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...
Europe’s new political balance consequences of the right turn
The results of recent elections in European countries showed significant electoral fluctuations. In Europe today, there is a systemic shift that changes the rules of the political game. The wave of votes for nationalist, populist, and openly radical parties has strengthened these parties' positions in national and European parliaments, giving...
“Frozen money – warm levers”. On the influence of Russian assets on the unity of Europe
Western sanctions, imposed on Russia in late February 2022 after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, affected banks and individual accounts and became the basis for freezing part of the Russian Central Bank’s international reserves. In March 2022, the Finance Minister of the Russian Federation announced that Western countries...
The Gulf of Oman as a transport hub for shadow fleet tankers
The European Union, Great Britain and the United States have strengthened their sanctions against the energy sector of the Russian economy and the activities of the so-called «shadow fleet» of the Russian Federation, which ensures the transportation of Russian crude oil by sea. The focus of attention of Brussels, London...
Corruption can undermine Hungary’s defense industry
In the summer of 2025, the Hungarian government decided to sell «the largest pearls» from the state defense industry to a private company. Such a rather strange decision of official Budapest caused significant concern among political, business and military circles within the country. Thus, in June of this year, the...
How the Russian «atomic anchor» turns energy projects into long-term dependence
Russia has long positioned itself as a leader in nuclear technology and energy. It must be recognized that the competition in this field is not so great, and the strategic potential of nuclear energy is huge. Realizing this, Russia has constructed a model in which the construction of nuclear power...