Looking forward, it is clear that the challenges the Navy face are shifting in character, are increasingly difficult to address in isolation, and are changing quickly. This will require us to reexamine our approaches in every aspect of our operations.
Old tricks die hard in the European Union’s “rogue state,” but the West must acknowledge its hand in fueling the political culture in Hungary.
Romania’s fight against corruption is showing encouraging signs of progress, but the bitter medicine of reform marks a traumatic period for the country.
While the investigation concluded that the plane was hit by a BUK missile, it only specified that it was of Russian design, but not that the shooters were part of Russian, Ukrainian or rebel forces.
The western region of Ukraine is depicted as being drawn towards EU, the US, and NATO, and everything that they imply: liberal democracy, pluralism, and freedom of expression; while the east gravitates towards Russia, meaning authoritarianism, repression, and an intolerance to dissent. But, as recent developments in the propaganda war illustrate, this division may not be as clear-cut as it appears on paper.
NGOs, aid workers and human rights groups will be the first to feel the wrath of Krygyzstan’s eastward slide.
European policy that is being made in regards to the Russian aggression toward Ukraine is based on the same premise: There is no military solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
If General Dunford is right, perhaps now is the time to reconsider military assistance to the Ukraine.
If there is one commonality bridging the gap between East and West over Ukraine, it’s the overzealous usage of empathic words to signal one side’s resilience and self-righteousness in the face of the other’s perceived aggression.
The apparent success of Putin’s misadventures in Ukraine could serve as an attractive geopolitical militaristic strategy for other nations with territorial disputes, such as China.
If recent revelations are any indication, the well-oiled, Kremlin-sponsored troll machine has no intentions of closing up shop anytime soon.
Still, there is hope that the May Day Parade will just remain as it has been since 1989 — simply a parade celebrating the end of a war, as opposed to a catalyst for further conflict.
After twelve months, which have brought little change on the ground, a simple disarming slogan continues to function as the justification for Russia’s internationally condemned annexation: “at least they’re not shooting here.”
Nemtsov’s rich and varied legacy must be remembered and commemorated in disassociation of Vladimir Putin – for what he believed in, not just what he opposed.
In terms of security policy, 2014 was unique for Europe. In this context, a new priority setting in security policy was a necessity.