The Crescent and The Star: A Turkish Option for the European Defence

This paper examines the evolving role of Türkiye’s military-industrial complex within the European security framework in light of shifting global power dynamics and the growing strategic autonomy debates within the European Union. As the United States retreats into isolationist policies, echoed by the Trump administration's stance on Ukraine, Europe increasingly seeks alternative and critical partnerships to bolster its defense capabilities. Türkiye, with its rapidly expanding indigenous defense industry and proven operational successes in previous conflicts such as Karabakh and Syria, emerges as a pivotal albeit complex partner for Europe. The study analyses Türkiye’s key defense platforms, including UAVs, naval assets like TCG Anadolu and PİRİREİS, and its collaboration with European companies such as Leonardo. It also evaluates the strategic opportunities and political risks involved in deepening military cooperation between Türkiye and the EU. The paper concludes by offering policy recommendations to balance pragmatic defense collaboration with broader geopolitical considerations.

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The Role of the OSCE in European Conflict Prevention and Security

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security organisation, uniting 57 member states to promote peace, stability, and democracy. Through tools like the Vienna Document, election monitoring, and field missions, the OSCE fosters transparency, dialogue, and cooperation to prevent conflicts. Its comprehensive approach integrates military, economic, environmental, and human rights dimensions. While consensus-driven decisions ensure inclusivity, they can hinder swift action. Despite challenges, the OSCE remains vital in addressing evolving regional security risks.

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The legal approach of the nuclear deterrence policy: A resurgence of the concept with the European Security Defence

In an era characterised by resurgent geopolitical tensions, the role of nuclear deterrence is once again at the forefront of European defence strategy. Traditionally seen as a military safeguard, nuclear deterrence evolves into a complex legal construct, raising concerns about its legitimacy, constraints, and adaptability. As the Russian invasion has reignited debates over nuclear strategy, it becomes clear that the legal dimensions of deterrence reflect both a continuity of Cold War-era principles and a significant shift toward flexible, adaptive policies. 
Given the potentially disastrous effects on civilian populations, the current legal framework raises severe humanitarian questions, even though nuclear deterrence serves as a critical safeguard. Therefore, by exploring the legal basis of nuclear deterrence and its role within Europe’s defence architecture, this article highlights the need for scrutinised legal adaptability in a rapidly evolving security landscape. Maintaining credible deterrence while ensuring compliance with legal obligations and humanitarian principles remains essential to reduce civilian casualties. 

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The Combined Space Operations Initiative: an Opportunity for European States?

Space is increasingly considered an operational domain relevant to states’ security, not only because space capabilities benefit multiple economic sectors, thus making space highly strategic, but because some countries have developed a wide range of counter-space technologies (NATO, 2024). Accordingly, national armies have begun urging the development of militarily-relevant space capabilities and the activation of international cooperation over such issue. In fact, the improvement of dual-use, potentially offensive, space technologies evolved as a much faster pace than the elaboration of international space law aiming at regulating the use of space. The Combined Space Operations Initiative (CSpO), involving US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, New Zealand, Italy, Japan and Norway, is one of the multilateral efforts to face the challenge of a militarised space domain, gathering an ever-increasing amount of spacefaring nations. However, this US-ed cooperation is not unproblematic, both because of some policy inconsistencies that limit the US capability of sharing information on space matters, and because of the inhibitory effect that reliance on the US for space security has on some parts of the European space industry and on EU strategic autonomy.

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A New Beginning for European Defence Fund, Reinforced by a Programme (EDIP) and a Strategy (EDIS)

The European Defence Fund (EDF) needs to review its strategy and programming after only three years of existence. It was created in 2021 under the European Union Global Strategy (EUGS), thanks to the push made by EU Member states at the time. The political will to invest in European security has gained significant momentum thanks largely to the EDF, particularly in strengthening the European Defence and Technology Industrial Basis (EDTIB). The objective is to fund armament and spend in common. The European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS), proposed by the Commission in March 2024, is more precise than the EUGS on defence matters and marks the EU’s first-ever defence strategy. The EDIS was created to achieve industrial defence readiness by 2035 and strengthen the European Defence and Technological Industrial Basis (EDTIB) (European Commission 2024b). This strategy will influence the EDF’s programming and its presentation in the next Multi-Financial Framework.

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