European Security Journal

19/06/2024

❗We are looking for research assistant interns for our analytical project focused on Africa!

💻 The internship will take place remotely.
📆 July and August 2024
🎓Interns will be provided with a stipend.

More details in the attached document.

You can write to us in chat or email [email protected]

20/01/2022

On 17 January, The UK Ministry of Defence🇬🇧 announced it was supplying Ukraine🇺🇦 with light anti-tank defence weapons, as well as a small number of UK personnel to provide early-stage training for a short period of time within the framework of Operation Orbital.

Between 17.01.2022 and 19.01.2022, we recorded 8 flights between RAF Brize Norton (United Kingdom) and Kyiv (Ukraine). While the cargo of the Royal Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft initially drew much speculation, Ukrainian officials eventually confirmed that aircraft were carrying Next Generation Light anti-tank Weapons (NLAWs) from British stockpiles.

The exact number of NLAWs sent to Ukraine cannot be determined, but footage of the cargo and the number of aircraft landing in Kyiv suggest that several hundred missiles have been delivered to Ukraine.

Further contributing to Ukraine’s defence capabilities, news emerged on 19.01 that the U.S. Department of State authorized NATO allies Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the UK to deliver US-made weapons to Ukraine over the threat of a multi-front invasion by Russian forces.🛡



Source Footage - Армія FM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMAB0ZvRgfI

18/01/2022

Following the failure of high-profile talks between and the West and the continued buildup of Russian forces near Ukraine’s borders (including from Russia’s Far East), Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced on Monday (https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-says-supplying-ukraine-with-weapons-system-defend-against-russia-2022-01-17/) that the UK was supplying with light anti-armour defensive weapon systems as well as sending a small number of British personnel to provide training for a short period of time within the framework of .

Interestingly enough, two Kiyv-bound RAF C-17 Globemaster III aircraft avoided German airspace yesterday using instead an unusual flight path. This comes as the new German government continues to rule out weapon deliveries to Ukraine and after German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reiterated during a visit to Kyiv on January 17 that diplomacy was “the only way”.

17/01/2022

🇪🇺EU media and discourses, for the past few months, were dominated with mischief orchestrated by 🇧🇾 at the 🇵🇱 borders. However, a threat of sanctions forced to renege on his strategy. Sanctions are thus proving a viable tool for influencing aggressive neighbours.

EU media and discourses, for the past few months, were dominated with mischief orchestrated by Belarus at the Poland borders. However, a threat of sanctions forced Lukashenko to renege on his strategy. Sanctions are thus proving a viable tool for influencing aggressive EU neighbours. Orchestrated Mi...

10/01/2022

🇷🇺 🇲🇱
Last month, a French government official noted that there had been “repeated air rotations with military transport planes belonging to the Russian army and installations at Bamako airport to allow the arrival of a significant number of mercenaries”.

Analysts from France 24’s Les Observateurs identified small changes next to Malian Air Base 101 south of Bamako’s airport. We can now observe military-type installations including at least 15 tents and several structures, as well as vehicles on that piece of land.

Source - https://lnkd.in/es2cCfrK

Edit: The presence of Russian mercenaries (Wagner Group?) has reportedly been confirmed after France 24 received photographic evidence of their presence in Ségou, Mali.

Source - https://youtu.be/ZMK5bz2j1Lk

09/01/2022

🇲🇱🇷🇺
On 19 December, several analysts incl. and spotted a Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-154M (reg. RA-85042) of the 223rd Flight Unit leaving Libya and heading Southwest. The plane eventually landed at approx. 22:08 UTC at the Président Modibo Keïta International Airport in Bamako, Mali.

A possible passenger of that flight - Maxim Shugaley, head of the Foundation for the Protection of National Values with links to Kremlin ally Yevgeniy Prigozhin. Shugaley’s arrival in Mali (from Libya) coincides with Flight RFF413 to Bamako.

