Where is the Global Synergy Conference 2026 taking place?

The conference will be held in the city of Brussels, BEL.

What is the primary focus of the Global Synergy Conference 2026?

The conference focuses on power dynamics, international partnerships, and the shaping of the next global order, providing a platform for discussions on these critical themes in international relations.

Global Synergy Conference 2026 – Power, Partnerships and the Next Global Order

Name: Global Synergy Conference 2026 – Power, Partnerships and the Next Global Order
Start: 2026-03-18T00:00:00Z
End: 2026-03-18T00:00:00Z
Location: Brussels

Mar 18, 2026Brussels, BelgiumIn-person

Registration open

The Global Synergy Conference 2026, hosted in Brussels, BEL, convenes to dissect the evolving landscape of global power dynamics, the intricacies of international partnerships, and the foundational elements shaping the next global order. This event provides a critical platform for exploring how traditional alliances are being redefined and new forms of cooperation are emerging in response to multifaceted global challenges. Participants will engage in discussions that aim to identify the key drivers of change in international relations, assess the efficacy of current multilateral frameworks, and project future trajectories for global governance. The conference's focus on synergy underscores a commitment to understanding how collaborative efforts can address complex issues ranging from geopolitical shifts to economic interdependence.

Committees & topics

Topics
The Changing Nature of Global Power · Strategic Partnerships in a Fragmenting Order · Architecting the Next Global Order · Economic Security and the Weaponisation of Interdependence · The Global AI Race and the Contest for Technological Primacy · Defence in an Era of Renewed Great-Power Competition · The Strategic EU-India Partnership · Contemporary International Affairs

Why it matters

The conference addresses a pivotal moment in international affairs, characterized by significant shifts in the global distribution of power and the increasing complexity of interstate relations. As various nations assert their influence, understanding the mechanisms through which power is exercised and contested becomes paramount. The event offers a timely examination of how these power dynamics impact global stability and prosperity.

Furthermore, the emphasis on partnerships is crucial. In an interconnected world, no single nation can effectively tackle global challenges in isolation. The conference will explore the nature of contemporary alliances, both formal and informal, and their role in fostering collective security, economic growth, and sustainable development. This includes analyzing the challenges and opportunities inherent in diverse partnerships, from bilateral agreements to broader regional and international collaborations.

The concept of a 'next global order' is central to the discussions. This implies a recognition that the existing international system is undergoing profound transformation. The conference will delve into the potential architectures of this emerging order, considering the roles of state and non-state actors, the influence of technological advancements, and the impact of ideological divergences. Such an exploration is vital for policymakers, academics, and practitioners seeking to navigate and shape the future of global governance.

How to prepare

To effectively engage with the themes of the Global Synergy Conference, delegates should undertake a comprehensive review of contemporary geopolitical trends and the theoretical underpinnings of international relations. A strong understanding of concepts such as the "balance of power" and "agenda-setting power" will be beneficial for grasping the nuances of discussions on global power dynamics. Delegates should also familiarize themselves with the historical evolution of international partnerships, including the various forms of "bilateral defence agreements" and multilateral frameworks.

Preparing for discussions on the 'next global order' requires an appreciation of the diverse perspectives on global governance and the challenges to established norms. Delegates could benefit from exploring the "Power-Interest Grid" to analyze the motivations and influence of key state and non-state actors. Furthermore, understanding "Hidden Stakeholders" and applying "Engagement Strategies" will be crucial for contributing meaningfully to debates on collaborative solutions and the formation of new international arrangements.

Consideration of specific regional dynamics and the roles of emerging powers will also enhance participation. For instance, understanding the strategic interests and diplomatic approaches of countries like CHN, IND, and BRA, alongside traditional powers such as USA, DEU, and FRA, will be invaluable. Delegates should be prepared to discuss how these diverse national interests converge or diverge in shaping global policies and the future international system. Applying "Dynamic Analysis" to current events will allow for a more informed contribution to the conference's forward-looking discussions.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 5 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

United States

Advocates for a rules-based international order, emphasizing democratic values and multilateral institutions, while also pursuing strategic partnerships to counter perceived threats and maintain global leadership.

Role in topic

As a traditional global superpower, USA's perspective on power dynamics, the nature of alliances, and the structure of the global order is central. Its engagement in various partnerships and its stance on international norms significantly influence the direction of global synergy.

China

Seeks a more multipolar world order, advocating for a greater voice for developing nations and promoting its own model of international cooperation, often through initiatives like the Belt and Road.

Role in topic

CHN's rising economic and geopolitical influence is a primary driver of shifts in global power. Its approach to partnerships, particularly its "All-Weather Strategic Partnership" with certain nations, and its vision for a new global order are critical discussion points.

Germany

Committed to multilateralism and European integration, often seeking to balance economic interests with humanitarian principles and advocating for a strong, unified European voice in global affairs.

Role in topic

As a key economic and political player within Europe, DEU's views on strengthening regional partnerships and its role in shaping the European Union's foreign policy contribute significantly to discussions on global synergy and the future of international cooperation.

