Read more about the article The Operational Challenge of Climate Change for European Land Forces
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The Operational Challenge of Climate Change for European Land Forces

Climate change has evolved into a standalone threat. This is changing the role and mission of European land forces, as they are increasingly required to perform humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as partake in conflicts that are exacerbated through climate change. This climate phenomenon is straining the personnel of European land forces, as they are forced to train and operate under more extreme weather conditions, such as above-average heat. Their equipment is also proving inadequate to respond to these new requirements. European land forces, and Europe’s militaries in general, must cooperate and communicate in order to find common solutions to the challenge of climate change.

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11 August 2025
Read more about the article Toward a European System-of-Systems: Achieving Seamless Data Interoperability Between Sixth-Generation Fighter Projects (GCAP & FCAS)
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Toward a European System-of-Systems: Achieving Seamless Data Interoperability Between Sixth-Generation Fighter Projects (GCAP & FCAS)

Europe is fielding two sixth‑generation fighter families, the UK‑Italy‑Japan Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and the Franco‑German‑Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS), to reclaim strategic autonomy following F‑35 kill‑switch and data-sharing concerns. This InfoFlash frames interoperability as the decisive variable, defines the pan‑European combat cloud, and maps overlaps between GCAP, FCAS, and enabling standards such as Link16, ESSOR, EICACS and EPIIC. Making the two projects interoperable would allow Europe to fuse compress decision cycles and deny hostile vetoes over its airpower. Risks of fragmentation emerge if divergent architectures, EU–UK/Japan divides, or legacy dependencies persist. Recommendations call for a NATO‑anchored Combat Cloud Waveform task force, a federated digital‑twin lab chain, and a GCAP‑FCAS board to translate study outputs into flight‑verified standards before 2030. Achieving interoperability by design would secure European sovereignty and coalition effectiveness.

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7 August 2025
Read more about the article Outpaced at Sea? What AUKUS Reveals About Europe’s Strategic Drift
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Outpaced at Sea? What AUKUS Reveals About Europe’s Strategic Drift

The AUKUS pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States has swiftly shifted the international dialogue on naval power (Hellyer & Stevens, 2022). For the first time, a non-nuclear weapon state is being armed with nuclear-powered submarines, thus changing not only the Indo-Pacific security environment but, additionally, opening a new chapter in strategic defence cooperation (Cheng, 2022). Whilst London and Washington were putting importance on the strategic need of countering China, Europe wаs left watching from afar: particularly France, whose billion-euro submarine deal with Australia had quickly collаpsed overnight (Tertrais, 2021). This аrticle explores how AUKUS redefines traditional defence norms and remodels the global nuclear submarine balance (Hellyer & Stevens, 2022). Likewise, it examines the implications for the European Union, which has long aimed for larger strategic autonomy, yet still struggles to coordinate effectively at sea (Fiott et al., 2021). Geographically speaking, AUKUS may be a distant pact, however, its message to Europe is as clear as day: naval power matters, and partnerships formed on trust, swiftness, as well as strategic clarity, are already setting the pace (Fiott, 2018).

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22 July 2025
Read more about the article A Window of Opportunity for European Defence? Rare Earths and the China – US Trade War
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A Window of Opportunity for European Defence? Rare Earths and the China – US Trade War

This paper explores the implications of China’s April 2025 Rare Earth Element (REE) export restrictions for European defence security. While targeting the US, the measures expose Europe’s reliance on both Chinese REEs and US defence technologies. The paper argues that this disruption presents a strategic opportunity for Europe to reduce critical material dependencies, strengthen its defence industrial base, and advance strategic autonomy. It assesses the role of REEs in military systems, Europe’s current vulnerabilities, and potential responses, including diversification, domestic processing, and innovation. Despite challenges such as environmental constraints and institutional fragmentation, the crisis offers a rare chance for Europe to reinforce defence resilience and redefine its role in an evolving global security landscape.

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30 June 2025
Read more about the article Europe’s southern border in Lampedusa: migration, crisis and the responsibility of the European Union
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Europe’s southern border in Lampedusa: migration, crisis and the responsibility of the European Union

This paper explores the European Union’s response to irregular migration across the Central Mediterranean, with a specific focus on the Italian island of Lampedusa as a key entry point. It examines how the EU balances border security, migration control, and humanitarian obligations within the broader framework of international humanitarian law, refugee law, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Through an analysis of EU actions including border operations, partnerships with third countries, and emergency response mechanisms, the paper investigates whether current policies genuinely protect the rights and dignity of migrants or whether they reflect a securitised and externalised approach to crisis management. Lampedusa serves as an example for understanding the broader tensions and contradictions in EU migration governance.

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16 June 2025