From Madagascar to Afghanistan and now Mali, a political consultant for some and a facilitator of Putin’s strategic foreign policy objectives for others, the shadowy figure travelled to Mali as an enabler of Russia’s soft power strategy.

twitter thread - https://lnkd.in/eun8FJbj
twitter thread - https://lnkd.in/efSVD_Fs

29/12/2021

As 2021 comes to an end, hundreds of Middle Eastern migrants remain stuck in a warehouse near the Belarusian-Polish border in freezing temperatures. Thousands were lured by Lukashenko’s administration with the promise of reaching Europe - used as pawns in a “hybrid attack” to destabilise the European Union in retaliation for sanctions on Belarus.

While better than sleeping in the freezing forests, conditions at the Bremino-Bruzgi transport and logistic centre – now a makeshift camp - continue to deteriorate. Migrants remain stranded and face an uncertain fate but still cling to the hope of a better future in Western Europe and Germany.

Videos shared on social media incl. SnapMap serve as a daily reminder of the hardship being experienced by migrants on the Belarusian-Polish border.

25/12/2021

🇫🇷🛡🇺🇦
Amid heightened tensions around Ukraine's border, the French navy's multipurpose frigate FS Auvergne (D654) arrived in the port of Odesa on 24 December and will remain until 28 December.

As NATO and Kyiv have accused Russia🇷🇺 of planning a possible winter invasion, the arrival of a French warship in Ukraine further signals the alliance's unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

08/12/2021

🇷🇺 🇺🇦
With tensions brewing in the East, Western nations - faced with the prospect of Moscow further undermining Ukrainian Statehood - should collectively reaffirm their support for Kyiv and provide further military help to deter and demonstrate their commitment to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.🛡

A conflict in Ukraine would bring death and destruction to a country which has already endured eight years of war. It would destabilise the European Union and lead some Eastern European NATO members to question the alliance’s ability to credibly deter Russian aggression. Even if an invasion seems ...

08/11/2021

-up is a new cycle that revolves around young IR specialists that decided to enter the fields of politics to better understand their surroundings.

The first article of the Close-up cycle offers inside into Italian political reality from the point of view of a 22-year-old student of International Studies and European Institutions in Milan, Silvio Lulaj.



http://ow.ly/tmfP50GHUlx

The news we read in a minute during our morning journey to school or work is someone else’s daily reality. Charters and graphics thoroughly designed to attract our attention are real people captured in a picture. The cycle called Close-up builds around these real people experiencing news in their ...

06/11/2021

🇺🇸 🇧🇬 🇷🇺
A Russian warship, possibly Guided Missile Frigate Admiral Essen or Admiral Makarov, was shadowing US Navy ships USS MOUNT WHITNEY LCC 20 and USS PORTER (DDG-78) and Bulgarian frigate on November 5.

As warships sail in the to take part in drills with NATO allies and partners, the Russian Black Sea Fleet is actively monitoring their activities in the region. has previously warned NATO members against sending warships to the Black Sea calling such manoeuvres provocative despite the region being home to three NATO member States.

The arrival of US warships also coincided with President Vladimir Putin’s visit to to celebrate Russia’s National Unity Day where he claimed that the illegally annexed territory is now “Forever with Russia”.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet

06/11/2021

🇺🇸 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 🇷🇺
The US 6th Fleet command and control ship USS MOUNT WHITNEY LCC 20 entered the Black Sea on 04.11 to take part in manœuvres with NATO allies and partners, and to demonstrate the US’s commitment to the alliance and its partners, and to European security.

This latest transit and the prior arrival of US Navy ships USS PORTER (DDG-78) and (T-AO-189) on 30.10 and 03.11 respectively has drawn scrutiny from Moscow - which regards the region as its post-soviet sphere of influence - only weeks after Russia broke diplomatic ties with NATO and amid increased Russian military activity near the border with Ukraine, sparking renewed concerns about Moscow’s intentions.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet

05/11/2021

hold legislative elections last September and the amount of irregularities and frauds suggests that the is desperate - and that the tides are changing in the country.

https://europeansecurity.org/russian-2021-legislative-elections-clear-signs-of-legitimacy-deficit/

Russians have once again cast their vote to redistribute political parties’ seats in the parliament. And once again the elections have been marred with fraudulent votes, an illegal “e-voting” scheme and political and physical pressure against the unfavourable for the Kremlin candidates. Nevert...

