North Korea’s reported deployment of troops to support Russia in the Ukraine war marks a significant shift in its global posture. What does this reveal about Pyongyang’s intentions, and how should the international community respond?
On July 24, 2024, a Sino-Russo bomber formation was patrolled in the Arctic Circle near Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone for the first time. While some might interpret the event as a move by the great powers to establish the Arctic’s military presence to contest future access to the Northern Sea Route and regional undersea resources amid climate change, the joint exercises reveal deeper security motivations. The findings show that the event is largely attributed to the intensifying military confrontations between global powers in other parts of the globe while also raising the risk of an arms race in the Arctic region. Future security studies warrant examining how great power struggles in non-Arctic regions might affect their military moves in the Arctic.
With the war in Ukraine almost hitting the two year mark, Russia is now the most sanctioned state in the world. But do economic sanctions deter countries from engaging in war?
Ukraine’s path to EU membership will necessitate the establishment of clear standards for rule of law and fundamental values, along with effective mechanisms to ensure ongoing compliance post-accession. This approach is crucial to ensuring that future enlargements positively impact EU governance.
The EU approved the Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1469 which authorises the use of net profits from the frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia to support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and self-defence against Russia’s war of aggression.
The Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) is Germany’s foreign intelligence service, which is seen as a transparent tool of the German republican democracy. Recently, it has faced criticism for a series of counterintelligence debacles and public debate has emerged about its effectiveness as an intelligence service. This article examines the BND’s tasks, structure, and fundamental differences compared to conventional intelligence services.
Europe’s defence and security has become the main concern of political parties and citizens. All electoral programmes contained proposals on this issue.
The defence has become a key issue for the EU. After Russia’s invasion old needs have resurged. The EDIS sets the defence industrial policy.
President Nauseda won re-election, yet he has little time to celebrate as Lithuania must continue to prepare for potential Russian aggression.
Central Asia is a vast and resource-rich region situated between three major centers of influence. Formerly part of both the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union, its nations have only recently gained independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. They continue to be influenced by Moscow, although they have made some significant strides towards autonomy in their own right. The Russian military’s actions in Ukraine have continuously eroded the credibility of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Russian-led military alliance. This, coupled with a significant loss of soft power in the countries of the post- Soviet space, which traditionally formed part of its sphere of influence, could create an opening for other influential actors to emerge as real alternative partners. The European Union wishes to consider an even more proactive role in Central Asia, given the young nations’ of Central Asia newfound pragmatism in foreign policy and its potential to enhance EU interests.
