The recent U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran come with major risks, including strengthening the incentives for Iran to build nuclear weapons. The only viable path forward is to negotiate a settlement where Iran keeps its nuclear program but cannot weaponize it. European leaders must push, both publicly and through diplomatic backchannels, to achieve such a deal. The alternative is more war and the prospect of a nuclear Iran.

The world’s major sanctioning countries recently showed political willingness to take a leap of faith towards Syria. On May 20, 2025, the European Union (EU) announced to lift its economic sanctions on Syria. Despite the country’s need for economic recovery, sectoral violence and human rights violations continue, while the post-Assad power vacuum is at risk of being exploited by groups battling for influence. To signal credibility in this uncertain situation, the EU approach towards Syria…

Ten years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada issued a historic report exposing the devastating colonial legacy of the Indian Residential School System. The Commission’s ‘94 Calls to Action’ promised healing, but a decade later, how much of that promise has been fulfilled? Have political promises been translated into progress, or faded into silence? How will the newly elected government and Prime Minister Mark Carney continue—or fail—to move forward on reconciliation? To mark…

The European Union’s efforts to become a global power and to take the responsibility for its direct neighborhood may face a significant challenge. While news headlines remain fixed on Trump’s foreign policy, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the risks of global crisis, the region of Central and Eastern Europe is slipping into a spiral of political crisis. Between fragmented and polarized parliaments and fragile governmental coalitions, the EU’s borderlands are becoming political minefields. If their…

Influenced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the evolving security landscape, Germany’s decade-long debate over armed drones concluded in 2022 with the decision to arm the Heron TP. This article examines the potential use of armed Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAVs in countering Russian grey zone tactics in the Baltic region. It argues that, despite vulnerabilities in high-intensity warfare, UAVs like the Heron TP are well-suited for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and rapid…

On May 9th, 2025, an international coalition of almost 40 states, senior legal experts of the European Commission, the European External Action Service, the Council of Europe, and Ukraine, together officially endorsed the creation of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. This represents a significant step toward holding Russia accountable for its illegal war and violations of international law. This blog post seeks to examine in greater detail the development,…

Civil wars may not respect national boundaries. As civil war escalates in Myanmar, its consequences are being felt across the border in unexpected ways. In China’s Yunnan province, the city of Ruili has faced significant economic challenges. Once a thriving hub for trade and industry, the closure of border crossings, the collapse of trade routes, factory shutdowns, and the decline of the jade market have all weakened Ruili’s economic foundation. This article examines how a civil war within one…

The 2025 Australian federal election happened during a tumultuous time, characterised by geopolitical competition, the climate crisis, and cost of living pressures. The rise of right-wing extremism in many countries and the erosion of the rules-based international order added to the mix. Australians overwhelmingly voted for a moderate government that, despite significant challenges, will facilitate international cooperation and peace-enhancing policies.

On April 22nd, terrorists targeted tourists in Baisaran Valley, Kashmir, India, resulting in the deaths of 26 people. Since the attack, tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have escalated. India and Pakistan have fought multiple wars over the disputed territory of Kashmir, which both countries claim.  This article will examine the political ramifications within India, particularly through the lens of right-wing discourse. It will contextualise the multiple dynamics of the terrorist…

As the world marks the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on 24 April 2025, the enduring power of denialism continues to shape how the Genocide is remembered—or deliberately forgotten. Since the centennial in 2015, Turkey has significantly altered its denial policy in response to evolving international norms surrounding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.