Read more about the article Western military and financial support to Ukraine
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Western military and financial support to Ukraine

After more than two years of war, Ukraine is experiencing a shortage of ammunition and military equipment, since the United States and European partner's struggle to resupply the country’s military (Bertrand & Bo Lillis, 2024). The lack of ammunition and personnel is having direct consequences on Ukraine’s position on the battlefield, as it deteriorates, Russia achieves new tactical successes near the village of Berdychi and Semenivka, both north of Avdiivka (Al Jazeera, 2024) a city captured by Russia in March 2024. The threat of a Ukrainian significant loss has prompted the European Union, the EU Member States, and the United States to consider sending military and financial aid packages in 2024 to respond to Ukraine’s shortages.

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15 May 2024
Read more about the article Poland’s reaction to the Ukraine war and its effects on the European Security Architecture
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Poland’s reaction to the Ukraine war and its effects on the European Security Architecture

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 immeasurably disturbed the European security landscape greatly fuelling fear of Russia's neo-imperialistic ambitions, particularly in the former Soviet sphere of influence. In Eastern Europe, especially in the Baltic states and Poland, these fears have grown steadily since Russia's hybrid forms of aggression against Ukraine in 2014. In particular, Poland has felt threatened by various hybrid threat scenarios since the beginning of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including a potential attack on its own territory. Poland's response to the war in Ukraine has been and continues to be influenced by both geographical and historical considerations. With a border shared with Russia's exclave, Kaliningrad, and the escalating tensions since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the fear of a Russian invasion through the Suwalki Gap, a crucial Polish-Lithuanian border, emerged as a concerning potential contingency since the collapse of the Eastern bloc. As a result, Poland has decided to act decisively.  In concrete terms, this has materialised as the massive expansion of its defence forces and staunch support for its attacked neighbour.

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26 February 2024
Read more about the article Russian Nuclear Strategy: Implications for Deterrence and Arms Control
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Russian Nuclear Strategy: Implications for Deterrence and Arms Control

Against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, expectations of a stable, predictable, and indivisible European security order have seemingly failed to materialise. Given the implications of the war, debates surrounding nuclear weapons returned to public scrutiny after long being confined to a niche of experts and policymakers. Arguably, the conflict triggered the most serious nuclear crisis since the end of the Cold War, which is exacerbated by the allusive wording of Russian officials and pundits regarding the use of nuclear weapons. Anxiety about Moscow’s first strike against Kyiv or its allies slowed down support for the invaded country. As such, this InfoFlash considers the implications of Russian nuclear posture for Ukraine and Europe, analysing the structure of Russian nuclear forces and doctrine, and their relations with Moscow’s strategic goals.

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23 February 2024
Read more about the article Nato Support Mission to Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey
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Nato Support Mission to Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey

NATO, when required, carries out disaster relief operations and missions in response to natural or humanitarian disasters. In response to the devastating earthquakes in Turkey in February 2023, NATO established temporary shelters for thousands of people and coordinated an airbridge to deliver vital supplies from allies and partners. The mission, complying with the general principles of International Humanitarian Law, acted in a very unstable political environment, considering the strategic position of Turkey as a powerful state in the Mediterranean Sea and a member of the Alliance. This paper analyses the legal framework in which the mission has been acting, and its conformity to it,as well as its political implications in the light of the complex diplomatic relations between Turkey, United States, and NATO.

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22 February 2024
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