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 An Analysis of the Interplay between Environmental Regulations and Armed Forces
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An Analysis of the Interplay between Environmental Regulations and Armed Forces

In an era where environmental concerns are at the forefront of international discourse, this paper examines the intersection of legislation governing environmental protection and the activities of military forces worldwide with a particular focus on European Union Member States. To this end, case studies such as that of the 1991 Kuwaiti oil fires and oil spills are employed to illustrate instances where armed forces have disregarded environmental mandates. The tension between military necessities and environmental protection forms a central theme, prompting a critical evaluation of the inherent conflicts and potential synergies. The paper concludes by highlighting the need for more consistent legislation as well as a more holistic approach to the protection of the environment. In essence, this paper highlights that there is no complete and comprehensive legal framework regarding the protection of the environment in general, let alone in military contexts.

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12 February 2024
Read more about the article A Comparative Study of Article 5 of the NATO and Article 42(7) of the Treaty on The European Union
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A Comparative Study of Article 5 of the NATO and Article 42(7) of the Treaty on The European Union

Over the past decades, Europe has enjoyed an extraordinary period of peace, but this has not been achieved without any cost. Indeed, the membership of European states within the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has played a key role, primarily through their commitment to mutual defence, contained in Art. 42 (7) of the Treaty of the European Union and Art. 5 NATO Charter. By establishing such clauses, the signatory parties commit to support each other in case of attack against any of them. Despite their importance in ensuring the security of all allies, scenarios such as the 9/11 terrorist attack on the US or the 2016 terrorist attacks in Paris showed their limitations when the affected states invoked these clauses.

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5 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