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Focus Point: Regional Security- Transatlantic Security/NATO
Mark Rutte’s NATO mission: rally West, reassure East, help Ukraine |Reuters
By Andrew Gray and Anthony Deutsch | 30.09.2024
Summary
- Former Dutch PM to take over as NATO boss on Tuesday
- Rutte expected to push allies to keep supporting Ukraine
- Eastern European allies want more protection from Moscow
- His focus to shift from fiscal frugality to spending more. Read more…
Focus Point: Regional Security- Transatlantic Security/European Security
The EU’s Crisis of Confidence |Carnegieendowment
By Stefan Lehne |01.10.2024
Despite strong incoming leadership and an ambitious plan for the next institutional term, a sense of defeatism is spreading across the EU. Rebuilding faith in collective European action must be the top priority.
On the face of it, the EU’s institutional transition of 2024 has been going well. The radical right once again failed to make a decisive breakthrough in the European Parliament elections. By choosing Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president, Kaja Kallas as EU high representative, and António Costa as its own president, the European Council came up with a leadership team that—unlike the present one—might actually be capable of working together.
With a pro-EU majority in the European Parliament, a competent leadership team, an effective commission, and an ambitious plan to supercharge EU productivity and competitiveness, as outlined in the report by former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, what could possibly go wrong? Unfortunately, everything! Read more…
Focus Point: Regional Security- Middle East
Mending fences: Europe’s stake in the Saudi-Iran detente| ecfr.eu
By Julien Barnes-Dacey and Cinzia Bianco | 30.09.2024
- Saudi-Iran rivalry has long deepened conflict lines in the Middle East. But growing mutual vulnerabilities prompted a quiet rapprochement, culminating in the 2023 Beijing de-escalation agreement.
- While it hasn’t led to conflict resolution, this detente has helped contain regional escalation. Dialogue between Riyadh and Tehran remains frequent amid the Gaza crisis and could become even more important after the Israeli killing of Hizbullah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
- Europeans should actively support Saudi-Iran engagement as a vital diplomatic path to regional stability, rather than viewing it as Iran’s attempt to evade US sanctions.
- If Iran’s new leadership is willing to engage in negotiations on the nuclear issue and other files, Europeans should see Saudi Arabia as a channel to help facilitate necessary economic relief to Iran as part of any new deal.
- Europeans could help both countries navigate tension around America’s regional involvement, ensuring Saudi-Israel normalisation does not undermine Saudi-Iran diplomacy.
- If Iran refuses to enter negotiations and relations with the West deteriorate further, Europeans should still consider Saudi Arabia as a valuable mediator between the West and Iran. Read more…
Focus Point: Regional Security- Transatlantic Security/NATO
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s first press conference | NATO
By NATO | 01.10.2024
I have three priorities: Ensure we have the capabilities to protect against any threat; Support Ukraine in fighting back against Russian aggression; and Addressing the growing global challenges to Euro-Atlantic security.
I will work with Allies to ensure that we fully implement our decisions and that we continue to bring Ukraine ever closer to NATO. NATO’s focus must remain, obviously, on Euro-Atlantic security, keeping our 1 billion people safe. But the threats we face are increasingly global. Therefore I will deepen our partnerships with like-minded nations, near and far, that share our values. The European Union is NATO’s unique and essential partner. There is potential to boost our cooperation in many areas, from supporting Ukraine to countering hybrid threats. Read more…
Focus Point: Regional Security- Middle East
After pressing an Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire, the Biden administration shifts its message | AP News
By Matthew Lee and Lolita C. Baldor | 02.10.2024
U.S. officials stress that they have repeatedly come out in support of Israel’s right to defend itself and that any change in their language only reflects evolving conditions on the ground. And, officials say the administration’s goal — a cease-fire — has remained constant.
The U.S. has been quick to praise and defend Israel for a series of recent strikes killing Hezbollah leaders. In contrast to its repeated criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza that has killed civilians, the U.S. has taken a different tack on strikes that targeted Nasrallah and others but also may have killed innocent people. Read more…
Focus Point: Regional Security- Middle East
UK forces involved in response to Iran attacks on Israel | BBC
By Becky Morton and Chris Mason| 02.10.2024
UK forces were involved in supporting Israel in the conflict in the Middle East after Iran launched a missile attack on the country.
