Africa 2026: Perspectives from the Horn of Africa

Rome, 9 July 2026
Venue: NH Roma Centro
Working Language: English

Africa has emerged as one of the most strategically important regions of the contemporary international system, positioned at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. The Sahel and the Horn of Africa form a strategic security continuum where regional instability, terrorism, trafficking, irregular migration and maritime insecurity increasingly intersect with the security interests of NATO Allies. The region also encompasses critical maritime chokepoints, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, through which a significant share of global trade and energy supplies transit.
The growing presence of hybrid threats, malign external influence and strategic information manipulation is exacerbating regional vulnerabilities, undermining critical infrastructure, supply chains and economic security. Strengthening preventive diplomacy, strategic foresight and cooperation among international and regional organisations has therefore become essential to enhance resilience, prevent crises and promote cooperative security across the Southern Neighbourhood.
Against this backdrop, the High-Level Workshop will bring together policymakers, military representatives, researchers and regional experts to discuss the role of preventive diplomacy, AI-supported early warning and regional cooperation in addressing emerging security challenges in the Horn of Africa. Building on ongoing research developed with African partners and using Ethiopia as a case study, the conference aims to foster dialogue on African-led approaches to crisis prevention, hybrid threats and regional stability, while reinforcing cooperation between NATO, the African Union, the European Union and other regional organisations. 

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