The International Security Forum Bonn 2025 facilitated a high-level international dialogue on contemporary topics of foreign and security policy. The goal of the Forum was to foster exchange between experts and practitioners, to identify vital aspects of a successful European foreign and security policy, and to develop holistic strategic solutions for pressing problems. The 2025 Forum focused on the challenges posed by the rapidly accelerated competition regarding the civil and military usage of space. It was concluded by a two-day workshop on strategic foresight.
Like no other sector in the 21st century, space has the potential to change the way we live. Whether it's navigation, trade or warfare – mankind depends on space-based infrastructure. The space domain promises faster communication, better observation and strategic advantages for those who are able to dominate it. This is the reason why great powers are racing to the stars once again. It remains to be seen whether space can be used to the advantage of all mankind or if single great powers dominate it and dictate the regulatory frameworks.
As hardly ever before, political, and economic decision- makers depend on science – first on natural scientists – but social science expertise as well. Expertise and novel insights are key, particularly since any political or inaction is likely to have serious social, economic, and political consequences.
Last Octobers’s International Security Forum Bonn 2025 served as an opportunity to identify new topics and redeem existing instruments of political and economic governance in order to open a new chapter in the field of Astropolitic.
Only the historical retrospective will show whether the year 2025 marks a break. However, historians and other scholars can already help to place things into a wider temporal frame, and in doing so contribute to mastering the future.
Little is inevitable, and the future lies in our hands – with this mindset, contributors from Bonn and from around world meet up to discuss the pressing topic of how to use the space realm to the benefit of all mankind and avoid geopolitical rivalry in space.
CASSIS remains committed to fostering new approaches to international security, normative initiatives, and no-smokescreen debates. New realities require new ideas.