SOTEU 2022: Expectations on the Roadmap to 2023

On the 14th of September, Ursula Von der Leyen spoke in front of the European Parliament to deliver 2022’s State of the Union speech. The President of the Commission was accompanied by the guest of honour for the evening, Mrs. Olona Zelenska. It has been 8 months since the beginning of the Ukrainian war, which has prompted an energy crisis, stark inflation and interruptions in supply-chains across Europe as a spillover effect, among other consequences.

(Analysis) EU Candidate Status for Ukraine and Moldova: Political Signal or Geostrategic Move?

The article seeks to outline the key factors that impacted the EU’s decision to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. It touches on the issues of EU-Russia competition in the shared neighborhood and relations between the EU and the Associated Trio countries.

Editor’s Note: Takeaways from the Poland Missile Incident on NATO’s Readiness

Two Polish citizens were killed when an alleged Russian missile crashed in a Polish village. What takeaways does the incident offer about NATO’s readiness?

(Analysis) A Grand Chess Game: The Russo-Ukraine Conflict’s Impact on China’s strategy toward the EU

The article speculates China’s grand strategy toward the EU within the context of the Russo-Ukraine conflict. It analyzes the US-EU-China trilateral relationships and how the U.S. and China utilize the Russo-Ukraine conflict to spread their influence in the Eurasian continent.

TNGO Surveillance : Asia-Pacific – Xi Jinping Secures Third Term in Power

On Sunday, Xi Jinping clinched a historic third term as the Communist Party’s leader, ending decades of political precedent in the world’s second largest economy.

Let’s Tune In: Russian Partial Mobilization

On September 21st, Putin announced a “partial mobilization” composed of Russian reservists who will be engaged on the Russian territory, which is threatened by the European uptight attitude to “destroy” the Russian territory and its strength. In his speech, Putin shifted the meaning of the war from a “special military operation” to an existential operation that will depend on Russian unity and its strength. These would have been the words used by Putin in a Russian televised address.

EU Military Response: Uncharted Territory in the Union Foreign Policy

The European response to the war in Ukraine has not only shifted the paradigm of EU foreign response, but it has also created a series of unprecedented changes to the very function of the Union. As such, it becomes imperative to investigate the mechanisms and the implications of these new systems in order to assess what they could imply for the European Union’s future.

How Ukraine’s Resistance to Authoritarianism Could Inspire Taiwan: Perspectives from China and the USA

Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and has since had its troops in Ukraine. Ukraine has been resistant and have fought back with the help of countries like the United States. While countries like China has neither sent military help to Ukraine to help with the invasion nor has it allied with Russia. The determination of Ukraine in fighting back has given courage to small countries like Taiwan to take practical steps to avoid their democracy and freedom taken away by China. The Taiwanese have decided to stand strong like the Ukrainians.

Many Critics, a Few Allies, and Some Awkward Friends: Mapping and Explaining Latin American Reactions to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

Moscow’s actions in Ukraine were met with widespread condemnation in Latin America. There were, however, a few unsurprisingly friendly words from allied governments and some ambiguous reactions from regional sympathizers.