Read more about the article Ukraine’s ammo shortage raises tensions between Germany and Switzerland
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Ukraine’s ammo shortage raises tensions between Germany and Switzerland

Ukraine hunts for Ukrainian Gepards Switzerland’s long-standing condition of neutrality is globally well-known. This status has been enforced since the Treaty of Paris in 1815, but many scholars date the origins of Switzerland’s neutrality back to 1515 when 10,000 Swiss soldiers lost their lives in the 16-hour Battle of Marignano and the government afterwards decided to stay neutral in European conflicts, avoiding the risks of being on the losing side in any war (Cafiero, 2022).

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19 January 2023
Read more about the article Explaining EU Maritime Security Cooperation through the Coordinated Maritime Presences Tool
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Explaining EU Maritime Security Cooperation through the Coordinated Maritime Presences Tool

Since the creation of the European Union’s (EU) Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), the Union has launched three naval operations under this framework. The inclusion of maritime security and anti-piracy operations increasingly shows that EU security and defence cooperation has acquired a naval dimension (Nováky, 2022, pp. 56-57). The three designated naval operations undertaken through CSDP measures are Operation Atlanta (EU NAVFOR), a counter-piracy operation to protect maritime traffic off the Horn of Africa and Western Indian Ocean; Operation Sophia (EU NAVFOR Med), which sought to combat the network of human smugglers and traffickers in the Central Mediterranean from 2015 to 2020; and Operation IRINI (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI), which is focused on the enforcement of the United Nation’s arms embargos against Libya since 2020 (Nováky, 2022, p. 57).

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18 January 2023
Read more about the article The nexus between climate change and terrorism: An analysis of ISIS’ weaponization of water in Syria and Boko Haram activities in the Lake Chad Basin
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The nexus between climate change and terrorism: An analysis of ISIS’ weaponization of water in Syria and Boko Haram activities in the Lake Chad Basin

The MENA and Sahel regions are suffering from climate-induced phenomena that are accelerating societal tensions and translating into insecurity. These regions are safe havens for violent extremism and non-state actors, who easily recruit young men willing to engage in behavioural radicalisation to sustain their families. Whilst in Syria, ISIS has been weaponizing water and resources to intimidate populations and coerce their enemies, in the Lake Chad Basin Boko Haram is recruiting members of local communities deprived of their harvest and fishing due to climate unpredictability and the disruption of the water cycle. Foreign actors, as well as regional authorities, should act now to revitalise the ecosystem, educate local communities, empower the youth and women, and frame strategic responses against terrorist activities.

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17 January 2023
Read more about the article Airbus and VDL Group Team Up to Manufacture Aircraft Laser Communication Terminal
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Airbus and VDL Group Team Up to Manufacture Aircraft Laser Communication Terminal

Airbus and the Dutch industrial supplier VDL Group struck a partnership on January 10th to develop and manufacture a laser communication terminal for military aircraft. The communication terminal, known as UltraAir, would allow for more significant amounts of data sharing between ground terminals, satellites, and crewed aircraft or autonomous drones. The two organisations will begin preparing a prototype and aim for a first test flight in 2024 (Airbus, 2023).

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16 January 2023
Read more about the article Diplomatic Means of Preventing Global Conflicts
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Diplomatic Means of Preventing Global Conflicts

Wars are considered to be dangerous and this is why preventive diplomacy is practised by a majority of states. Prevention diplomacy is commonly thought to be an indirect instrument for avoiding conflict and global disasters. A frequent question is raised in practice: “Is preventive diplomacy effective?”. This question aims to point out its importance and its tactful applicability. Many studies have shown the essence of what prevention diplomacy means. Some of the research considers it to be an “art of conducting relationships for gain without conflict” (Freeman et al., 2022). The purpose of preventive diplomacy is to strengthen the state or the nation. In consequence, if this measure fails, then war may ensue, even though diplomacy is useful even during a war.

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16 January 2023