01/11/2021

of recent drone footage shared online by Polish Border Guards showing people attempting to cross the - border. According to a recent Frontex report (https://lnkd.in/dDzwHzQg), Poland saw 1,380 illegal crossings from January to September, with most migrants coming from Iraq, Afghanistan and Russia.

Footage: https://lnkd.in/dHb87efu & https://lnkd.in/d_cWYynR

14/10/2021

Once wary of allowing more Russian troops on its soil, Europe’s last dictator Alexander now seems eager to beef up military relations with the Kremlin as the country faces increasing international isolation.


https://europeansecurity.org/militarising-belarus/

Plunged into turmoil since August 2020 following what was perceived as rigged elections and now alienated more than ever by the West, Belarus has turned to its Russian ally seemingly open to concessions to survive. Deeper military integration with Russia could have major implications for the region;...

11/10/2021

🇧🇾 🇵🇱
According to the Polish Border Guard, 739 people tried to cross the border between and on 09.10.2021, the highest number of attempts so far for a single day.

Polish authorities continue to release footage showing Belarus security forces escorting migrants to the border.

According to a recent CNN report, there have been approximately 16,000 attempts to illegally cross the Polish-Belarusian border since August 2021, including 5,000 in October alone.

Amid growing tensions between Minsk and its neighbours which accuse ’s regime of weaponizing migrants, there are increasing fears that such crossings could turn increasingly dangerous, potentially deadly, as the seasons change.

07/10/2021

🇺🇦🛳
After 30 years of service with the British Antarctic Survey, the new Ukrainian polar research ship, James Clark Ross, has arrived in after a 2.5-long week journey from the Danish port of Frederikshavn.

This is the first time in 20 years that possesses a vessel for research. According to the National Antarctic Scientific Center (Національний антарктичний науковий центр), the icebreaker will allow Ukraine to “get back to large-scale research in the World Ocean; solve logistical problems at the Antarctic Akademik Vernadsky station and expand the possibilities of seasonal expeditions; create research and logistics consortia with other countries; conduct research not only in Antarctica, but also in the Arctic, and, if necessary, in other regions of the ocean.”

10/09/2021

🇧🇾 🇷🇺
On 8 September, Russian Su-30SM multirole fighter jets landed at the Baranovichi airfield to form a joint training centre for the air force and air defense forces of Belarus and Russia. These aircraft are also expected to fly joint missions and patrol the two countries borders.

The arrival of the jets coincided with a crucial meeting between Russian president Vladimir and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander on integration processes within the Union State, and ahead of major military exercises which will involve thousands of troops from both countries.

04/09/2021

🇦🇫 🇷🇺 Maxim Shugaley wasted no time in visiting Kabul as the took control of . On 25 August, the President of the Foundation for National Values Protection (FZNC) arrived in the capital on a tourist visa to conduct sociological research for the FZNC, an organisation which has been accused of facilitating Yevgeny Prigozhin’s global influence operations.

Other than posing with what seems to be a member of the Taliban “Special Forces” Red Unit, Shugaley has already met several Taliban representatives including Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the so-called Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

While the Taliban have been on Russia’s list of terrorist and banned organisations since 2003, this visit seems to echo Moscow’s apparent softening stance towards them.

26/08/2021

We are bringing to you an with Lilia Shevtsova, a Russian foreign policy analyst, about the future of Central Asia. The main question of the interview is simple: “what now?"
🇦🇫🇺🇸🇪🇺🇷🇺🇨🇳🇮🇳🇵🇰🇮🇷

“Russia remembers its defeat in Afghanistan. China is too cautious to undertake the containment directly. Both states would certainly coordinate their actions regarding the Taliban. They can’t risk rivalry. But the tendency so far is: Russia is turning into the “military arm” of the Chinese “One Belt” strategy.

