Embassy of Finland in Oslo’s Post

The South Caucasus's geography—the borders the region shares with Russia— has long overshadowed its politics. But in the face of the Russia-Ukraine war, countries in the region are developing alternative foreign policy priorities and recalibrating relations with the West. As Armenia moves closer to the United States and Europe, the government in Georgia is lurching towards Moscow – despite opposition from its society. Meanwhile, Armenia and Azerbaijan are in talks for a historic chance for a peace treaty which could serve as the bedrock of a new regional order. What is the significance of the South Caucasus for the West? What can the U.S. do to encourage regional cooperation and reconciliation? Daniel Baer, Marie Yovanovitch, former Ambassador to Armenia and Ukraine and senior fellow in Carnegie’s Russia and Eurasia Program, and Ambassador Yuri Kim, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasian Affairs, convene for a special in-person conversation to analyze what role the U.S. can play for the new order in the South Caucasus. This event is open to in-person attendance only - register to attend at the link below. Join us on July 24 @ 2 PM: https://lnkd.in/eyum33Ec

Relaunching Enlargement: How Will It Affect the Western Balkans? For the @IEMed_Yearbook. In our new paper with Ioannis Armakolas we highlight the process of redefining the EU’s enlargement strategy in the light of geopolitical changes, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with a focus on the integration of Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans by 2030. We argue that the cycle of indecision can be broken if the EU links the new Growth Plan to critical reforms and negotiating chapters, providing incentives for candidate countries to overcome bilateral differences. Furthermore, we point out the need for a credible roadmap for deeper integration, clarity on the necessary reforms and effective communication to ensure public support are essential for a successful enlargement process. https://lnkd.in/e538wgsy

Pacific Island states are often considered bit players in broader geopolitical games, but this report by Sandra Tarte shows how Fiji can exercise significant influence in a subregion where the US and China are competing for influence. This is the first report in a series that I am editing on how regional states seek to maintain regional stability amid great power competition.

In August 2023, Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said that Pacific Island leaders must be mindful of the collective need for the region to be a "zone of peace." In our new Special Report, Sandra Tarte of The University of the South Pacific explains what that means in practice. While the zone of peace concept remains loosely defined on an institutional level, Rabuka frequently refers to it and it appears to be an important part of his foreign policy agenda. Statements by Fiji's leaders suggest that the zone of peace has three key elements: 🔹Non-alignment: Fiji, like many countries in the Pacific, has long held a policy of 'friends to all, enemies to none.' As great power rivalry between China and the US intensifies in the region, Rabuka has stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with both countries. 🔹Promoting greater cooperation among major powers: Rabuka hopes that zone of peace and Pacific non-alignment will encourage China and the US, along with other players like Australia and New Zealand, ‘to work more closely together’ in the Pacific. Rabuka appears to seek a 'mediator' role for Pacific Island states and wants Fiji to play a part in facilitating dialogue and constructive engagement between the major powers. Rabuka has repeatedly called for the US and China to find ‘common ground’ and resolve their differences. 🔹 Return to prominence of the 'Pacific Way' discourse: The 'Pacific Way' is a phrase that has long been present in Fiji's domestic and foreign policy. In recent years, it has been used to refer to Pacific Island-led regionalism and control over regional policy agendas. Rabuka has highlighted the Pacific Way as a means to ‘foster understanding within and beyond the region’. In the context of conflict resolution, the Pacific Way focuses on building trust and understanding through dialogue and consensus, with an emphasis on personal relationships. Tarte argues that the Pacific zone of peace concept should be prioritised and institutionalised as a major part of Fiji's foreign policy, and that it should also feature prominently in the regional security agenda for the Pacific Islands. Read the full Special Report ⤵ https://lnkd.in/gUSP_nx5 #Fiji #PacificIslands #BluePacific #ZoneOfPeace The University of the South Pacific (USP)

An interesting public event took place today in Washington DC at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Geopolitics and Foreign Policy department where government officials, diplomatic representatives, #trade, #security, #policy experts discussed strategies for bilateral and multilateral initiatives, cooperation and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific and South-East Asia regions. To learn more about the event, please click on the link below. #geopolitics #foreignpolicy #internationalrelations #negotiations

There has been the pivotal role of U.S. intervention in Iran's political landscape during the early Cold War era. The U.S., motivated by geopolitical concerns and economic interests, actively participated in undermining a democratically elected government. Historical narratives often downplay this involvement, attributing more influence to local actors like the clergy. This perspective is crucial for understanding contemporary U.S.-Iran relations and the lasting impact of foreign interventions on national sovereignty.

