Reporting directly to the Minister, the Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS) manages international action of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) with the involvement of État-major des armées (EMA), the joint staff command; Direction générale de l'armement (DGA), the Directorate General for Armament; and Secrétariat général pour l'administration (SGA), the General Secretariat for Administration. The DGRIS also manages the strategic foresight activities and coordinates, for the MoD, those for the preparation of the White Paper on defense and national security and its regular updates. The DGRIS serves as the interface (with the exception of operational activities, the conduct of armaments cooperation and support to export transactions) with the other ministries on issues related to international action, and particularly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. It is also responsible for the strategy of international influence of the Ministry of Defense and the steering of the network of defense missions abroad.

The FRS (Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique), located in Paris, is the leading French think tank on defense and security issues. FRS conducts studies for French government departments and agencies, European institutions, international organizations and private companies. It contributes to the strategic debate in France, in Europe and abroad. The FRS has an interdisciplinary team of thirty researchers including experts in international and strategic matters, political scientists, engineers, scientists and former military officers. Its expertise covers the full spectrum of security and defense issues, from the analysis of technical-operational aspects to indepth knowledge of strategic areas, including terrorism, homeland security, conflict analysis, space and technology, WMD proliferation, nuclear deterrence and regional security issues.

The German Federal Ministry of Defense supports the Federal Minister of Defense in performing his functions as a member of the Federal Government, as the head of the Ministry and as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Around 2,000 personnel are working in nine directorates at the Ministry’s two official seats in Bonn and Berlin.

BAKS (Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik) is the security policy training institution of the federal government. It projects the concept of comprehensive security to selected leaders. It is mandated by the Federal Security and consolidates the security policy expertise in Germany.

Chatham House, also known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, was founded in 1920 and received its Royal Charter in 1926. Its mission is to help build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world. Research is core to all Chatham House activities. The institute undertakes independent and rigorous analysis with the aim of setting the agenda and shaping policy by encouraging new ideas and forward thinking in international affairs. Chatham House research is structured around four departments: Area Studies and International Law; Energy, Environment and Resource Governance; International Economics; and International Security. The institute holds over 300 events per year, including major one- to two-day conferences workshops, seminars and briefings. Many of these events take place under the Chatham House Rule, to allow expert discussion among policy stakeholders. Chatham House experts also offer special briefings in the UK Parliament, and give evidence to government officials and legislators in capitals around the world including Beijing, Brussels, Delhi, Istanbul, London, and Washington DC. Many Chatham House projects culminate in publications, including Chatham House Reports, Briefing Papers, Research Papers and journal articles. The Chatham House website offers access to all the institute’s reports, papers and event transcripts and receives over 1 million individual visitors each year.

The National Security Bureau (BBN) is a body providing aid and support to the President of the Republic of Poland in executing security and defence tasks. It fulfils the tasks entrusted by the President related to the security and defence matters. They result from the role of the President as the supreme representative of the Republic of Poland and the guarantor of the continuity of the State authority, responsible for ensuring observance of the Constitution, safeguarding sovereignty and security of the State as well as inviolability and integrity of its territory. The Bureau’s tasks result also from the constitutional function of the President who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The competences of the President of the Republic of Poland related to the command over the Armed Forces are described in detail in the Act of 21 November 1967 on the Universal Duty to Defend the Republic of Poland.

The EPC is an independent, not-for-profit think tank dedicated to fostering European integration through analysis and debate, supporting and challenging European decision-makers at all levels to make informed decisions based on evidence and analysis, and providing a platform for engaging partners, stakeholders and citizens in EU policy-making and in the debate about the future of Europe.

The Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (PASP) of NATO acts in many respects as a Foreign Ministry for NATO. In close coordination with other divisions, PASP provides political advice and policy guidance for the Secretary General regarding internal, regional, economic and security affairs. Furthermore, the Division handles the Alliance’s numerous relations with partner countries and with other international organizations. PASP itself is organized into several sections dealing with: Arms Control and Coordination, NATO and Multilateral Affairs, Russia and Ukraine Relations, Euro-Atlantic Integration and Partnership, Mediterranean Dialogue & Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, Cooperation Policy & Programs, and Defense and Security Economics.

The INSS is an independent academic institute that studies key issues relating to Israel's national security and Middle East affairs. It is considered and internationally ranked as the leading think tank in Israel on matters related to the broader strategic defense, security and foreign relation issues. Through its blend of researchers with backgrounds in academia, the military, government and public policy, INSS is able to contribute to the public debate and governmental deliberation of leading strategic issues and offer policy analysis and recommendations to decision-makers and public leaders, policy analysts and theoreticians, both in Israel and abroad. As an external institute of Tel Aviv University, it maintains a strong association with the academic environment.

As a leading think tank on Middle East risk assessment, the primary mission of the Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS) at IDC Herzliya is to contribute to Israel’s national policy and to the upgrading of its strategic decision-making process. Established in 2000, the range of IPS projects encompasses a variety of issues crucial to Israel. IPS conducts policy research on a broad analytical scope to identify evolving issues and trends and to assess emerging risks and opportunities. Concentrating on Middle East politics and Israel’s foreign affairs, IPS also invests in innovative methodologies and policy analysis focusing on political/strategic risk assessment and management. The Annual Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel’s National Security is the flagship of IPS activities.