When in the spring of 2022, after the start of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the activities of one of the key instruments of the Kremlin's global influence, the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS), faced a wave of sanctions, it seemed not only a natural situation, but also...
Stolen history. Who profits from the disappearance of art?
On 19 October 2025, the world of culture was shocked by the news that art had been stolen from the Louvre. Four intruders infiltrated the Gallery of Apollo (Galerie d'Apollon) and in a matter of minutes took away eight precious royal and imperial jewels of the 19th century. Among the...
What is behind the reduction of US presence in Europe
NATO’s 75th anniversary coincided with the US announcement to reduce or transform the presence of US army units in European theatre. What caused this process, which crises it provokes and the possible consequences for Europe.In February 2025, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegeset, at a meeting with NATO Defense Ministers, made...
The German automotive industry is stalling: сauses and consequences of the industrial slowdown
The German automotive industry has long been the backbone of the country's economy and a symbol of European industrial power. But over the past two years, automotive companies have seen a noticeable decline in production and economic performance. In the second quarter of 2025 alone, car exports from Germany to...
Drones over Europe: a new reality of security and politics
Today we have to say that drones are becoming a tool of geopolitics and economic pressure. The repeated appearance of drones over major airports, military bases and infrastructure in northern and eastern Europe has caused not only the military to react, but also politicians to think about taking the necessary...
NATO countries are suffering from an increase in the number of cyber attacks
The US faced serious risks in cyberspace as early as the 1990s, however, many European NATO member states have long clearly underestimated the threats to their own security that come from cyberspace. The situation changed somewhat when on April 27, 2007, the Estonian authorities dismantled the «Bronze Soldier» – monument...
Rare earth elements are the underground levers of big politics
Rare earth elements, lanthanoids plus scandium and yttrium are among the so-called «critical materials», which today are essential for the production of powerful magnets, electric motors, wind generators, satellite systems, radars. In other words, the «green» and defense industries need these materials almost as much as they used to need...
Why migration remains Europe’s hottest topic
When the 2015-2016 Frontex and UNHCR routes to Europe saw a flood of refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and other countries, many expected that the situation would stabilize over time. However, a diametrically opposed phenomenon of European perceptions of migration soon emerged, generating not only political polarization, but also social tensions....
After the elections in the Czech Republic: а new axis of Prague-Budapest-Bratislava and challenges for the EU
The Czech Republic’s October elections have not only turned into an internal political upheaval, but their outcome already requires rethinking the immediate future of common European policy. The victory of the ANO party and the almost immediate signing of a coalition agreement with right-wing and euroskeptic partners opens the way...
The Northern Front of the Hybrid War: Russia’s influence in the Nordic countries
The usually calm and prosperous countries of Scandinavia today have become the object of hybrid activity on the part of Russia, feeling all the «peacefulness» of Russian foreign policy - from information campaigns to immediate threats to infrastructure and economic security. Publicly available data and expert reports show that the...