India

Navigates a complex geopolitical landscape, maintaining strategic autonomy while engaging in various partnerships to advance its economic and security interests, often advocating for reforms in global governance institutions.

Role in topic

IND's growing stature as a major developing economy and its strategic location make its perspective on power balances and partnerships highly relevant. Its engagement with both Western and Eastern blocs, without formal alignment, offers unique insights into the evolving global order.

Brazil

Promotes South-South cooperation and multilateralism, often advocating for a more equitable global order and emphasizing sustainable development and regional integration in Latin America.

Role in topic

BRA's role as a leading voice from the Global South provides an important perspective on reforming international institutions and fostering partnerships that address the needs of developing countries. Its stance on global power distribution challenges traditional hierarchies.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

The Changing Nature of Global Power

The post-Cold War unipolar moment, in which the United States exercised unmatched military, economic, and cultural influence, has been steadily eroded over the past two decades. China's rise as a peer economic competitor, Russia's revisionist military posture culminating in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the assertiveness of middle powers such as India, Turkey, Brazil, and the Gulf states have produced what analysts increasingly describe as a multipolar or 'multiplex' world. Power itself is also diffusing across domains — from purely military and economic metrics to technological, financial, and narrative dimensions. The core dispute concerns whether the rules-based liberal international order built after 1945 can adapt to accommodate rising powers, or whether it will fragment into competing blocs. Beijing and Moscow openly advocate a 'democratization of international relations' that dilutes Western primacy, while Washington and its allies frame the contest as one between democracies and autocracies. Today, debates over UN Security Council reform, the weaponization of the dollar, and control over critical technologies all reflect this underlying struggle over who sets the rules of the next era.

Key players

Strategic Partnerships in a Fragmenting Order

As great-power competition intensifies, states are increasingly hedging through overlapping 'minilateral' partnerships rather than relying on universal institutions. The Quad (US-Japan-India-Australia), AUKUS, the I2U2 grouping, the China-Russia 'no limits' partnership, and the expanded BRICS+ all illustrate a shift toward issue-specific coalitions on technology, defence, and supply chains. NATO's enlargement to include Finland and Sweden, and its growing Indo-Pacific engagement, similarly reflects a redrawing of partnership maps. The central question is whether these partnerships are complementary tools of statecraft or building blocks of rival blocs. Many Global South states — including India, Indonesia, South Africa, and the Gulf monarchies — explicitly reject 'bloc politics' and pursue multi-alignment, simultaneously joining BRICS+ while deepening ties with the G7. This produces a fluid landscape in which traditional alliance loyalty is giving way to transactional, sector-specific cooperation on semiconductors, critical minerals, defence industrial bases, and AI governance.

Key players

Architecting the Next Global Order

The institutional scaffolding of the current global order — the UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, and WTO — was designed in the 1940s and reflects a distribution of power that no longer exists. Calls for reform have accelerated: the African Union joined the G20 in 2023, BRICS expanded in 2024 to include the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Iran, and the 2024 UN Summit of the Future produced the Pact for the Future committing to overhaul global governance. Yet progress on UNSC reform, IMF quota redistribution, and a binding AI governance regime remains halting. The dispute is not merely about seats at the table but about whose values and standards will shape global rules on trade, technology, climate finance, and the use of force. The West generally seeks to preserve liberal norms while making space for new powers; China and Russia push for a more 'sovereigntist' order emphasizing non-interference; and the Global South demands tangible redistribution of voice and capital. The outcome will determine whether the next decades feature reformed multilateralism, parallel institutions, or open contestation.

Key players

Economic Security and the Weaponisation of Interdependence

The era of frictionless globalisation has given way to one defined by 'economic security' — the use of trade, investment, finance, and supply chains as instruments of statecraft. The 2018 US-China tariff war, COVID-era supply shocks, the 2022 G7 sanctions on Russia (including the freezing of central bank reserves), and successive US export controls on advanced semiconductors have demonstrated how deeply interdependence can be weaponised. In response, the EU has built an Economic Security Strategy and anti-coercion instrument; the US has expanded CFIUS and outbound investment screening; and China has codified its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law and tightened export controls on gallium, germanium, and rare earths. The core tension is between efficiency and resilience. 'De-risking' and 'friend-shoring' are reshaping global supply chains in semiconductors, batteries, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals, while raising costs and fragmenting markets. Developing economies fear becoming collateral damage in great-power decoupling, and questions about the dollar's role, alternative payment systems, and the future of the WTO dispute settlement system remain unresolved.

Key players

The Global AI Race and the Contest for Technological Primacy

Artificial intelligence has become the central technological arena of great-power competition. The 2022 release of large language models, combined with breakthroughs in compute and frontier model scaling, triggered massive state and private investment. The United States has imposed successive rounds of export controls on advanced chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment destined for China; China has responded with its own indigenous chip drive and AI development plan; the EU passed the AI Act in 2024 as the world's first comprehensive AI regulation; and the UK-hosted Bletchley and Seoul AI Safety Summits launched a nascent international safety regime. The race spans three dimensions: capability (who builds the most powerful models), governance (whose rules apply), and diffusion (who controls access in third countries). Concerns range from catastrophic and military misuse to mass labour displacement and the concentration of power in a handful of firms and states. The UN's High-Level Advisory Body on AI and the Global Digital Compact have begun sketching multilateral guardrails, but binding global rules remain absent and the gap between leading and lagging states is widening rapidly.

