The ICDS is an independent security, defence and foreign policy think-tank established in 2006. It conducts analysis that supports national security, defence and foreign policymaking in Estonia as well as raises public awareness of various international issues relevant to Estonia and its allies and partners. The Centre also seeks to contribute to strategic thinking in NATO, the EU and other multilateral fora on security challenges that affect the Nordic-Baltic region.
The Centre annually hosts two major international conferences—Lennart Meri Conference (https://lmc.icds.ee/) and Annual Baltic Conference on Defence (https://abcd.icds.ee/ )—and organises, twice a year, the Estonian National Defence Course (https://krkk.icds.ee/en/). To promote public debate on security and foreign policy issues, ICDS also publishes a monthly foreign affairs magazine Diplomaatia (https://diplomaatia.ee/) and conducts various public outreach activities in Estonia and abroad.