🚀 What is #REUNIR about? A Horizon-funded project bringing together 12 partners from across Europe! ➡ Watch our new video to find out more! 🌍 Our mission? Strengthening the EU's foreign & security toolboxes to strengthen the resilience and transformation of candidate countries in this new age of international relations. 🔍 #REUNIR aims to assess foreign threats to military, socio-economic, and democratic resilience in nine neighboring countries. We map local perceptions of the EU’s support and analyze political perspectives within the EU on neighborhood relations. 📅 Projecting scenarios up to 2035, our consortium of top research institutes offers evidence-based policy recommendations to mitigate malign foreign interference and enhance the EU's external actions. Our ultimate goal is to help countries in the Eastern neighborhood and Western Balkans stay on the path to European integration. 🌟 With innovative methodologies for foresight analysis and scenario-building, REUNIR not only drives forward academic research on the challenges faced by WB and EN countries but also actively builds a support base for their transformation within and outside the EU. Stay tuned as we contribute to shaping a more resilient and integrated Europe! CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies) eka tkeshelashvili Florian Bieber Anna Osypchuk, Ph.D. Steven Blockmans Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS) University of Graz #REUNIRProject #HorizonEU #EUIntegration #ForeignPolicy #Security #Research #WesternBalkans #EasternNeighbourhood #EU

Exploring the Visegrad Group countries' historical, cultural and diplomatic relations towards Albania ================================= The Visegrad Group's assessment of the European Union for the Western Balkans, including Albania, reflects a complex interplay of historical, cultural, and political dynamics. As the author of three books exploring Albanian-Polish, Albanian-Czech, and Albanian-Slovakian relations through the centuries , I have delved into the intricacies of these connections. The Visegrad countries, comprising Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary, share a common historical legacy marked by transitions from communist rule to democratic governance. Their collective perspective on EU enlargement to the Western Balkans is informed by experiences of integration, governance reforms, and regional cooperation. Within this context, my books provide valuable insights into the rich tapestry of interactions between Albania and the Visegrad nations, offering a nuanced understanding of the factors shaping their contemporary relations within the broader European framework. Albanian-Hungarian relations is in the process of writing. The three other books published are part of the libraries of respective Foreign Ministries and a valuable bibliography for the diplomats of the respective countries.

📰 New publication! 🔊 My latest research on Central European regional cooperation recently got published by Polarities Journal of Political and International Studies. The paper is the first study to analyse how the Russia-Ukraine War and Hungary's differential handling thereof impacted the internal dynamics of Central European regional groups and their use in EU bargaining. The paper argues that only the Visegrad Four and the Slavkov Triangle are the only Central European regional groups which play any role in EU politics. Since Russia's invasion, the importance of the V4 has declined, while the importance of S3 has increased. However, none of the cooperation formations currently plays a significant role in the coalition-building efforts of their countries. There is only substantive cooperation in specific policy areas and only at the level of working groups; they have not been active at a higher political level. The other formations examined have a low profile and a low role in EU policy-making. The original Hungarian-language paper can be read here: https://lnkd.in/dnJwfHkT The unofficial English translation can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/dbNQznxx The research presented in this paper was supported by the Hungarian New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the NRDIO - National Research Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH) (grant number: ÚNKP-23-3-I-NKE-46). Institute for Political Science, Budapest HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Budapest University of Public Service

Eliza Keogh and I have authored a list of the most pivotal events that shaped the geopolitical landscape in 2024 for The British Foreign Policy Group. Check out the link below to read more ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eZC7CNyT #globalpolitics #foreignpolicy #2024elections #BFPG