Around the Bloc: Around the Bloc - NATO Wants to Play as Moscow Sulks
As the alliance’s largest maneuvers since the Cold War get under way, Russia has vowed to respond.
More...We kindly inform you that, as long as the subject affiliation of our 300.000+ articles is in progress, you might get unsufficient or no results on your third level or second level search. In this case, please broaden your search criteria.
As the alliance’s largest maneuvers since the Cold War get under way, Russia has vowed to respond.
More...
Bellingcat say a Russian military intelligence agent may have helped plan poison attacks in the UK and Bulgaria.
More...
The article presents the duties and responsibilities of the Police in the area of security of mass events resulting from the Police Act of 6 April 1990, as well as other laws and international agreements. Presented procedures for the evaluation of the safety of sports facilities and give an opinion as well as the tasks carried out by the Focal Point for mass events and launched in April 2006, police registry of mass events. Discusses how to monitor the fans as well as a penal measure to prohibit the entrance to mass events, coupled with the obligation to appear in person at the police unit
More...
Due to their functional roles and symbolic meanings metropolitan and global cities are considered to be a prime target for international terrorism. Large cities are attractive as well as vulnerable targets. Not only important or symbolic buildings but many other targets might be attacked: including crowded plazas, stadia and arenas, infrastructure; railway stations and metro lines. Terrorist attacks on cities typically result in numerous civilian casualties and large material losses, therefore providing terrorists with desirable media response on a global scale. The effective antiterrorism policy is based not only on active counterterrorist actions undertaken by police and special forces but mostly on defensive planning and technical measures intended to reduce the chance of attack and vulnerability of potential targets (designing out terrorism), effective command and control systems and fast damage mitigation.
More...
Organizations whose main activity is public safety should in their strategy care about their surroundings, relations with surroundings, because in this field building the image of the organization and its reputation as well as relations with the society influence the ultimate shape of these organizations in the public safety field. Studying this field we should pay attention to issues associated with PR, marketing and the analysis of the information from the media, which have impact on shaping the image of organizations dealing with the public safety and social attitudes.
More...
The neutral Central Asian state rarely comments on reports of tension along its border with Afghanistan.
More...
Almost 500 pages and accounts beamed misleading information across Eastern Europe and Central Asia
More...
Faced with a growing Russian military threat in the Black Sea, Romania has decided to increase its defense spending and modernize is military capabilities. In 2017 Romania began an ambitious ten year re-armament program worth € 8.9 billion, part of the pledge made to its NATO partners to spend 2% of GDP on defense. This analysis takes a look at the naval refurbishment program that Romania will undertake in 2017-2026. It examines the components of the naval modernization program from the perspective of the capabilities they will offer to the Romanian Naval Forces and of how they compare with current and future naval threats in the Black Sea. While the level of ambition reflected in these programs varies a lot, the current acquisitions will reinforce the deterrence value of Romania’s fleet.
More...
The security situation to the east of NATO and EU borders remains extremely complex. Unresolved conflicts in this region are frozen or are in a desirable state of solving. In addition, Moscow adds new crises and conflicts to those in the Republic of Moldova – the Transnistrian conflict, Georgia - South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in the Azerbaijani conflict. This is the war in the East of Ukraine. All this creates new security risks and threats to the Euro-Atlantic area, starting from the eastern flank of the two organizations. Can these conflicts be resolved? Can all these turbulences be eliminated? In this general security atmosphere, can we hope in the short and even medium that the necessary conditions can be created to negotiate at least a new security system? Answers must be prudent to the questions above. However, for the time being, neither Russia nor the West appear to be able to advance and negotiate a coherent strategy of redefining a new security system in Eastern Europe and in the Wider Black Sea region.
More...
Derived from the current situation of the international security environment, the “White Paper on Security Policy and the Future of the Bundeswehr” (White Paper 2016) sets standards for Germany’s security policy and defines the mission and tasks of the Bundeswehr. The current development lines are implemented in the “Conception of the Bundeswehr” (KdB) for the german defense department. In this regard, the Bundeswehr is focusing on the future. The new KdB is a long-term policy statement and it stands as a military part of the overall defense planning of the Federal Republic of Germany at home and abroad in interaction with the documents of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and other responsible departments for the security architecture of Germany. The KdB translates the Germany’s will, formulated in the White Paper 2016, to take on more responsibility in the world in guidelines for action for the entire Bundeswehr under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Defense. Based on the Guiding Principles and other planning parameters, the KdB makes qualitative specifications for designing the “Bundeswehr’s capability profile” consisting of military and civilian capabilities and the future development areas. The KdB is the starting point for all conceptual work and planning. The conclusions of the White Paper 2016, as well as the turning points to the future equipment of the Bundeswehr with materials, personnel and finances are the response to the profound changes in the security situation, in Europe and in the world.
More...
The European Army is not a new concept. The idea was launched by Winston Churchill in a speech held on August 1950 at the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe. Since then, it was a constant subject underpinning key moments of contemporary European political integration. In the present context, due to tensions and evolutions, it advances key enquiries about the European foreign and defense policy, transatlantic relations and, most significantly, the central significance and purpose of the European Union. The paper focuses on the prospects for European defense and security into the twenty-first century and the role Romania could have in such a scenario. It follows recent events and it seeks to address the current Euro-Atlantic puzzle, with emphasis on previous attempts: the Pleven Plan, the Lisbon Treaty, CESDP and past and present US hopes.
