Comms Editor - Finabel

High Energy Lasers – Tactical Tool or Star Wars?

In an environment where Europe’s adversaries – non-state actors and otherwise – are using drones extensively, High-Energy Lasers (HELs) are an easy, cheap, and efficient countermeasure. However, as a speed-of-light weapon, HELs’ ability to defeat hypersonic missiles also potentially thwarts attempted nuclear first-strikes and upsets Mutually Assured Destruction calculations. It can also frustrate intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts by dazzling or blinding aerial and orbital optical sensors. However, there are technical challenges of thermal blooming, power management, and line-of-sight requirements. Europe has made some effort to centralise HEL production in the TALOS-TWO project. However, multiple ongoing HEL projects risk fragmented development. Europe should further centralise such efforts by improving communication and involving more stakeholders in the development process.

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6 October 2025

Research Report

The role of PMSCs in the EU’s Security and Defence Policy: a temporary complementary tool

The following paper will examine the European Union’s reliance on Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs). By analysing regulatory frameworks, parliamentary initiatives, and case studies, namely Operation Atalanta and EULEX Kosovo, it highlights both the operational benefits and the political, legal, and ethical challenges of outsourcing security functions. The paper will show that PMSCs can provide rapid deployment, specialised expertise, and logistical support, but cannot replace core military tasks reserved to States. Gaps in regulation, accountability, and oversight risk undermining parliamentary and democratic control together with the EU’s credibility. The paper concludes that PMSCs should remain a complementary tool within EU security and defence policy, integrated through common standards, and binding and common legislation.

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1 October 2025

News

A New European “Drone Wall”?

On September 18, 2025, EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius advocated the creation of a “drone wall” along the Union’s eastern border and convened a meeting of the EU defence ministers to address the mounting threat. The conference, held on September 26 and chaired by the Commission, gathered ministers from Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Finland, alongside Ukraine and NATO as an observer (Liboreiro, 2025). A couple of weeks earlier, in her State of the Union speech, European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen had already promoted an EU-backed drone wall to “heed the call of our Baltic friends”, defining it as “the bedrock of credible defence” (Von der Leyen, 2025, para. 11).

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1 October 2025

Research Report

NATO’s Renewed Arctic Commitment: Strategic Adaptation to Climate Change, Russian Ambitions and Chinese Expansion

The Arctic is emerging as a region of critical geopolitical importance, mainly due to the wide effects of climate change, which are opening the Russian Arctic to economic and military expansion, and attracting Chinese investments. NATO has been engaged in the region since its creation; however, in recent times, it began to recalibrate its strategic posture to address the new growing challenges. This paper investigates the Alliance’s renewed commitment to the High North, putting it into context with the emergence of new, pressing security challenges in the region. First, after discussing NATO’s historical security stance in the Arctic, the focus is shifted to the threat-multiplying effect climate change has on regional security. Next, the paper emphasizes the expanding influence of Russia and the rising role of China as key actors in the Arctic. These security challenges lay the ground for the analysis of the Alliance’s expanding commitment and reinforced focus on its northern flank.

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26 September 2025

Research Report

From Stabilisation to Securitisation: The EU in Libya

Following the 2011 NATO intervention, Libya suffered increased instability with shifts in governance and a lack of central power. Following this, in 2013, the European Union (EU) launched missions in the country through its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), aimed at supporting border management. However, questions were raised regarding the EU’s intentions as stabilising Libya became a vital security issue due to the country becoming a departure point for irregular migration. This Info Flash examines how securitisation shaped the EU’s crisis management in Libya to offer broader lessons about the Union’s limitations in responding to crises. Within the Libya case study and using securitisation as a conceptual framework, the research finds that a change in rhetoric within the CSDP’s missions, a gap between objectives and implementation, and persistent divisions within the Union carry broader lessons for the Union. Indeed, these weaknesses have ultimately shown that the EU tends to focus on short-term priorities rather than long-term stabilisation, becomes stuck in political entrapment that perpetuates missions, and experiences fragmentation within its member states that weakens its credibility.

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24 September 2025

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