Publications on the topic of “Freedom needs Security” - Security – Innovation – Democracy
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Publications on the topic of “Freedom needs Security”
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IMAGO / Le Pictorium
Sudan crisis hits Sahel country Chad
An opportunity for Russia?
Chad is increasingly impacted by civil war raging in Sudan. Almost one million Sudanese have fled to eastern Chad, fuelling competition over land with locals who also complain about food prices. More refugees are expected to arrive as the warring parties in Sudan show no signs of willing to lay down arms – Europe is concerned that some will make their way to Libya to catch a boat to Italy. Chad’s President Mahamat Déby meanwhile is diversifying his partnerships by keeping his distance from France, the country’s traditional main partner, while also talking to Russia and working with the United Arab Emirates – the latter stands accused of channelling weapons via Chad to Sudan (Abu Dhabi denies the charges.
Ulf Laessing
November 12, 2024
Country reports
KALUZA+SCHMID Studio GmbH, Berlin
Stress test for Germany's domestic security
Responses to multiple crises and internationally networked actors
In 2024, the Federal Republic of Germany faces various threats in the area of domestic security. International crises not only influence extremist actors in their ideological developments, but also motivate them to commit criminal offences and acts of violence. At the same time, the lines between the individual groups and phenomena are becoming blurred as selective collaborations and structural ideological overlaps are emerging. In addition, the influence of foreign actors is growing and links between Germany and abroad are increasing significantly.
Gohdar Alkaidy, Dr. Jürgen Brandsch, Dr. Marcel Dirsus, Lisa Erlmann, Merlina Herbach, Miriam Katharina Heß, Jannis Jost, Dinah Elisa Kreutz, Felix Neumann, Jamuna Oehlmann, Caspar Schliephack, Tim Segler, Dr. Tamara Zieschang
November 11, 2024
Single title
IMAGO / ANP
The first summit between the EU and GCC ends without breakthroughs
Strategic partnership with little results
On October 16, high-ranking government representatives from EU states and the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council met in Brussels. In the wake of a new strategic engagement with the Gulf states, which the EU had already initiated in 2022, the summit marked the first time in history that top politicians from both sides came together in this context. However, there were no major strategic successes to report at the end of the meeting. Rather, the summit once again revealed what ails Europe's Gulf policy in general: a lack of political courage to take concrete steps to raise relations between the two regions to a new level. It was fitting that a key EU member was completely absent from Brussels.
Philipp Dienstbier
October 25, 2024
Country reports
Adobe Stock / DarwelShots
The Future of NATO in the Aftermath of the U.S. Elections
More European responsibility for transatlantic relations
The outcome of the November 5 election will have a major impact on NATO’s future - and by extension, the fate of the most successful defense alliance of all time. It is evident that the geopolitical priorities of the USA will continue to pivot towards the Indo-Pacific region in the coming years, despite the ongoing armed conflict in Europe. This shift underscores the urgent need for decision-makers in Germany and other European NATO countries to strengthen their defense policies and take greater responsibility for regional security.
Evelyn Gaiser, Max Willem Fricke
October 11, 2024
Monitor
UN Photo / Loey Felipe
UN Pact for the Future
Multilateral reform plan without guarantee of success
UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future in New York and committed themselves to reform a multilateral system which falls short in delivering solutions in certain areas. However, words alone will not save multilateralism.
Thomas Tödtling, Dr. Mónica Castillejos-Aragón, Erica Mumford, Teresa Val
October 2, 2024
Country reports
KAS
Islamism in East Germany
Current trends and challenges
In the eastern German federal states, the activities and membership numbers of groups in the Islamist phenomenon are relatively modest. However, this should not obscure the fact that the scene has changed significantly over the last ten years, both quantitatively and qualitatively: the potential number of Islamist individuals has grown steadily in all eastern German federal states during this period and Islamist actors and organisations have increased their local activities, founded associations, taken over prayer rooms and recruited followers.
Caspar Schliephack
September 24, 2024
Single title
Imago / Xinhua
Escalation in the Middle East intensifies
Is a regional war inevitable?
• In just over a month, we will mark the first anniversary of the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Since then, Israel has been at war with attacks from several fronts.
• The situation dramatically peaked over the summer months. Twelve children were killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack. The Israeli army (IDF) then took out a high-ranking Hezbollah commander in Beirut with a targeted airstrike. A few hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyya was killed in Tehran. Although not officially confirmed, the attack is attributed to Israel.
• Iran and its proxies vowed retaliation and announced to attack Israel. The IDF and Israeli security services have been on high alert ever since. On August 25, 2024, an imminent Hezbollah attack was repelled by a pre-emptive strike. Over 100 Israeli fighter jets attacked numerous targets in Lebanon and destroyed over 6,000 Hezbollah missiles and drones.
• At the end of August representatives of the Israeli government announced that the war aims will be extended so that the evacuated inhabitants of northern Israel could return to their homes.
• Negotiations on an agreement between Israel and Hamas to free the Israeli hostages abducted on October 7th and a ceasefire appear to have reached an impasse. Since August 28, 2024, Israel has also been conducting a major military operation in the West Bank with the aim of preventing further attacks from there.
Michael Rimmel, Johannes Sosada
September 2, 2024
Country reports
Adobe Stock/Pavel Losevsky
Russia's War Economy – an Assessment of Russia´s Military Industrial Complex
A Long-Term Plan
Since the beginning of the brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, analyzes have been carried out about the strength and endurance of the Russian military. Considering the importance of the military-industrial complex (MIC) during the Soviet era and its place in Putin's Russia leaves no doubt about the Kremlin's determination. There is no price we wouldn't pay for victory, is the message.
Daivis Petraitis
August 2, 2024
Monitor
IMAGO / ITAR-TASS
Peking's Reach for the Sea of Japan
China's Geopolitics and Russia's Concessions
While Western media continues to speculate about China's role in Russia's war of aggression, Beijing is focused on maximizing its benefits. China aims to exploit Moscow's dependence on the People's Republic and expand cooperation on its own terms, not just economically. Geopolitically, this involves China's access to the Sea of Japan and extends to the Arctic. A seemingly insignificant passage in a joint statement by Presidents Xi and Putin could have far-reaching geopolitical implications, posing a serious security challenge for Japan and South Korea.
Johann C. Fuhrmann
July 31, 2024
Country reports
Adobe Stocke / Wojciech Wrzesień
Critical Junctures – The Future of the North
Latest development in the Baltic Sea Region
The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO brings new strategic implications and defense opportunities for the Baltic Sea region. At the same time, it poses additional challenges for the alliance in light of Russian ambitions in the region. As NATO develops agile defense strategies, cooperation between the Baltic and Nordic states becomes even more crucial.
Nick Childs, Ferdinand Alexander Gehringer, James Hackett, Fenella McGerty
