Tagged NATO

North Macedonia’s Unusual Waltz with Turkey – Will it frustrate the EU and NATO?

17/04/2019

Publications, Western Balkans

The saga, surrounding the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), finally came to an end this February (2019) with a brand new North Macedonia label stamped over the old contested FYROM... Be More Curious...

The Looming Spectre of the 2.0 Nuclearization and the European Union

13/04/2019

Inside Europe, Publications

The row between the US and Russia over the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty began in July 2014, when the US State Department published a Compliance Report, alleging “that the Russian Federati... Be More Curious...

Public say for far-right, the Trojan horse

Vicky Pathiakaki

18/01/2019

The rise of far-right has brought to the forefront the debate about whether such ideas should or not have a public say and as to whether they should occupy public space and time. Many even argue that if we do not give public say to the far right, if we... Be More Curious...

OPINION — Beware of Russia’s bilateral cyber world order

07/12/2018

This piece, which was first published on Euromaindanpress, was co-authored by Marta Barandiy and Katria Tomko. Russia, the United States, France, and China held secret talks on cybersecurity in Pari... Be More Curious...

COMMENTARY — No option left? In the Azov Sea, the EU is all Talk and No Action

04/12/2018

Publications, Russia

On November 25, Russian border patrol boats seized three Ukrainian naval vessels in the Azov Sea — two artillery boats and a tugboat — as they were attempting to pass through the Kerch Strait and used w... Be More Curious...

COMMENTARY — European army: a problematic dream?

27/11/2018

Inside Europe, Publications

The concept of a European army has been widely discussed in the past years and particularly weeks, raising many questions about the possibility of such an idea becoming a reality. Where did the notion of a European army come from, and why is it bei... Be More Curious...

POLICY PAPER — Conflict in Cyprus: religion, ethnicity and natural gas pipelines

Xavier Palacios

24/10/2018

Religious and ethnic factors present in the Cypriot conflict have paved the wat for external actors to take part in this conflict, exposing the resolution of this conflict to the political interests of ... Be More Curious...

Macedonia referendum result – everyone rejoices, none is satisfied

05/10/2018

Western Balkans

Last Sunday, on the 30thof September, Skopje held the most important vote in its recent national history, after the independence which took place in 1991. This time the aim was to settle the three decad... Be More Curious...

Generational decision: Will Macedonia’s citizens accept Agreement with Greece?

17/09/2018

Western Balkans

This piece was published in cooperation with European Western Balkans. On 30 September 2018, citizens of Macedonia will have an opportunity to strongly influence their country’s future. By voting for or against the Athens-Skopje agreement, they will sig... Be More Curious...

Dealing with Autocrats: A principled approach to Erdogan’s state visit to Germany

Julius M. Rogenhofer

14/09/2018

Despite ongoing tensions between Turkey and its Western allies, the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier invited his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a state visit in late September. The... Be More Curious...

Looking Globally – Europe with Hard Power

31/08/2018

There have been a few moments in the last century of Modern Europe’s history that shaped the structure of the continent for the next decades. Without any doubt, World War One and World War Two have trul... Be More Curious...

Four countries, one threat

Ana-Maria Caminski

22/08/2018

On the chessboard of the world, every pawn seems to be an important pawn. Especially when the stake of the game is the expansion of the political power by gaining of the old sphere of influence and the new ones. In February-March 2014, Peninsula Crimea... Be More Curious...

Robbery at Portuguese Base offers lesson for NATO

08/08/2018

Grenades and high-explosives taken from Portuguese military base in a brazen heist are still unaccounted for over a year later. Portugal marked the first anniversary of a series of deadly wild fires ear... Be More Curious...

The terrorist attack, hybrid war, and the chess-player thinking

Ana-Maria Caminski

06/08/2018

Aterrorist attack took place on 14 July 2016, in France. This day should have been a celebration day for so many people and has transformed up to the night into a funeral day, a terrifying day. When a w... Be More Curious...

Can cyber attacks cause a major war?

Valeria Mingardi

30/07/2018

In the last two decades, the world has seen a rapid digitalization of services, both in civil society and state functions, thanks to the Internet and to the world wide web. As much as this is considered a positive evolution in terms of connectivity, this s... Be More Curious...

US divorces Europe

10/07/2018

Viktors Domburs is an expert on the Baltic Countries and a political commentator. Europe is in the anticipation of NATO summit which will take place on June, 11-12 in Brussels. Before this meeting the Pentag... Be More Curious...

Poland’s dilemma: Euro-scepticism and US cooperation

Clara Berthelot

06/07/2018

As Poland is more and more on the conservative side and becoming a tenacious partner in European discussions, it seems, however, that it is open to a deeper cooperation with the United States. Since 2015... Be More Curious...

President Erdogan’s juggling act

17/05/2018

Beyond Europe, Turkey

At Tuesday’s press conference with Turkey’s President Erdogan, the best Theresa May could muster in the form of condemnation of Turkey’s human rights abuses was a pious reminder: “I have underlined to President Erdogan that we want to see democratic values... Be More Curious...

