Read more about the article Germany drafts its first National Security Strategy since WW2
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Germany drafts its first National Security Strategy since WW2

On 14 June 2023, Germany revealed its first National Security Strategy since the end of WW2. The plan was in preparation since November 2021 (DeutscheWelle, 2023). And while the document was supposed to be delivered during the Munich Security Council in February, though its release was delayed by internal disagreements among the government’s coalition parties (Von Der Burchard, 2023).

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21 June 2023
Read more about the article Turmoil in Kosovo
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Turmoil in Kosovo

On 29 May 2023, Serb protesters clashed with troops of the NATO-led mission in Kosovo* (KFOR) after demonstrators attempted to force their way into a government building in Zvecan, located in the Serb-majority northern part of the territory (Bytyci, 2023a). The clashes resulted in approximately 30 KFOR peacekeepers suffering injuries (Bytyci, 2023a). Prior to the incident, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic ordered, on 26 May, an urgent movement of troops to the border with Kosovo after ethnic Serbs had clashed with local police in the country (Al Jazeera, 2023).

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19 June 2023
Read more about the article PESCO launches new projects as Denmark joins the effort to improve European military interoperability
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PESCO launches new projects as Denmark joins the effort to improve European military interoperability

At the end of May, the Council of the European Union adopted 11 new projects and welcomed Denmark as a new member state of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) initiative (European Council, 2023). These events are milestones for two reasons; first, these new operations have a focus on interoperability; and second, Denmark’s accession itself, as in the past the country was reluctant to join PESCO and European defence efforts. The 11 new projects focus on a range of military domains. These include training, land, maritime, air systems and cyber. More specifically, the projects concerning land interoperability will primarily focus on unmanned ground systems, communication and infrastructure networks (PESCO, 2023).

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16 June 2023
Read more about the article North Korea Strengthens Strategic Alliance with Russia amidst Ukrainian Conflict
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North Korea Strengthens Strategic Alliance with Russia amidst Ukrainian Conflict

On 12 June 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in a message addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, pledged to step up strategic cooperation with the Russian Federation in a joint effort to strengthen the sovereignty of both nations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MoFA], 2023). In his message, on the occasion of Russia’s National Day, Kim defended the Kremlin’s decision to invade Ukraine and expressed his unwavering support and solidarity to the people of Russia (MoFA, 2023). In fact, since the start of the war in Ukraine, North Korea has intensified efforts to strengthen ties with the Kremlin and has consistently supported Moscow. Kim also attributed the US help to Ukraine to what he sees as the “hegemonic agenda” of the United States and the West, further aligning North Korea’s and Russia’s views on global power continuity (Reuters, 2023).

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15 June 2023
Read more about the article Nova Kakhovka Dam Collapse: what are the consequences and who is to blame?
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Nova Kakhovka Dam Collapse: what are the consequences and who is to blame?

On Tuesday morning, a massive dam on the Dnipro River separating the Ukrainian and Russian forces in the south of Ukraine was breached. The dam is part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant and holds 18 cubic kilometres of water (Faulconbridge, 2023). Thousands of civilians are likely to be affected and people have been evacuated on both sides of the river. Ukrainian officials estimated that over 40,000 people are at risk from flooding.

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11 June 2023