Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 16 April 2026:
The Rabdan Security and Defence Institute (RSDI) convened a high-level joint roundtable with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) to examine the evolving concept of “Total Defence – Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Warfare.” The session brought together experts from both institutions to explore the intersection of traditional battlefield operations and emerging domains, including airpower, artificial intelligence in modern warfare, and information operations, with particular attention to cognitive warfare.
Moderated by Dr. Abdul Rahman Bin Yaacob, the roundtable featured presentations by Dr. Olli Suorsa and Miss Sinduja Jayaratne, who shared their research on airpower and information operations alongside counterparts from RSIS. Discussions also addressed the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping contemporary military capabilities and strategic decision-making.
The presentations were followed by a forward-looking exchange on integrated defence strategies, highlighting the importance of whole-of-society resilience and cross-sector coordination in addressing complex and rapidly evolving security challenges. Participants emphasized that modern defence requires adaptive frameworks capable of integrating technological innovation with institutional readiness and societal awareness.
The dialogue underscored the value of international collaboration and knowledge exchange in strengthening preparedness and enhancing strategic foresight. It also generated actionable insights to support the development of adaptive and comprehensive defence frameworks in an increasingly complex global security environment.