More...
It is a fact that the pan-European security architecture is going through a very complex period. In the last four years these problems have been put back on the table, particularly the need for Europe to have credible security system. But things have been pushed to confrontation approaches in the spirit of a “cold war”, and not to a “real relaxation”. In this general European atmosphere, can we hope in the short and even medium term that the necessary conditions can be created to negotiate at least a new security system? Can it be possible in the short term to negotiate and implement a new pan-European security architecture? Answers must be prudent to the questions above. However, for the time being, neither Russia nor the West appear to be able to advance and negotiate a coherent strategy of redefining a new security system and consolidating a new world order.
More...
The present paper aims to analyse the concept of the “security dilemma” through the lenses of two key theories for approaching and understanding international politics – namely, neo-realism and constructivism. While acknowledging the fondness of the pioneers of the concept for the neo-realist theory for which it subsequently evolved as one of the key elements, the paper further proposes and comparatively analyses an alternative approach shaped by the constructivist tradition. In this regard, it focuses on the manner in which the security dilemma emerges as a result of the social construction of world politics, the subjective understandings conceived by actors on the international arena and the ensuing perceptions about their counterparts and their actions, which in turn influence the former’s behaviour. The conclusion of this analysis is that the mainstream neo-realist approach provides rather limited insights into understanding the dynamics of the security dilemma and processes of threat perception, respectively. Subsequently, in this endeavour, the constructivist approach deserves further consideration, as it allows for a proper apprehension of the security dilemma through transcending its rigid understanding as an outcome of structure of the international system.
More...
The decades of strategic competition that are deep buried into the gunpowder and blood stained water of the South China Sea are foremost rooted in the extensive value of the Spratly Islands. From economic to geopolitics, with a nod to national value, the Spratlys encompass the embodiment of national interests that aroused dreadful tempests over the Asian continent. The timeline of the past narratives depicts rampant clashes that still tarnish the memories of the claimant states that are gradually drawn into a new reality forged on the China’s stunning rise. Outlined on the assumption that the states’ interests are rendered with respect to the system dynamics, the main objective of the paper is to investigate the evolution of the dispute shaped on antagonistic views, national pride and interdependencies. Pinpointing the grounds for the strategic competition, identifying the levels of the main players, the research attempts to depict China’s power projection in the Spratly Islands as the prime incentive on the regional scene.
More...
The paper will seek to decipher the significance of deterrence in the Black Sea region and assess the main challenges which shape the dynamic of deterrence in the region. By this logic, the paper will examine the evolving military balance in the Black Sea basin, the impact of Russian’s build-up in the region, the complicated web of regional security agendas- especially important being Turkey’s growing strategic unpredictability-, as well as the main dilemmas facing the West in forging a more consolidated defense posture. The research will be built around two main hypothesis of analysis. The first one assumes the fact that the Black Sea area became an arena of the geopolitical struggle between Russia and the West in conjunction with Russia’s growing military reach and power projection potential which has already created a strategic imbalance in the region. The second one considers that the regional power games and the complex security agendas of the main players in the Black Sea make the regional dynamic highly unpredictable and complicate the Western deterrence posture on the entire eastern flank.
More...
There is a strong preoccupation within the Chinese political elites to enhance and accelerate the reform of the armed forces in order to prepare the country for its new global role and defend its national interests. The rivalry with southern neighbours for islands and maritime area in South China Sea, the difficult relations with India and geopolitical competition with Japan, also the systemic rivalry with the USA push Chinese elites to strive for a strong military force. The People s Liberation Army is also a guarantee for the Chinese Communist Party, the leading force of the state and society, that a possible popular surge against the regime could be quelled, thus ensuring the stability and social peace within the country. The problem is that an armed force destined for internal strife is not shaped the same way as a force aimed at foreign rivals and power projection in the neighboring areas.
More...
In order to be able to analyze such a specialized field as strategic planning, in a context where people understand different things by reading the same words, it is desirable to describe some models underlying reasoning and to define concepts while disseminating the meaning that one gives in the text. The current turmoil within the international environment forces you to build scenarios about the near future and to meticulously clarify your analytical framework, so as not to fall into the trap of multiple annoying manipulations. So what are and what should be these strategic documents? Are they really necessary? Are they useful? Could these be even more relevant?
More...
The development of prospective studies and game theory became a crucial activity for many international and national organisation, especially in times of increasing dynamism and complexity. The aim of this article is to present the usefulness of developing foresight by the means of war-games or strategic simulations. “War-gaming”, a roleplaying simulation of a dynamic situation, has been used mainly by the military, but more recently, it has also been used in the context of competitive intelligence and strategy-testing. The article is divided in two sections. The first section consists of a theoretical presentation of the concept of war-gaming and simulations and its specific elements. The second section is a case study that will focus on a simulation made on China’s foreign policy that will highlight the scenarios outlined as products and strategic takeaways of such an apparatus.
More...