The Military University Institute (IUM) held a panel entitled “Religion and Conflict” on 26 March 2026, as part of the General Officer Promotion Course (CPOG), fostering reflection on an increasingly relevant dimension within the context of international security.

Moderated by the CPOG Course Director, Brigadier General Vicente Pereira, the panel brought together representatives from different religious denominations. Participants included His Eminence, the Most Reverend Dom Rui Valério, Patriarch of Lisbon; Mussa Trauale, Imam of the Lisbon Central Mosque; and Dr David Botelho, President of the Jewish Community of Lisbon, providing a forum for plural dialogue and the exchange of perspectives.

In an international context marked by the return of conflict to Europe and the growing complexity of global threats, the session enabled an analysis of the role of religion in contemporary conflicts, exploring its dynamics, forms of instrumentalisation, and impact on the configuration of the international system.

More than an academic exercise, this initiative contributed to a broader understanding of the cultural, identity-based and religious factors that influence theatres of operation, highlighting the importance of integrating these dimensions into strategic analysis and decision-making.

For the CPOG participants—future General Officers of the Armed Forces and the National Republican Guard—direct engagement with diverse perspectives constitutes a critical factor in preparing for complex, high-intensity operational environments, where understanding local realities may prove decisive to mission success.

By promoting initiatives of this nature, the IUM reinforces its role as a centre for strategic thought and advanced education, contributing to the development of leaders capable of interpreting the complexity of the contemporary security environment and acting in an informed, aware and integrated manner.