After the financial collapse of 2008, Iceland became one of the few European countries where the idea of joining the European Union transformed from a discussion into a matter of national survival. Today, nearly two decades later, the country is revisiting the topic of European integration — but in an...
“Storm-1516” against Armenia: how Russia conducts hybrid warfare with fake investigations
Until 2020, Armenia remained one of the most Russia-dependent states in the South Caucasus. However, its defeat in the war over Nagorno-Karabakh and the subsequent events dramatically changed the situation. In 2023, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan publicly declared that Armenia’s exclusive reliance on Russia for security matters had been a...
Romania’s anti-corruption machine has become a shield for the political class
On January 1, 2007, when Romania joined the European Union, Brussels viewed the reform of its judicial system as one of the key tests of the country’s ability to become a full-fledged European democracy. Corruption in state institutions at the time was chronic, and according to Transparency International data, in...
How the nature of cyber warfare has changed in the EU
Over the past five years, the nature of cyber warfare in Europe has undergone a fundamental transformation. Before 2022, cyberattacks in the EU were primarily associated with criminal extortion, industrial espionage, and occasional state-sponsored operations. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they have become an integral part of hybrid warfare...
The MFS scandal and its consequences for the financial systems of the UK and Europe
At the beginning of 2026, a major financial scandal erupted in the United Kingdom involving the bankrupt mortgage lender Market Financial Solutions Ltd (MFS). It emerged that the company had borrowed more than £1.3 billion in total from major banks and hedge funds, then issued expensive mortgage loans to borrowers...
Wheat for loyalty — Russia’s “humanitarian” trap for Africa
When Russia solemnly promised "free" grain to six African countries in 2023, the Kremlin framed it as an act of humanity. Behind this "generosity," however, lies a calculated geopolitical game in which wheat is supplied in exchange for gold, uranium, loyalty in UN votes, and support for its aggressive war...
How Russia is making millions from illegal shipments of banned gases to the EU
On April 9, 2026, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) published a report on the scale of the black market for refrigerants (hydrofluorocarbon HFC gases) in Europe, stating that the volumes seized in the EU grew from 250 tonnes in 2023 to over 670 tonnes in 2024–2025. According to its findings,...
Who is profiting from the European migration crisis
A convenient but dangerous narrative has taken hold in European politics — that the migration crisis is primarily a problem of the migrants themselves. This is driven not only by the enormous sums the EU directs toward migration management, but also by growing political pressure from right-wing parties that exploit...
King Charles III’s visit to the US confirmed tensions in transatlantic relations
In late April 2026, King Charles III of the United Kingdom visited Washington, during which he affirmed the preservation of the "special relationship" between London and Washington. Yet behind this rhetoric, new geopolitical realities came sharply into focus: it is becoming increasingly difficult for the United Kingdom to maintain a...
Britain creates new Naval Alliance to counter Russia
Under British leadership, ten Northern European and Baltic nations are establishing new combined naval forces based on the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), aimed at countering Russian threats in strategically important northern waters. The new alliance will include the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, and...