drawing on CSDS’ academic expertise and extensive policy networks, the programme provides rigorous, policy-relevant analysis from its unique vantage point in Brussels. It engages with policymakers, industry and research communities to assess the future of alliances, the credibility of deterrence, and the strategic choices facing Europe and its partners. By linking transatlantic and Indo-Pacific perspectives, and by leveraging initiatives such as Bridging Allies and research on Europe–US–China relations as well as the Future of European Deterrence, the programme offers a platform for dialogue and analysis aimed at strengthening strategic alignment and anticipating the trajectories of great power competition.

For more information on the Geopolitics and Great Power Rivalry programme, please contact Prof Dr Luis Simón.