Foreign & Security Policy

The EU’s southern flank has been under immense security pressure by external actors recently. These security challenges require the EU to adopt a holistic approach and address a range of complex regional issues, making use of a wide range of tools.

The EU strives for strategic sovereignty and the capability to master global politics. The crisis in Belarus presents an opportunity for Brussels to contribute to stability in its eastern neighborhood. In order to support a democratic transfer of power in Minsk, however, the EU must enhance its engagement across five areas.  

President Macron has been promoting the concept of European sovereignty and strategic autonomy for quite some time. His vision of a strategically autonomous Europe is based on the premise of profound geopolitical shifts and a new reality of big power rivalries. Still, Paris will have to convince skeptical EU Member States about the soundness of this concept.

Hopes about a new thaw in transatlantic relations might evaporate soon. With respect to its key ally in Europe, the US is not only expecting an increase in German defense spending, but also a realignment of Berlin's China policy. 

Erik Marquardt got a first-hand impression of the inhuman conditions in the Moria refugee camp, where more than 20,000 people live in the most miserable conditions. An outbreak of coronavirus would be devastating. In order to draw more attention to this issue, he has co-created the Leave no One Behind campaign.

The old arms control framework between Russia and the West does not work any more. The erosion of central arms control treaties has led to new tensions between NATO and Moscow. A new approach aimed at reducing tensions in Europe must take into account that central geopolitical coordinates have changed, and that new weapon technologies are rendering the old arms control paradigms obsolete.  

The old transatlantic paradigm with its focus on NATO and security is losing traction. A new transatlantic agenda should focus on three issues of common concern on both sides of the Atlantic: human rights, climate change and the containment of the rising power China.

Computers are often thought of as neutral technology. However, it becomes alarmingly clear that machines learn from training data made up of outdated social norms, values and attitudes towards race and gender. This can have insidious consequences.

Interconnectedness is at the source and solution of present (and looming) transnational challenges. Despite setbacks and deadlocks, broader approaches and pragmatic solutions are needed. This necessitates the inclusion of key actors from the private sector as well as civil society.

Free seafaring in the Black Sea has been limited since the Russian Annexation of Crimea. How can Europe assist its partners in the region while defusing tensions at the same time?

Having a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council can provide valuable opportunities for multilateral endeavors. Active engagement of other members in the Council is key to achieving cooperation and safeguarding this institution of multilateralism.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is a crucial institution for the governance of international trade. It has been characterized by frequent deadlocks in the past; current trade war dynamics further exacerbate the need for reforms. What are opportunities and challenges in the present debate?

India is a rising power, a necessary player when it comes to regional and international security, global trade, as well as climate action. There has been some change in its approach and strategy in these policy fields, whenever multilateral efforts benefit national interests.

Five years after the inception of the Paris Agreement, important processes begin. Also this year, Germany holds a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council as well as EU Council presidency. What are the challenges and opportunities for Germany regarding climate action?

Close coordination and smooth cooperation between Berlin and Paris is crucial for Europe and its foreign politics, particularly considering rising intricate geopolitical rivalries. Differences in style and approach must not impede cooperation on substance and common interests.

Multilateralism is a much-acclaimed concept. But what does this term actual refer to, a certain way of process or a substantial goal? What are the merits as well as the drawbacks of multilateral endeavors?

Mediation plays an essential role in conflict situations worldwide. While research has shown that peace agreements are more effective when women were part of the negotiations, still only a small number of women mediators are involved in the processes.

In this article, Mossarat Qadeem explores the role women play in supporting, participating in, but also countering extremist movements in Pakistan.

The OSCE was designed to promote a culture of cooperative security in Europe. But in recent years military tensions between Russia and the West have flared up again. Can the OSCE help to defuse these tensions and restore confidence in the Euro-Atlantic area?

The international rule-based order is under threat. The "Alliance for Multilateralism", initiated by the German and French Foreign ministers, aims to re-establish stability and reliability between nation states. What are its chances of success?