Regional Security System’s Post

How US Embassies are treated in foreign lands is directly indicative of how friendly and agreeable those countries are to the current administration and the USA in general. That this administration has evacuated, to protect US lives, so many US embassies around the globe also indicates just how far US foreign relations has fallen in just the past 3 years. For those that aren’t aware, US Marines working with Dept State provide for the physical security of the US ambassador and staff at every US embassay around the world. That’s a lot. They, as currently serving Marines, can’t speak freely about being understaffed or under funded. The Corps is ALWAYS under staffed and under funded. US Marines will always stand their ground and defend US lives and interests… in every clime and place. However… Poor national executive leadership is making it harder and harder for them to protect Embassy staff, and that weakness is on full international front page news display when any US embassy is evacuated… let alone, ELEVEN? Our adversaries ARE watching. Elections are coming. Be sure to vote. Appropriately.

In a new commentary for our Peace Operations Reform project, Research Analyst Julie A. Gregory sheds light on the important role UN Envoys can play in the protection of civilians in conflict. Read the full piece below ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eKibyND3

The slide presented by Prof. Eric Corijn at the event titled "Brussels: A Visionary Capital of Europe?" contains various statistics about Brussels, emphasizing its significance as a hub for international and European affairs. These statistics highlight the presence of numerous lobbying agencies, press representatives, regional offices, diplomats, NATO personnel, and international agencies in Brussels. Additionally, the significant number of international cies and lawyer offices points to the city's extensive international connections and legal infrastructure. The employment figure indicates that a substantial portion of the region's workforce is engaged in these sectors. #Europe

The recent meeting between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Japanese counterpart Akiba Takeo emphasizes the enduring strength of the US-Japan Alliance. As they prepare for Prime Minister Kishida's visit to the United States, as I anticipated, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to addressing regional and global challenges. As I see The discussions emphasize the importance of collaboration with like-minded partners in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.  With geopolitical tensions on the rise, such dialogues serve as crucial platforms for fostering diplomatic ties and reinforcing share[d values. As strategic allies, the United States and Japan stand united in their resolve to tackle complex security issues and advance mutual interests on the global stage. https://lnkd.in/geYJkdpV #USJapanAlliance #USJapanRelations #IndoPacificSecurity #GeopoliticalDialogue #GlobalCollaboration #DiplomaticTies #SecurityPartnership #RegionalStability #MutualInterests #KishidaVisit

🌎 Much to the consternation of many in the international community, former President #Trump’s term in the White House was characterized by the US’ withdrawal from major international agreements, and there are fears that a re-elected #Trump could further undermine international organizations like #NATO and the #IMF. ✍ Writing for #USAPP, Benjamin Daßler, Tim Heinkelmann-Wild  and Andreas Kruck (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) argue that no matter who wins this week’s elections, to continue to have the support of powerful nations like the #US, international institutions need to be reformed to give these nations greater freedom to pursue their own international policies. 🔗 https://wp.me/p3I2YF-euk

Securing #Democracy : Another useful contribution by our NATO Parliamentary Assembly : A study on the state of parliamentary oversight of Military Justice in the Euro-Atlantic area. 🇺🇦 Responding to a request by the Ukrainian Rada as it seeks to reform its military justice, the authors put together a comprehensive study on : 🔹key principles (independence, accountability, transparency), 🔹the growing trend of civilization in military courts 🔹the critical role of parliamentary oversight. This #NATOPA contribution aims to help the Verkhovna Rada of #Ukraine strengthen democracy in #Ukraine. It has been published thanks to the work of the colleagues at DCAF - Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance Thank you to the authors Rachel VanLandingham Grazvydas JASUTIS & Kristina Vezon (née Cernejute) for this insightful work. 🇨🇭 🙏🏼 to the partners in the #Swiss parliamentary delegation and government ( Valérie Geffroy Roberta Calorio Darko Stancic ) Ruxandra Popa Secretary General of Assemblée parlementaire de l'OTAN rightly reaffirms that “#NATO is an alliance of democracies defined not by what it stands against but by what it stands for – the defence of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. Parliamentary oversight of the defence and security sector is an essential part of these values and principles.”  🪖There are interesting lessons here on democracies, balance of powers, interactions between military leaders and political leaders.

In his 2022 speech to the UN General Assembly, Biden expressed support for increasing the number of both permanent and non-permanent members on the UN Security Council. Apart from endorsing permanent membership for allies like Germany, Japan and India, he also wanted countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to come on board. His speech ignited a debate on reforming the UNSC. The Council’s composition had expanded only once, in 1965, when 4 elected members raised the number of seats from 11 to 15. The UNSC is supposed to be the world body for global peace and security. Yet it is also an arena for geopolitical rivalry between Western democracies and authoritarian states. World peace is often held hostage by the vetoes of the 5 permanent members, with China and Russia constantly at loggerheads with the US and its allies – Britain and France. The Council’s paralysis causes widespread frustration. Amid the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, calls for an overhaul are louder than ever. For the moment Japan and India have no chance to become permanent members, due to China’s deep-rooted hostility towards them. Russia, in its national interests, will block a resolution adding more permanent members, as it would dilute its global influence. Now US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, would like to support two African states to become permanent members, making it her legacy. She expects to leave when the new administration may appoint a new ambassador.

In light of a Trump recent electoral victory, the European Union must urgently rethink its defense strategy. With the potential for reduced U.S. commitment to NATO and security in Europe, EU member states face the pressing need to enhance their collective defense capabilities. This situation presents an opportunity for Europe to foster greater strategic autonomy, ensuring that it can respond effectively to emerging threats. Governa Cloud is dedicated to supporting this transformative dialogue by providing a platform for stakeholders to engage in collaborative policymaking. Our tools facilitate informed discussions on defense integration and resource allocation, empowering European leaders to navigate these complex challenges. Together, we can build a more resilient and self-reliant European defense framework. #TrumpVictory #EUDefense #GovernaCloud #StrategicAutonomy #NATO

In the final instalment of a three-part UTS:ACRI Analysis series that examines the prospects for and limitations on the Australia-Taiwan relationship following the election of Lai Ching-te as President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) on January 13 2024, UTS:ACRI Adjunct Fellow and former Australian representative to Taiwan Kevin Magee discusses the Taiwan factor in Australia’s defence and security policy in the Indo-Pacific. The series is based on interviews the author conducted in late 2023 and early 2024 with representatives from Taiwan’s two main political parties, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Kuomintang (KMT), senior officials from Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Defense and Taiwanese academics and analysts. Read: https://bit.ly/4dO197Z Revisit Part 1: What does a Lai presidency mean for Australia and cross-Strait relations?: https://bit.ly/3y8RLLJ Revisit Part 2: Diplomatic and economic links: https://bit.ly/4bgMTDd

After some weeks, I finally decided to start this new, tiny (for now) project: Stratego - An Eye on the World It's still just a social media page in English and (on Facebook and Instagram) in Italian, but it will become a newsletter from September. The topics are the ones I love more: #History, #InternationalRelations, #Peace, and #Conflicts, with a particular focus on the ongoing fight between those who want to defend democracy and human rights around the world and those who consider them a menace and want to return to more authoritarian and autocratic times. Follow it if you want to support me, and read my first post on which foreign policy we can expect from Kamala Harris 🇺🇸