The 2022 Russia-Ukraine War as a Test of Resolve: Challenges in Deterring Future Russian Aggression

The Russia-Ukraine War (2022) brought an unprecedented degree of unity and scale to the responses to Russia’s invasion among European Union member states and the United States, in a way that was incomparable to their responses to the Georgia (2008) and Ukraine (2014-2022) crises. A weak resolve – the firmness of those responses and the underpinning willingness to incur costs – in the preceding crises may have fostered an expectation in the Kremlin that Washington and European capitals' responses to future aggression would follow a similar path. Hence, this paper examines the challenges for resolve in responding to the Russia-Ukraine War (2022), in order to discourage future aggression. It finds that, throughout the three crises, concerns over escalatory risks and disunity in responses between European capitals and Washington constitute two persistent challenges. Maintaining unity can become increasingly fraught as the economic and political costs increase, especially in countries that have historically held closer cultural and economic ties with Russia.

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The Operational Challenge of Climate Change for European Land Forces

Climate change has evolved into a standalone threat. This is changing the role and mission of European land forces, as they are increasingly required to perform humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as partake in conflicts that are exacerbated through climate change. This climate phenomenon is straining the personnel of European land forces, as they are forced to train and operate under more extreme weather conditions, such as above-average heat. Their equipment is also proving inadequate to respond to these new requirements. European land forces, and Europe’s militaries in general, must cooperate and communicate in order to find common solutions to the challenge of climate change.

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Toward a European System-of-Systems: Achieving Seamless Data Interoperability Between Sixth-Generation Fighter Projects (GCAP & FCAS)

Europe is fielding two sixth‑generation fighter families, the UK‑Italy‑Japan Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and the Franco‑German‑Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS), to reclaim strategic autonomy following F‑35 kill‑switch and data-sharing concerns. This InfoFlash frames interoperability as the decisive variable, defines the pan‑European combat cloud, and maps overlaps between GCAP, FCAS, and enabling standards such as Link16, ESSOR, EICACS and EPIIC. Making the two projects interoperable would allow Europe to fuse compress decision cycles and deny hostile vetoes over its airpower. Risks of fragmentation emerge if divergent architectures, EU–UK/Japan divides, or legacy dependencies persist. Recommendations call for a NATO‑anchored Combat Cloud Waveform task force, a federated digital‑twin lab chain, and a GCAP‑FCAS board to translate study outputs into flight‑verified standards before 2030. Achieving interoperability by design would secure European sovereignty and coalition effectiveness.

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On-Orbit Satellite Servicing Technologies – Towards European Space Defence Autonomy

This research paper explores the role of on-orbit satellite servicing (OOS) technologies for the acceleration of European space autonomy. By assessing the global historical evolution of OOS, with a particular focus on the United States, China, and Russia, the paper establishes an overview of current OOS technologies and their growing strategic relevance. It finds that while in comparison to other global space actors, European OOS capacities have historically been underdeveloped, investments in OOS offer a cost-efficient opportunity to significantly bolster European autonomy. With recent changes in European defence policy and an increased focus on space as a strategic domain, new opportunities have emerged to close the resulting capability gap. Examining European projects such as ClearSpace-1, RISE, and EROSS+, the analysis concludes that expanding investments in private-public partnerships between governments and commercial providers are the most efficient path towards expanding European OOS capabilities.

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EU Normative Power and its Limits: the case of Cyprus

This paper explores the perception of the European Union as a normative power in international relations. This concept refers to its ability to shape the behaviour of member states and third-party countries through the diffusion of its norms and values. Building on theoretical perspectives, the paper examines the EU's unique reliance on economic, legal, and diplomatic instruments rather than military force. It also discusses the main tools the EU employs to project normative influence, such as accession processes, development aid, and peacebuilding initiatives. To clarify the challenges and contradictions of this approach, the paper includes a case study on Cyprus. This example highlights the weaknesses of EU normative power in contexts of unsolved conflict and opposing national interests. Essentially, the analysis reflects on the tension between the EU’s aspirations and the realities of foreign policy shaped by internal diversity and external geopolitical pressures.

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