Key players

Defence in an Era of Renewed Great-Power Competition

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine ended the post-Cold War 'peace dividend' and triggered the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the 1980s. NATO members are converging on or exceeding the 2% of GDP threshold, with Poland and the Baltic states moving well beyond it; Germany announced a €100 billion special fund and embraced 'Zeitenwende'; Japan committed to doubling defence spending to 2% of GDP and acquiring counterstrike capabilities; and AUKUS is delivering nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. Simultaneously, conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and the Sahel, alongside Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, have stretched Western munitions stockpiles and exposed industrial base limits. Defence debates today centre on three issues: rebuilding industrial capacity (especially for artillery shells, air defence, and long-range fires); integrating emerging technologies (drones, autonomy, AI, space, and cyber) revealed as decisive in Ukraine; and managing nuclear risks as arms control architecture (INF, Open Skies, and now New START) collapses. The line between defence and economic security has blurred, with semiconductors, shipbuilding, and critical minerals now treated as defence-industrial priorities.

Key players

The Strategic EU-India Partnership

EU-India ties have evolved from a largely trade-focused relationship into a broad strategic partnership. The 2004 Strategic Partnership was reinvigorated at the 2021 Porto Summit, which launched the EU-India Connectivity Partnership as a democratic alternative to China's Belt and Road. In 2022 the two sides established a Trade and Technology Council — only the EU's second, after the US — covering digital governance, clean tech, and trade. Negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, an Investment Protection Agreement, and a Geographical Indications agreement, suspended in 2013, resumed in 2022 and continue with the aim of conclusion. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the 2023 G20 in New Delhi, further binds the two through infrastructure. Convergence is driven by shared concerns over China's assertiveness, supply-chain de-risking, the green and digital transitions, and Indo-Pacific security. Frictions persist: India's neutral stance on Russia's war in Ukraine and continued purchases of Russian oil, EU concerns over data protection and tariffs, and Indian objections to the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Whether the partnership can deliver a comprehensive FTA and meaningful tech and defence cooperation will be a key test of the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy and India's strategic autonomy doctrine.

Key players

Contemporary International Affairs

The international system in the mid-2020s is being shaped simultaneously by several reinforcing crises: Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, the war in Gaza and broader Middle East escalation involving Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, civil war in Sudan, instability in the Sahel following a wave of coups, and persistent tensions across the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. Layered atop these are slower-moving challenges — climate change, sovereign debt distress across the Global South, migration pressures, and the governance of AI and other emerging technologies. The defining feature is the simultaneous breakdown of cooperative mechanisms (UNSC paralysis, WTO dispute settlement, arms control treaties) and the proliferation of new informal formats (BRICS+, G7+, Quad, IMEC, Summit for Democracy). States are navigating this landscape through hedging and multi-alignment, while public opinion in many democracies turns more nationalist and protectionist. The central question for delegates is whether the current order can be reformed and stabilised, or whether the world is entering a prolonged period of contested fragmentation.

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for Global Synergy Conference 2026 – Power, Partnerships and the Next Global Order.

Recent reporting to ground your prep

Rahul Gandhi Defends Tamil Nadu's Autonomy

India's 131st Amendment Bill

Delimitation Based on 2011 Census

Supreme Court Upholds Election Commission Dis

Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

The Power-Interest Grid

Hidden Stakeholders

Engagement Strategies

Dynamic Analysis

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Advanced Negotiation

Multilateral Negotiation

Policy Brief Writing

Conflict Resolution

The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance

Country dossier

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By committee

Frequently asked questions

Global Synergy Conference 2026 – Power, Partnerships and the Next Global Order

Mar 18, 2026Brussels, BelgiumIn-person

Registration open

Committees & topics

Topics
The Changing Nature of Global Power · Strategic Partnerships in a Fragmenting Order · Architecting the Next Global Order · Economic Security and the Weaponisation of Interdependence · The Global AI Race and the Contest for Technological Primacy · Defence in an Era of Renewed Great-Power Competition · The Strategic EU-India Partnership · Contemporary International Affairs

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 5 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

United States

Role in topic

China

Seeks a more multipolar world order, advocating for a greater voice for developing nations and promoting its own model of international cooperation, often through initiatives like the Belt and Road.

Role in topic

Germany

Committed to multilateralism and European integration, often seeking to balance economic interests with humanitarian principles and advocating for a strong, unified European voice in global affairs.

Role in topic

India

Role in topic

Brazil

Promotes South-South cooperation and multilateralism, often advocating for a more equitable global order and emphasizing sustainable development and regional integration in Latin America.

Role in topic