Defence Secretary John Healey, who will be in Cyprus on Wednesday to visit personnel, said British forces had “this evening played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation”, without giving more details.
The BBC understands UK fighter jets were involved, as they were in April when Iran last attacked Israel with missiles.
Responding on Tuesday to Iran’s attack, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK “stands with Israel” and recognises its right to self-defence. Read more…
Focus Point: Security and Defense Policy- Russia-Ukraine War
The old F-16s the West is giving Ukraine can’t outmatch Russia’s best jets, former US general says| Businessinsider
By Sinéad Baker | 02.10. 2024 | Subscription needed
The old F-16 models that Ukraine’s allies are giving it are no match for Russia’s best jets, a former US general told Business Insider.
The F-16s, which Ukraine has started receiving from its allies, are the most advanced aircraft Ukraine now has in its arsenal and are armed with more powerful bombs and missiles.
But Russia’s best aircraft still outclass them, retired US Army Maj. Gen. Gordon ‘Skip’ Davis, who was NATO’s deputy assistant secretary-general for its Defense Investment Division, told BI.
That division provides, among other things, technical, financial, and procedural expertise related to aerospace capabilities. Read more…
Focus Point: Regional Security- Transatlantic Security/NATO
NATO ‘inadequately’ prepared for large-scale war with Russia, Hodges says| Th Kyiv Independent
By Martin Fornusek | 02.10.2024
NATO lacks adequate air defenses, military mobility, ammunition, and the mindset to be fully ready for a large-scale conventional war, retired U.S. Lieutenant General Ben Hodges said on Oct. 2.
Speaking at a discussion at the Warsaw Security Forum attended by the Kyiv Independent, Hodges said that many of Europe’s political and military leaders do not fully acknowledge the realities of a possible war with Russia.
Warnings about a clash between Russia and NATO have mounted since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with many observers pointing out insufficient defense-industrial base and battle readiness on the West’s part.
“We don’t have adequate missile and air defense to protect our seaports, airports, and critical infrastructure,” Hodges said.
The retired general nevertheless added that European countries are “moving in a much better direction,” namely praising Poland’s planned military transformation. Read more…
Focus Point: Regional Security- Transatlantic Security/European Security
EU could die, warns Macron|The Telegraph
By James Crisp | 03.10.2024
French president tells fellow European leaders the bloc is falling behind the US and China because of over-regulation and under-investment
The EU “could die” unless it makes itself more competitive with the US and China, Emmanuel Macron has warned.
The French president said the bloc was over-regulating and under-investing at the Berlin Global Dialogue event.
Washington and Beijing both outstripped the EU in economic output and investment, he said, before calling on the bloc to complete its banking union package of financial rules.
Member states also needed to press for global trade rules to be kept fair, he added, according to Bloomberg.
“The EU could die, we are on a verge of a very important moment,” Mr Macron said. “Our former model is over – we are over-regulating and under-investing. In the two to three years to come, if we follow our classical agenda we will be out of the market.”
Mr Macron’s remarks echo some of the findings of a landmark report by Mario Draghi, the former Italian prime minister. His report demanded a wider “industrial strategy for Europe”, involving €800 billion (£673 billion) in annual investment to prevent the EU from falling behind the US and China. Read more…
Focus Point: Regional Security- Middle East
Investigating the Nature of the Islamic State’s Economy: A Case Study on Shadow Economy| NAVI Research Institute
By Lucas Meunier – NAVI Research Intern| 03.10.2024
Delve into the complexities of ISIS’s economic operations from 2014 to 2019 in Iraq and Syria. In this detailed analysis, Lucas Meunier from NAVI Research sheds light on:
ISIS’s reliance on illegal activities, from oil smuggling to arms trafficking, fueling its rise and territorial control.
NATO’s counterterrorism efforts targeting financial networks to destabilize ISIS’s revenue sources.
The broader economic impact of ISIS on global oil markets, European economies, and migration patterns.
This report offers a nuanced understanding of the role shadow economies play in terrorism, while highlighting NATO’s integrated approach to economic and military strategies. Read more…
Thank you very much for reading.
The NAVI Research Institute is the research division of NATO Veterans Initiative - NAVI that provides a unique perspective to transatlantic leaders and societies on peace and security through the lens of NATO's founding principles of rule of law, democracy, human rights, and individual liberties. The NAVI Research Institute was officially established by the NAVI Board on July 16th, 2023.
