International Defence Conference 2025 Set To Begin On February 16 With Focus On Innovation And Resilience

The International Defence Conference (IDC) 2025 is set for 16th February, aligning with the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) 2025. Organised by ADNEC Group, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council, IDC serves as a global platform for decision-makers, experts, and leaders to discuss pressing global issues and threats while promoting collaboration among nations, institutions, and defence companies.

Three main sessions will be featured at the conference. The first session, "Global Disruptions and Defence Preparedness: Mitigating Threats to Critical Supply Chains," will address challenges posed by geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, cyberattacks, and pandemics. It will focus on enhancing the resilience of critical supply chains through collaboration between governments and various sectors.

This session will also explore the role of technological innovations introduced by startups in strengthening supply chain stability. It aims to highlight strategies for building collaborative international networks to reduce risks and lessons learned from recent global supply chain crises. The defence sector's role in safeguarding these chains will be a focal point.

The second session titled "Disinformation and Influence Operations: The Weaponisation of Information in Modern Conflicts" will delve into misinformation tactics. It will examine how artificial intelligence aids disinformation campaigns affecting societal stability and political systems. The session will also review methods used by states and non-governmental entities to spread misinformation.

Additionally, this session will discuss the ethical dimensions of using information as a weapon. It will cover the role of social media platforms in spreading misinformation and strategies for detecting and countering such activities. Collaboration between governments, private sectors, and civil society organisations is crucial for building a resilient information environment.

The third session focuses on "Space: The New Arena for Defence and Security." This part addresses space's growing importance in defence amid rapid strategic changes marked by increased satellite launches. The session highlights threats from counter-space capabilities that disrupt military operations.

Space: A New Frontier for Defence

Developing technologies for Space Situational Awareness (SSA), missile defence, secure satellite communications, and enhancing resilient space assets are key topics. Establishing space forces, leadership strategies, policies, alliances, and the private sector's crucial role are also discussed. Emerging threats to space systems present both challenges and opportunities.

IDC 2025 features high-level international participation with prominent figures like Dr. Yossi Sheffi from MIT Centre for Transportation and Logistics alongside senior military leaders worldwide. The event concludes with strategic recommendations shaping future defence programmes' framework.

With inputs from WAM