Who makes Expenses Plan for the Baltic States?

17/05/2018

The Baltic states today are no more a clean sheet of paper waiting for somebody to write something on. During almost 30 years of independence from the USSR the authorities have been cleaning the countries from ... Be More Curious...

Baltic States: missed opportunities in global politics

07/04/2018

We are living in the world where the facts "who makes" and "where it is made" are much more important than "what for" issue. Nowadays the world political scene is divided between superpowers supported by their ... Be More Curious...

Is Vladimir Putin the new archaic face of Europe’s enemy?

Richard Senneville

28/03/2018

Beyond Europe, Russia

Lotus Coffman, the fifth president of the University of Minnesota, said: "The chief support of an autocracy is a standing army. The chief support of a democracy is an educated people". And Oliver Wendell Holmes, who served as an Associate Justice of the Su... Be More Curious...

What to expect from Putin’s Russia for six more years ahead?

21/03/2018

In the days following Vladimir Putin’s “electoral victory”, we have seen the usual mix of indignation, humor and derision aimed at the deplorable situation within the Russian Federation. People laugh at Rus... Be More Curious...

Long way to common European Security and Defence

13/02/2018

On 14-15 February, 2018 NATO Defence Ministers will meet in Brussels again to discuss the main threats the world faces nowadays. NATO consists of 29 member states but 22 of them are simultaneously the EU member... Be More Curious...

CAATSA Out of the Bag: Russia’s Arms Exports Under Threat

Madalina Sisu Vicari

23/01/2018

Beyond Europe, Russia

*This article was co-authored by Madalina Sisu Vicari and Nick Trickett Russia’s exports amounted to in 2016 $285 billion, led by the following sectors:: hydrocarbons ($176 billion, accounting for 62%), metals (nearly 10 percent), machinery (7.3%), chemical... Be More Curious...

The Baltic States and the gained dependence

18/01/2018

Future of Europe is still uncertain. Though security is the real priority for all countries, each of them understands the process of achieving security by its own. Lithuanian and Latvian authorities increased p... Be More Curious...

The Korean Crisis: Give Peace a Chance Through Economy

Matteo Lanfredi

16/01/2018

Tuesday 9 January, in the village of Panmunjom, after more than two years North Korea held talks with South Korea. Pyongyang announced that a North Korean delegation will join the 2018 Winter Olympics, organize... Be More Curious...

Old habits die hard: Turkey and Greece continue their troubled relation

Irene Christodoulaki

12/01/2018

The Opinion, Turkey

Many labelled the visit of the Turkish President to Greece early on December as historic. It had been more than six decades since a Turkish President stepped his foot in Athens, and during that time the relations between the two neighbors reached the point o... Be More Curious...

The Reality of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)

24/11/2017

There have been varying reactions to the ‘Permanent Structured Cooperation’ or ‘PESCO’; from Frederica Mogherini (the EU’s foreign and defence policy chief) hailing it as ‘historic’, to Nick Whitney descri... Be More Curious...

Czech elections: it might not be the economy, stupid!

26/10/2017

Thedefeat of the political establishment in this election. Ostracised by other parties, the Communists have not taken part in any of the post-communist era governments at the national level. (adsbygoo... Be More Curious...

Can the West Handle Erdogan’s Flip-flop Diplomacy on NATO?

08/10/2017

Beyond Europe, Turkey

Turkey, once a model for Muslim-majority countries, has been going through an authoritarian backslide since the last several years. This trend peaked following the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The post-coup developments in Turkey constitute serious na... Be More Curious...

Turkey chooses Russian Missile Defence System: NATO must be cautious of this growing relation

29/08/2017

Beyond Europe, Turkey

Turkey’s missile defence dilemma has continued for a while. Recent reports confirm that Turkey has agreed to purchase Russian air and missile defence system, the S-400 Triumph. The deal is worth $2.5billion un... Be More Curious...

Friends or Foes, Tensions or Ties – A US View on EU-Russian Relations

19/07/2017

Beyond Europe, Russia

Positions between the EU and the US diverge regarding democratic values and a business man approach when it comes to multi-lateral negotiations. The American policy on Russia and the new Franco-German sympathie... Be More Curious...

‘Erdoğan knew of the coup beforehand, even its date, and took a big risk’

29/06/2017

Beyond Europe, Turkey

Just until recently, I had thought that they didn't know about the date set for the putsch. But, there is a fresh finding I have, which I have had confirmed... This sensational statement came from Prof Ümit Özdağ, a prominent figure of the ultra-nationalist... Be More Curious...

Monday Talk with Michael Carpenter on NATO and the US under Trump

05/06/2017

Vocal Europe: What is the real story of Donald Trump and Russia? The answer is still unclear, and Democrats in Congress want to get to the bottom of it with an investigation. But there’s no doubt that a spider ... Be More Curious...

