XXIII Forte International Security Conference

Over the course of two days, the conference explored how emerging technologies are reshaping global governance, democratic resilience, defense, strategic autonomy, and economic development. Through different panels, participants exchanged perspectives on the opportunities and risks created by artificial intelligence, critical minerals, digital infrastructure, and the transformation of modern warfare.

Keynote Speeches – From Balance to Disruption: Technology and the Future of Global Power

The conference opened with keynote speeches by Celso Amorim, Chief Advisor to the President of Brazil; Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, Director-General at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs; and Henning Speck, Chief of Executive Staff at the German Federal Foreign Office, moderated by Diego Schalper, Member of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies. The session established the conceptual framework for the conference by examining how technological transformation is redefining power, sovereignty, and the international order.

Flash Talk I – Latin America Between Power Poles: Strategic Positioning Amid Shifting Global Routes

In the first Flash Talk, Larissa Wachholz, Senior Fellow at CEBRI and Partner at Vallya, explored how Latin America can strengthen its strategic positioning amid growing geopolitical competition and shifting global trade and technology networks.

Panel I – Global Governance in the Age of Disruption: Multilateralism, Innovation and Strategic Autonomy

Featuring Vinicius de Carvalho (King's College London), Iñigo Guevara Moyano (Janes Strategic Services), and Benedikt Franke (Munich Security Conference), moderated by Simone de Manso, the panel examined how technological disruption and geopolitical fragmentation are reshaping multilateralism. Discussions focused on strategic autonomy, emerging governance models, and new opportunities for Europe–Latin America cooperation. A central theme was the growing relevance of strategic autonomy, understood not as isolation but as the ability to reduce vulnerabilities through diversified partnerships, resilient supply chains, and stronger domestic capabilities. In this context, Europe and Latin America were identified as regions with converging interests in strengthening technological cooperation while preserving political and economic agency.

Panel II – Artificial Intelligence and Democracy: Between Innovation and Institutional Erosion

With Dora Kaufman (PUC-SP/CEBRI), Eduardo Magrani (Harvard Berkman Klein Center), and Omar Paganini, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, moderated by Leonardo Paz Neves (FGV), the discussion addressed the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence for democratic governance. Topics included AI regulation, disinformation, institutional resilience, and digital trust. The discussion also highlighted the challenges of governing rapidly evolving technologies. Participants stressed that regulatory frameworks often struggle to keep pace with innovation and emphasized the need for adaptive governance models combining public oversight, private sector engagement, and international cooperation.

Interview Session – Innovation, Democracy and the Future

Journalist Leila Sterenberg conducted a one-on-one conversation with Silvio Meira, Chief Scientist at TDS.company, exploring the impact of technological innovation on democracy, digital transformation, and the future of governance. The interview offered a practical perspective on the challenges and opportunities created by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Panel III – Defense and Innovation: Europe and Latin America Facing a Wake-Up Call

Danielle Ayres (Institutional Security Office of the Presidency of Brazil), Brynja Oskarsdottir (NATO Parliamentary Assembly), and André Clark (Viveo), under the moderation of Ambassador Karin Wallensteen, discussed how emerging technologies are transforming defense, industrial cooperation, and strategic autonomy. The panel highlighted the importance of innovation ecosystems and stronger Europe–Latin America partnerships. The discussion also underscored the growing role of the private sector in developing critical technologies, raising new challenges for governments seeking to balance innovation, national security, and technological sovereignty. Europe and Latin America were identified as regions facing similar strategic dilemmas and possessing complementary strengths that could support deeper cooperation.

Flash Talk II – European Defense Autonomy in a Fragmented World

Steven Everts, Director of the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), presented an overview of Europe's evolving defense strategy, examining how technological innovation and geopolitical fragmentation are driving the pursuit of greater strategic autonomy.

Panel IV – Strategic Minerals and Sovereignty: The New Geopolitics of Rare Earths

The panel brought together Maciej Filip Bukowski (Warsaw Security Forum), Rafaela Guedes (CEBRI), and Marisol Pérez Tello, former Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Peru, moderated by Loana von Gaevernitz Lima (AHK Rio). Discussions focused on the growing geopolitical importance of critical minerals, resilient supply chains, and opportunities for industrial cooperation between Europe and Latin America.

The discussion highlighted that geopolitical competition increasingly revolves not only around the extraction of critical minerals but also around the industrial capabilities required to process and transform them. In this context, China's dominant position across global supply chains was identified as a major strategic challenge, reinforcing the need for more diversified and resilient sourcing strategies.

Panel V – New Technologies and Contemporary Warfare: Drones, LAWS and Artificial Intelligence

Featuring Igor Marchesini (CEBRI), Tomasz Smura (Casimir Pulaski Foundation), and Peter Neumann (King's College London), moderated by Sabrina Medeiros (Universidade Lusófona), the final panel examined how artificial intelligence, drones, cyber capabilities, and autonomous systems are transforming modern warfare. The discussion also explored the challenges of regulating emerging military technologies and strengthening resilience in an increasingly complex security environment.

The discussion emphasized that modern conflicts increasingly extend beyond conventional battlefields, encompassing cyberspace, the information environment, and critical infrastructure. Technological superiority now depends not only on advanced military capabilities but also on data, innovation, rapid adaptation, and civil-military cooperation.

Conclusion remarks

The discussions throughout the XXIII Forte International Security Conference reinforced that technological change is no longer a sectoral issue, but a central driver of international politics. From artificial intelligence and critical minerals to defense innovation and digital governance, technology is reshaping the way states exercise power, protect their sovereignty, and cooperate in an increasingly fragmented world.

Despite addressing different topics, all sessions converged on a common understanding: strengthening resilience, investing in technological capabilities, and building trusted international partnerships will be essential for responding to the challenges of the coming decades. The conference also highlighted the growing strategic convergence between Europe and Latin America, demonstrating that both regions share common interests in promoting democratic governance, innovation, sustainable development, and international stability.

More broadly, the conference reaffirmed the importance of sustained dialogue among governments, academia, the private sector, and civil society. As technological transformation continues to accelerate, platforms such as the Forte International Security Conference play an increasingly important role in fostering informed debate, strengthening international cooperation, and generating ideas that can support evidence-based policymaking in an evolving global security environment.