Besides, if the Afghan withdrawal articulates a U.S. effort to refocus its agenda towards managing the rise of China, why should Moscow continue its chummy relationship with Beijing, risking being viewed as the China ally?

The Russia-China duo will have other states to deal with in the region – Pakistan, India and Iran. With India moving closer to the US, there is ground for cooperation between Russia, China and Pakistan. However, Moscow can hardly be the leading actor in this triangle.

Finally, Iran has mixed feelings towards Russia, China and Pakistan; its own agenda in Afghanistan could kick over the chessboard any time.” says Lilia Shevtsova.

We are publishing the in cooperation with BrusselsMorning.

It is said that the Taliban reflected on their conflict with the Russians and the Americans with the same motto: you have the clocks, we have the time. Essentially, the Taliban fought a war designed to weaken the resolve of the enemy rather than their ability to fight and win. Afghanistan is bigger....

20/08/2021

🇮🇹 Italian Navy Destroyer Luigi Durand de la Penne (D 560) passed the Bosphorus Strait and entered the Black Sea on 18 August, its second visit to the region since September 2017.

The passage of the guided missile destroyer was confirmed online by Turkish shipspotter Yörük Işık.

This is the first non-Black Sea NATO warship to enter the Black Sea since 27 July. While the ship’s destination remains unconfirmed, it is believed to be heading for the Ukrainian port of , Ukraine.

11/08/2021

🎙 Want to hear some good news about in ? Lauri Almann from CybExer Technologies has some positive predictions about the future of attribution and defence.🛡

Mr. Almann joined us for the at the Prague European Summit.

You can find the podcast on
Spotify: shorturl.at/qrwEV
Google Podcasts: shorturl.at/ciEK3
Apple Podcasts: shorturl.at/gvD08
and many other podcast apps.

09/08/2021

The is rapidly gaining territory in 🇦🇫, as the West withdraws its troops. Since Friday, the group has seized five provincial capitals.

"The Afghan government currently plans to hold the cities and provincial centres as it lacks manpower and logistical capabilities to supply remote districts. On the other hand, the Taliban have no plans to govern. By whip and intimidation, they just want to rule.

Given this reality, I strongly believe that many people will be forced to leave their homes to flee to the cities (happening already) or leave the country altogether." comments Professor Omar Sharifi on the current situation in Afghanistan.

The interview was made in cooperation with BrusselsMorning.

There is anger in Afghanistan and desperation. Imagine being in the shoes of Professor Omar Sharifi, an American-educated Assistant Professor in the American University of Afghanistan, Senior Research Fellow and Kabul Director of the American Institute of Afghanistan Studies. In Short, your name is....

04/08/2021

🇧🇾
Drone footage emerged online on August 3 allegedly showing Belarus authorities escorting a group of undocumented immigrants to Lithuania’s border – further evidence of the instrumentalisation of migrants and refugees by Lukashenko’s regime.

According to the Washington Post, the number of migrants apprehended by Lithuanian authorities skyrocketed to over 2,600 in July, from around 470 in June - a dramatic surge of illegal crossings from Belarus orchestrated by Lukashenko in retaliation for EU sanctions on his country.

Coordinates: 55.28317163, 26.85379915

04/08/2021

🇷🇺“In today’s Russia, the biggest threat to the Kremlin is not that massive numbers of Russian will turn up at the polls demanding change, it is indifference. Vladimir Putin has now been in power for more than 20 years and elections, both presidential and parliamentary, are tightly-controlled affairs, a kind of “kabuki theater” of politics. Any viable opposition is either in prison, e.g. Alexei Navalny; dead, e.g. Boris Nemtsov; or in exile, e.g. Dmitry Gidkov.

