Luiss Mediterranean Platform’s Post

📣 DISSEMINATION OF 🇷🇺PRO-RUSSIAN NARRATIVES VIE MEDIA IN 🇲🇰NORTH MACEDONIA ❓What are some of 🇷🇺Russia's unique methods to influence 🇲🇰North Macedonia and the broader Western Balkans region, despite not being one of the Kremlin's primary areas of interest? 👩💻 Kateřina S. is attempting to shed light on the Russian strategies and methods of disseminating pro-Russian narratives and influence in North Macedonia and the broader Western Balkans region, aiming to hinder European integration and strengthen their geopolitical interests. 🔗 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gdTGvQHg

[Friday reading recommendations - Geopolitical Europe & European Council Summit] On this week's European Council summit, the agenda was clearly dominated by three topics directly related to Europe's role in the world: security and defence, Middle East, Ukraine. The conclusions are already out: concrete steps on investment for the European defence industry, calls to advance the work on how the EU could use Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine, and lowest common denominator wording on Gaza & Middle East. The main results can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eCEphyjP For some background on EU action in the respective fields, make sure to add the following pieces to your reading list: European Defence Industry: The EU's Defence Industrial Strategy was already published in early March. In this piece, Sophia Besch, PhD outlines what's in there, and why especially long-term funding is so important: https://lnkd.in/emjh4S9M Ukraine: The European Parliamentary Research Service recently published an in-depth study on legal options for the confiscation of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Baseline: challenging, but not impossible. https://lnkd.in/eFFVR9Mj Gaza/ Middle East: "Has the war in Gaza irreversibly damaged the EU's credibility?", asks Judy Dempsey a stellar group of experts. Short and crisp answers, a lot of insights and different perspectives. https://lnkd.in/eDmYSfN6

My paper for the EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy identifying four areas of a new EU strategy towards Russia: 1. Commit to Ukraine's defence and ensure its long-term security as an EU member state. A negotiated outcome to the Russo-Ukrainian war would only embolden Russia's neo-imperial ambitions in Europe. 2. Strengthen political institutions and address structural socio-economic vulnerabilities to consolidate the sovereignty and democratisation of the Eastern Partnership (EaP), including Belarus, and support their European integration process. 3. Emphasise Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine as a violation of international law. This will be key to building international consensus, particularly with the Global South, on Ukraine's right to self-determination in the emerging multipolar world order. 4. Ultimately, a shift has to made towards a democratic, post-imperial Russia, which has clearly defined national interests and respects the sovereignty of its neighbours. #europe #ukraine #security #foreignpolicy https://lnkd.in/eEzdxAHZ

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has profoundly changed Europe and forced the EU to fulfil its ‘geopolitical’ ambitions. Over the past year, the EU has often seemed like a divided group and the future path of the new Commission still seems unclear. Yet history shows that when it really mattered, the bloc still came together. Nathalie Tocci, an expert on peace and security, analyses the failures and successes of the EU's policy response. Despite all the obstacles, the Union has shown unity and resilience. But, Tocci points out, this may still be woefully insufficient. Nathalie Tocci is director of the IAI - Istituto Affari Internazionali and Europe's Futures Fellow 2022/2023. The insights from her 2023 essay "How Russia's Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine Transformed Ukraine" remain relevant today, offering a valuable framework for understanding Europe's evolving geopolitical landscape. Discover how this crisis heralds a new era for European geopolitics. 🔗 Read the full essay in the ERSTE Foundation Annual Report 2023⬇️ https://lnkd.in/dkHADtPm

Dear All! Please, take a look at prof. Emilian Kavalski latest article for "Europe Now" entitled: “𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐏𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰?” 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬? The author investigates what Central and East European countries are doing with the recognition of their agency in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine https://lnkd.in/dBYwQP9V Highly recommended!

It is uncertain whether France will have enough power or ability to directly affect the crisis, even if it attempts to play a prominent diplomatic role. Firstly, France is currently facing domestic concerns such as economic challenges, civic unrest, and political polarisation. These problems significantly occupy the government's attention and resources, which may potentially restrict the diplomatic capacity and resources it may commit to this project. Additionally, the text discusses the extent of France's influence in the region in comparison to the United States, which has traditionally held a more significant role as a mediator in the Middle East. Working with the United States has the potential to enhance France's diplomatic influence and increase the credibility of the roadmap for all parties involved.Facilitating a de-escalation could enhance France's regional influence. Its capacity to have influence over the established political parties remains limited.

🕊 🌍 "The Trilateral Initiative" by Council on Geostrategy, Ukrainian Prism and The Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) charts a visionary path towards a stable and prosperous post-war Europe, led by the strategic partnership of Britain, Poland, and Ukraine. Read how they're shaping the future: https://lnkd.in/dsbjs5vs ❗ Join the conversation at #Strategic_Ark panel "Defeating Russia in the Field and Beyond: the Way to Get it Done" as we discuss strategies to support Ukraine's sovereignty and safeguard European security. Let's turn visions into actions. 📅 Join us on May 23-24 to strategize for a stronger, united Europe.

📢 NEW OP ED | Sebastian Sons sheds light on the escalating #Gulf-#Europe polarization in his latest commentary 👇 https://lnkd.in/d7U3mkp5 Key highlights: 💡 Emotional polarization & stigmatization intensify post the war in #Gaza, impacting Gulf-Europe relations. 💡A shift towards strategic autonomy in the Gulf, with increased outreach to #China & #Russia, signifies a reevaluation of ties with the West. 💡The urgent need for enhanced dialogue & empathy to bridge the deepening divide and promote mutual understanding.

🎥 | What will the European postwar order look like? Russia's war on #Ukraine has ushered in a period of reordering across the European continent. Last spring, Richard Youngs, Erik Jones, and Rosa Balfour discussed the European response to the war and its long-term implications. A few highlights from the event: 🔴 The EU needs more encompassing institutions that depend on greater member states' self-restraint and multilateral surveillance. We are witnessing a reordering of Europe, but it's not necessarily leading to an orderly Europe. 🔴 Member states increasing their defense budgets is not enough to make the EU a geopolitical player. EU policymakers are protecting the current European order rather than reinventing it. 🔴 The third iteration of the European order won't be as clear as those post-1945 and post-1989, as many actors are now challenging the West. The emerging order will include more mixed dynamics and will be more problematic to conceptualize. 🔴 The EU is pushing to get the enlargement processes going rather than thinking about how this could contribute to a more strategic Europe. Missed the discussion? Watch the event here: https://lnkd.in/euddUaZu

📢 Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağcı on the Assassination of Hanniye and Its Broader Geopolitical Impact🌍 On July 31, 2024, our co-founder Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağcı, shared key insights on the assassination of Palestinian political figure Hanniye, emphasizing its far-reaching geopolitical consequences in his recent appearance on HaberturkTV's "Ana Haber" presented by Esra Toptaş. Prof. Bağcı’s insights point to a troubling trend of increasing militarization, diplomatic realignments, and the waning influence of traditional Arab powers in the Palestine-Israel conflict. As Turkey and Iran step into more active roles, and as the West’s moral authority continues to decline, the region faces an uncertain and potentially volatile future. For a more detailed breakdown of his insights, click here: https://lnkd.in/dM-NP7q4 #Geopolitics #MiddleEast #Turkey #Iran #Israel #USForeignPolicy #TransatlanticRelations #NATO #InternationalRelations #ANKUDA #AnkaraGlobalAdvisoryGroup #HuseyinBagci