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When Transatlantic trust frays and old certainties are questioned, can Europe shoulder a larger share of its own defence and a chart a new course for its future success? Under the theme ‘The Hour of Europe’, Helsinki Security Forum 2025 brings experts and decision-makers together to ponder the hard questions and explore Europe’s path forward.

The fourth annual Helsinki Security Forum (HSF) will be held on 19–21 September 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. HSF offers a unique platform for security and defence dialogue at a time when Europe’s ability to act is once again tested.

The global environment continues to face rapid and disruptive changes. Alliances are challenged, even questioned, emerging technologies are redrawing the boundaries of power, and traditional assumptions about security no longer hold.

In this reality, Europe must move decisively on several fronts: restoring its economic competitiveness, building more capacity in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, strengthening its own decision-making and intelligence-sharing frameworks, investing in more defence capabilities, and shaping and defending a European security order that reflects its interests and values.

“These are not optional ambitions – they are necessary responses to a world in flux that will not wait for Europe to catch up.  The illusion of guaranteed protection or prosperity, whether through the transatlantic alliance or global stability, is sadly fading. These themes are all present in the HSF 2025 programme”, says Hiski Haukkala, Director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.

As Europe confronts the need to rethink its security architecture new approaches and strategic foresight are more important than ever. High-level gatherings like the Helsinki Security Forum (HSF) play a pivotal role in this effort. Finland’s leading security forum offers not just a stage for reflection, but a platform for clarity, cooperation, and new insight. The President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, will serve as the patron of the conference, underlining its national and international significance.

“The discussions and encounters in conferences like HSF are necessary tools for building the shared understanding and strategic outlook Europe urgently requires. At HSF 2025, we want to highlight Finnish expertise and the insights of FIIA researchers in these discussions”, says Kukka-Maria Kovsky, the HSF Conference Director.

HSF is organised by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA) and receives longstanding support from its key partners, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Ministry of Defence of Finland, the City of Helsinki, and Patria. In addition, HSF 2025 is supported by a broad network of partner organisations, such as Fortum, Lockheed Martin, Nokia, Outokumpu, Sitra, Stark, Stora Enso and VTT.

Updates on HSF 2025 will be published on HSF’s LinkedIn and website as well as FIIA’s social media channels.

Sign up to follow the HSF 2025 livestream.