Ukraine Aid and European Defence Procurement: Insights from the Prague 2024 GLOBSEC Conference

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is nearing its third year, yet how to support the war-torn country remains one of the most discussed issues in security and defence circles. At the 2024 GLOBSEC Conference in Prague, discussions centred on what Ukraine’s current battlefield needs are, what the role of the EU in meeting them is, and what lessons the Union can learn from Ukraine’s experience. This paper will dedicate a section to all 3 of these aspects, providing detailed information about European actions in support of Ukraine and the future of European procurement.

Comments Off on Ukraine Aid and European Defence Procurement: Insights from the Prague 2024 GLOBSEC Conference

Thermite-Equipped ‘Dragon’ Drones: Ukrainian Special Forces’ New Battlefield Arsenal

Ukrainian Special Forces have recently made use of a new generation of sophisticated drones, increasing their capacity to launch accurate strikes against Russian soldiers. These drones, referred to as ‘dragon drones,’ employ thermite, a highly incendiary chemical that burns at around 2,448 degrees Celsius (4,440 degrees Fahrenheit) (Lendon, 2024). This new strategy represents Ukraine’s shifting tactics in reaction to the ongoing conflict. It demonstrates Ukraine’s adjustement to the changing reality of the war, using cutting-edge drone technology and accurate attacks to outmanoeuvre its enemies.

Comments Off on Thermite-Equipped ‘Dragon’ Drones: Ukrainian Special Forces’ New Battlefield Arsenal

Croatia to Acquire $390M HIMARS from The US Amid Growing Tensions in the Balkans

The US State Department has approved the sale of eight High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and 24 M30A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) to Croatia following the Croatian government’s request, totalling a sale of around $390M (Defense Security Cooperation Agency, 2024). The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated that the HIMARS acquisition will help Croatia to increase its deterrence capacity against future threats (Saballa, 2024). Considering its long-range capacity and proven success on the battlefield in Ukraine, HIMARS carry a strategic importance for both Croatia and NATO to securitise the Southern European region, especially after the rising geopolitical tensions between Serbia and the local Kosovar government (International Crisis Group, 2024).

Comments Off on Croatia to Acquire $390M HIMARS from The US Amid Growing Tensions in the Balkans

Black Sea Security: A New Partnership Between Bulgaria and Romania Constitutes Regional Special Operations Command of NATO

The security of the Black Sea region remains unstable as the war in Ukraine lingers into its third year. In recognition of the increasing need to bolster defence security in the area, NATO and its member states have intensified their cooperative efforts to strengthen deterrence and protect their interests. As a gateway between Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the region serves as a critical security and defence frontier.  On the sidelines of the recent NATO summit in Washington, D.C., Bulgaria and Romania signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Regional Special Operations Command for the Black Sea (HQ R-SOCC). The new command will integrateRomanian and Bulgarian special forces through a new Command and Control (C2) structure, which will conduct the Alliance’s special missions in the region. This newly created body’s main task is to protect merchant ships and conduct inspections, ultimately supporting the safeguarding of NATO's strategic interests in the area (Ministry of National Defense, 2024). 

Comments Off on Black Sea Security: A New Partnership Between Bulgaria and Romania Constitutes Regional Special Operations Command of NATO

Natural and Artificial Intelligence in Armed Conflict: Exploring Settled and Open Legal Questions with Dustin A. Lewis

Based in The Hague, the T.M.C. Asser Instituut is a distinguished organization funded in 1965 that conducts independent, policy-oriented research in International and European law. The centre promotes expertise through different initiatives, including two noteworthy lecture series, “Designing International Law and Ethics into Military and Artificial Intelligence” (DILEMA), and “Hague Initiative for Law and Armed Conflict” (HILAC). At the intersection of the two educational programs, on Thursday July 11th, researcher Dustin A. Lewis gave a lecture on ‘Natural and artificial intelligence in armed conflict’. The DILEMA-HILAC lecture, held by Dustin A. Lewis, explored and analysed fundamental settled and open legal questions related to natural and artificial intelligence in armed conflict. Dustin A. Lewis is the current Research Director of the Harvard Law School Program on International Law and Armed Conflict (HLS PILAC), as well as an Associate Senior Researcher in the Governance of Artificial Intelligence Program at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). On Thursday’s lecture, the researcher presented a wide range of potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military domain, exploring the legal relationship between natural and artificial intelligence in armed conflict. In a timely discussion, Mr. Lewis reflected on the need for regulations concerning the military use of AI, States’ legal obligations and the importance of accountability.

Comments Off on Natural and Artificial Intelligence in Armed Conflict: Exploring Settled and Open Legal Questions with Dustin A. Lewis