Read more about the article Expanding Horizons: Assessing the Implications of EU Enlargement towards Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia for European Security & Military Cooperation
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Expanding Horizons: Assessing the Implications of EU Enlargement towards Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia for European Security & Military Cooperation

In an era marked by dynamic geopolitical shifts and evolving security challenges, the European Union (EU) finds itself at the crossroads of an ambitious endeavour, namely the broadening of its horizons to integrate Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia. As the EU works towards extending its reach to the eastern fringes of Europe, the implications of doing so extend beyond political and economic integration. This analysis delves into a critical facet of this transformative process, specifically the ramifications for European military interoperability. In a historic turn of events, Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia have pursued EU membership since early 2022. Following a rigorous evaluation process and exercise of political will, the three Eastern Partnership countries were granted candidate status, signifying a step toward their full integration into the EU. The year 2023 marked a pivotal moment, with negotiations for accession formally opened in December for both Moldova and Ukraine (European Commission, 2023).

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21 February 2024
Read more about the article Are Laser Weapon Systems the Solution to Drone Dominated Conflicts?
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Are Laser Weapon Systems the Solution to Drone Dominated Conflicts?

Currently, there is no effective international legal consensus which defines the use of drones as weapons, despite a steep rise in their use by states, both in the proportion of modern air forces and volume of military operations. This trend is especially concerning due to their employment by non-state actors in hybrid warfare, as it has been reported it happened in the Red Sea. Until an effective legal consensus is agreed upon by states, developing a physical solution to drone attacks seems to be the United Kingdom’s objective. The UK’s new laser-based weapons system, DragonFire, provides a window into how states are preparing for a future of drone-dominated conflicts.

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16 February 2024
Read more about the article An EU Space Law on the Horizon: Decoding Legal Foundations and Navigating Policy Frontiers
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An EU Space Law on the Horizon: Decoding Legal Foundations and Navigating Policy Frontiers

In recent years and through the dissemination of documents, strategic initiatives, and legislative measures, the European Union recognised the need for a substantial space regulation framework that would ensure responsible and sustainable activities in outer space. Member States [MSs] have begun drafting national laws to meet space-related challenges such as satellite proliferation, risks of congestion and collision, and security threats against space assets (European Commission, 2023a). To mitigate fragmentation, the EU is ready to establish a dedicated legal framework that aligns withinternational space law within its legal system. As a matter of fact, in the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence of March 2023, the Commission announced that it is working on the proposal for an EU Space Law. This legal instrument will be available in early 2024 and will allegedly envisage common EU rules for the safety, resilience and sustainability of space activities and operations. The risk of fragmentation in the absence of a regulatory framework canimpact the competitiveness, security, and worldwide influence of EU industries in international fora (European Commission, 2023a). This mesmerising topic has attracted interest from academia, industry, and the private and public sectors which expressed their views through a targeted consultation.

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15 February 2024
Read more about the article Navigating Instability: EU’s Strategic Response to African Security Challenges and Future Initiatives
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Navigating Instability: EU’s Strategic Response to African Security Challenges and Future Initiatives

The withdrawal of French contingents from Niger marks the end of a decade-long EU military involvement in the Sahel. With Niamey announcing the end of EUMPM and EUCAP Niger, EU presence in the country has met a fate much like the one in Mali and Burkina Faso. Concerns are being raised regarding the future of European troops stationed in other African countries, all the while the United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed on the gradual withdrawal of peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Yet, while its prospects seem bleak, ensuring sustainable stability in Africa will likely remain a European priority in the coming years.

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29 January 2024
Read more about the article Artillery in Ukraine – A Critical Evaluation
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Artillery in Ukraine – A Critical Evaluation

This study will critically evaluate defence and international affairs specialist James Bosbotinis’ article (2023) titled ‘The Lessons of the Ukraine War and its Implications for Artillery,’ weighing up its strengths while also providing analysis on the topic of artillery in Ukraine. Bosbotinis’ article is an in-depth and well-sourced study of what NATO and its Western allies more generally can learn from the tactics and weapon systems used by both sides of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Presenting an exhaustive analysis of the use of artillery, it evaluates the complementary nature of higher-end precision or guided systems and cheaper unguided conventional weapons. The nature of the war has highlighted the vulnerabilities that NATO countries could encounter if they were to directly engage against Russia. From munitions stockpiles to the risks associated with having large logistical chains, to the ever-increasing importance of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), artillery seems to have proven itself to be a key player in the waging of modern warfare.

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18 January 2024