Trump visit: 5 things Europe’s leaders should do – and not do – this week

23/05/2017

by Craig Kennedy & Roland Freudenstein On 25 May, President Trump will come to Brussels, on the last leg of his first trip abroad. If anyone takes offense at Europe coming in line after Saudi Arabia a... Be More Curious...

Monday Talk with Sweden’s Ambassador to NATO on Emerging Security Challenges

13/03/2017

Vocal Europe: Anti-establishment populism in Europe is undeniably on the rise. From Brexit, to French far-right Marine Le Pen, and to Wilders Party of Freedom in Netherlands where rejection of old orthodoxies, political elites and institutions is proving a pow... Be More Curious...

Erdoğan’s Perpetual War

09/03/2017

Beyond Europe, Turkey

Turkey has always been a worrisome country with less freedom that you could demand, but now, things have come to an explosive point. Since Turkey is still regarded as a, let's say, European civilized country, i... Be More Curious...

Israel’s ambivalent relations with Turkey’s Kurds

03/03/2017

Beyond Europe, Israel, Turkey

by Benjamin Kweskin Unlike the warm, if not ambiguous and (mostly) indirect relationship between Israel and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, relations between Israeli and Kurdish act... Be More Curious...

U.S.-Russian Relations and the Future Security of Europe

10/02/2017

by ULRICH KÜHN The incoming Trump administration inherits a U.S.-Russian relationship marked by disagreement and confrontation in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the wars in Syria and Ukraine, the West’s use of economic sanctions, and reciprocal ... Be More Curious...

The age of the folly, the era of the bully

05/02/2017

by Yavuz Baydar 'When universal values and international law are cast aside, global affairs are governed by force.' This powerful remark printed at the end of a long, detailed report by Freedom House (FH) - t... Be More Curious...

Trump and Brexit Britain, what now?

23/01/2017

by Robert Heslop Brexit Britain, what a wonderful vision. Free of the shackles of Brussels, the buccaneering UK will be able to strike free trade across the globe, the UK’s security will be secured through ... Be More Curious...

NATO Needs Realistic Goals Toward Russia

07/11/2016

by ANDREW A. MICHTA These days, Europe is a place where uncertainty seems to be the norm. Regional differences over how to deal with Russia are fast becoming enduring rifts, with fissures emerging across Europe’s political map. While this fragmentation ... Be More Curious...

Monday Talk with Stephen Szabo on the Challenges of EU, EU-Russia and EU-US relations

Madalina Sisu Vicari

03/10/2016

conducted by Madalina S. Vicari Vocal Europe: The Bratislava Summit was a peculiar moment as the European leaders met for the first time in the EU-27 formula. The current main challenges, as identified by t... Be More Curious...

NATO Summit in Warsaw – the Polish perspective

08/07/2016

by Piotr Łukasiewicz What are strategic expectations of Member States to be addressed during the Summit in Warsaw? Which major challenges will it face? What marks the Polish position vis-a-vis NATO and EU issu... Be More Curious...

Will Russia use the Nord Stream II to expand its military presence in the Baltic Sea?

03/05/2016

by Wojciech Jakóbik The recurring provocations make this a real possibility. The number of military incidents may increase. Polish and Russian submarines would have collided in the Baltic Sea last week, according to the Polish news portal Onet.pl, quoti... Be More Curious...

Erdogan’s Syria Adventure between Russia and NATO

02/12/2015

by Brad Cabana The more tensions escalate in Syria, the clearer the picture there becomes. This week those tensions escalated dramatically with the downing of a Russian SU-24 bomber, by Turkish F16s, near the ... Be More Curious...

Nato Should Not Risk a Wrong Turn Over Turkey—and Ukraine

26/11/2015

Russia, The Opinion, Turkey

by François Godement It appears that, within 24 hours, two events have taken place that are a direct challenge to Russia. One is the sabotage of Ukraine’s energy link with Crimea. Although this act might not b... Be More Curious...

NATO’s Absence in the Refugee Crisis

10/11/2015

Inside Europe, Western Balkans

by JUDY DEMPSEY Europe is facing a flow of refugees not seen since the end of World War II. Then, over 12 million people, many ethnic Germans from Poland, Czechoslovakia, and other Eastern European countries were either expelled from their homelands or fle... Be More Curious...

Monday Talk with Marek Menkiszak on Ukraine and Russia

Madalina Sisu Vicari

14/09/2015

conducted by Madalina Sisu Vicari Q1. On 31 August, the Verkhovna Rada-the Ukraine’s parliament-passed a bill which amends the constitution and establishes the local government decentralization. Though suppo... Be More Curious...

The Impossible Dream: President Duda, Poland’s Don Quixote

25/08/2015

photo source: todayonline by Igor Merheim-Eyre In the classical novel by Miguel Cervantes, Don Quixote of La Mancha convinces himself to revive chivalry, and protect those in need against injustice. Andrzej... Be More Curious...