So Vladimir Putin’s biggest challenge in the Parliamentary elections this fall is to ensure that enough Russians turn up at the poll to ensure that the “party of power,” United Russia, maintain control of the Duma and that the elections have at least the appearance of legitimacy.” says Jill Dougherty, CNN’s Moscow Bureau Chief and Correspondent in an interview we are publishing in cooperation with BrusselsMorning.

Russia is heading to the polls in September 2021 to vote for the 450-seat Federal Duma and, of course, the President. Elections will take place over the course of three days, due to the Pandemic. Fifteen political parties are running, but no one expects any surprises. Elections in Russia have rarely...

03/08/2021

🇲🇩Moldova's long-awaited parliamentary elections were held on 11 July 2021. While pro-Russian leaders had tried to avoid them, Moldova's political right had been pushing for them, wishing to reorganize parliament to better reflect the sentiments of Moldovans. And it has been quite successful. Having won 63 out of 101 seats, the pro-EU president Maia Sandu has the majority she needs to continue liberal reforms.

The long-awaited and feared parliamentary election in Moldova took place on 11 July 2021. While pro-Russian figures had attempted to avoid it, Moldovan political right had been pushing for it, desiring the reorganization of parliament to better reflect the sentiment of Moldova. And quite successfull...

02/08/2021

Key takeaways from the Prague European Summit’s debate about Eastern Partnership (EaP) initiative 🇪🇺🇦🇲🇦🇿🇧🇾🇬🇪🇲🇩🇺🇦
🔍The pandemic hit EaP countries hard, and exposed many crucial issues that need to be addressed.
🔍Collaboration directly with civil society should be a priority for the EU, as well as for the Czech EU Presidency in 2022
🔍The EaP is still succeeding in its original goals of increasing democracy and rule of law and hard times should not distract from that success or temper future collaboration.

The pandemic hit Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries hard and exposed a slew of critical issues that must be addressed. The EU should make direct collaboration with the civil society a priority. Despite any political or economic losses, analysts agree that the EaP concept remains robust, both inside...

31/07/2021

🇷🇺 At the beginning of July, signed a new “National Security Strategy” document. Should it mean a change in ’s policies? After reading through it, here is a perspective on what its purpose is.🔍

In 2015, after the Crimean annexation had been solidified through bureaucracy and infrastructure, the Kremlin produced a document that was supposed to direct comprehensive Russian development post 2015. An updated version has now been made publicly available. Counting forty four pages, the National....

23/07/2021

🇽🇰The Kosovo-Serbia🇷🇸 dialogue was one of the topics discussed at the recently held Prague European Summit. Donika Emini from Platforma Civikos kindly agreed to give an interview for European Security Journal.

"I think that the crucial point is talking about the enlargement from a positive perspective. I believe that all member states should build a narrative that is positive towards EU enlargement, and the Kosovo-Serbian problem is inevitably a part of the enlargement process. Let’s not see the Western Balkans as a troublemaker, but as a partner which could make the EU stronger. A success story in the Western Balkans means a stronger EU in the world and this is the message that we should send to the general population." says Emini.

Read the whole interview in the link below.

Although there have been some positive developments regarding the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue lately, it is still impeded by several disagreements between both parties. The whole issue is affected by personal changes in political circles, not only in the region’s governments. However, there are some pa...

20/07/2021

At a time when challenges range from highly sophisticated cybercrime to climate change, border disputes, terrorism, and geopolitical tensions with China🇨🇳 and Russia🇷🇺, it’s critical to recognize that neither the US🇺🇸 nor the EU🇪🇺 are capable of dealing with them alone.🛡

Find more in the article originally published by our partner BrusselsMorning and written in collaboration with the Prague European Summit.



https://europeansecurity.site/america-is-back-what-this-means-on-the-global-stage/

The June 2021 NATO Summit gave new impetus to reviving transatlantic relations and multilateralism following years of mistrust, while expanding the scope of EU-US cooperation to include other democratic partners and aligning on post-pandemic recovery. As recurring and emerging challenges impose comp...