Read more about the article ReArm Europe: European Response to European Problems
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ReArm Europe: European Response to European Problems

Following Trump’s re-election and his statement on NATO – “if you are not going to pay your bills, we are not going to defend you” (NBC News, 2023) – along with JD Vance’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference and their tense Oval Office meeting with Zelensky, a strong response from EU countries became inevitable. The US has made it clear that NATO allies failing to meet the 2% defence spending threshold cannot expect American protection, casting doubt on the applicability of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty to certain members. This policy shift not only shakes NATO and the EU but also signals a shift in US military engagement in Europe. Washington will now decide where to plan and exercise based on defence budgets, potentially reducing or repositioning its presence on the continent (Kube, Lee, & Tskirkin, 2025).

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3 April 2025
Read more about the article The joint action of the EU and NATO in Ukraine: are we doing enough?
Analytical Reflections

The joint action of the EU and NATO in Ukraine: are we doing enough?

In February 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This decision forced the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to take more decisive action in supporting Ukraine’s defence of its territory. For example, many EU member states increased their defence spending and sent weaponry to Ukraine. However, the interoperability issue remains pertinent as the European Defence and Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) is structurally fragmented. Moreover, given Ukraine’s inheritance of Soviet-era weaponry, further training and logistical difficulties have arisen, posing setbacks and challenges to Ukraine’s effective defence strategies. This paper will discuss the joint action of the EU and NATO and its impact on Ukraine’s defence of its territory. The analysis will focus on the evolution of financial mechanisms and the creation of a military mission on the ground that complements nonmilitary efforts. Following this, it explores NATO’s complementary action, reinforcing cooperation with Ukraine and boosting armament in the East. Finally, the paper analyses hybrid threats in the examined case and problematises about a way forward through EU-NATO joint action.

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3 April 2025
Read more about the article Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Weapons – Strategic Ethical Considerations for European Defence
Analytical Reflections

Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Weapons – Strategic Ethical Considerations for European Defence

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into autonomous weapons systems represents a shift into modern warfare, offering unprecedented capabilities while posing profound stra- tegic and ethical challenges. This paper explores the strategic benefits and ethical challenges associated with deploying AI-driven technologies in European defence strategies. It highlights the potential military advantages, including enhanced operational efficiency, while addressing critical ethical concerns such as accountability, decision-making in life-or-death scenarios and the risk of conflict escalation. By analysing European defence policies and international frameworks, this study offers a nuanced perspective on balancing technological innovation with ethical imperatives, ensuring stability and adherence to international humanitarian law. Through case studies of European and global approaches, this paper’s aim is to inform strategies that harmonise security objectives with moral and legal principles.

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1 April 2025
Read more about the article The Importance of Electronic Warfare for European Land Forces: Lessons from the War in Ukraine
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The Importance of Electronic Warfare for European Land Forces: Lessons from the War in Ukraine

Armed forces in all domains are becoming increasingly reliant on electronic equipment that uses the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) and its associated frequencies. Electronic warfare (EW) serves both to secure and to deny access to the EMS. The war in Ukraine had demonstrated that EW capabilities are now crucial for land forces, with their scope and applications continuously expanding. For example, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become the focus of a contest in EW between Ukraine and Russia, with each side attempting to deny the other the use of these systems and the EMS necessary for their operation. European land forces should observe and assimilate the lessons from Ukraine’s experience in EW, as their own EW capabilities have become largely obsolete or insufficient.

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31 March 2025
Read more about the article A Legal Analysis of Space Debris I: The Kessler Syndrome and the Regulation of Space in International Law
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A Legal Analysis of Space Debris I: The Kessler Syndrome and the Regulation of Space in International Law

The evolution of industrial models applied to space technologies has opened the door to space exploration and activities for smaller states and private actors. This proliferation of actors and the access to launching objects into Earth’s orbit has multiplied the amount of functional and non-functional objects in space, increasing the amount of space debris and the risk of triggering the Kessler Syndrome. This paper is the first of a series of articles analysing this challenge from a legal perspective. In this first part, the purpose is to frame the space debris threat and analyse the regulation of space in International Law.

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27 March 2025