UK National Security Strategy

The new UK national security strategy review (March 2021) has an integrated character, for the first time uniting the spheres of defense, security, development and foreign policy in one concept. This paper explores the evolution of the Johnson government approaches to the content of the strategy and its implementation in the context of post-Brexit and its implications for UK-Russia bilateral relations.

Italy grasped by US-China rivalry

Cooperation of the EU members with China is now under increasing supervision of Washington and Brussels. The growing US-China confrontation direct impacts the relations between the EU and PRC, contributing to the adoption by Brussels of tighter control over investments in strategic sectors of economy. EU member states have to adapt their bilateral relations with China to these new developments. Formed in February 2021, the new Italian government of M. Draghi over the past eight months has nearly completed the reversal in relations with Beijing, questioning not only the memorandum of understanding signed in March 2019, but also tightening the mechanisms of control over investments coming from China.

Common Security: Can It Be Reinvented?

In 2021 it is impossible to neglect the fact that our world is moving in a totally wrong direction. Differences between the United States and China are becoming one of the fundamental elements of major powers' competition. Some experts believe that confrontation between the US and China will result in a new edition of bipolarity. Others maintain that the rivalry between the world's two leading economies is a bilateral conflict and cannot evolve into a bipolar world order similar to that of the Cold War. In any case, US-China military tensions are a major risk. These tensions are a time bomb. There is a real risk of a dangerous escalation over Taiwan.

The Arctic Strategy of the European Commission: a challenge for Russia or a measure of forced integration?

The article analyses the priorities, goals and objectives of the European Union in the Arctic macro-region at present. The European vision of the processes taking place in the Arctic has been explored. The EU proposals to improve the situation in the region, primarily in the environment, are being considered from the standpoint of activities of the Arctic Council and Russian-European relations in the Arctic.

Presidential elections in Estonia: domestic political aspects

On August 31, 2021, Alar Karis, with support of the governing coalition, won the second round of presidential elections in Estonia. The authors analyze the elections in the framework of institutional and procedural contexts as well as formal and informal stances taken by political parties on the event’s eve. A. Karis became the most appropriate candidate proposed by the ruling coalition, after gaining certain advantage over another “intelligent” candidate T. Soomere, president of the Academy of Sciences. The institute of presidency and election procedure form a subject for permanent discussion in Estonian society, because of the authoritarian experience of the 1930s.

Ten days of the new coalition government in Germany

On December 15, 2021, a week after the appointment of a new cabinet, Federal Chancellor O. Scholz delivered a keynote speech to Bundestag deputies. He outlined main directions of his activities for the next four years. At the same time, leaders of the coalition parties, heading the key ministries, took a number of steps during the first days, which were received ambiguously by the opposition and expert community. The author analyzes the beginning of the federal government’s work and assesses its prospects.

Russian-German relations in the context of A. Merkel's visits to Moscow and Kiev

Federal Chancellor A. Merkel, who is leaving her post after the Bundestag elections in September, visited Moscow and Kiev on August 20 and 22. The working visits became part of the consolidation of foreign policy foothold, to be transferred to the future government coalition and its leader. The author analyzes results of the negotiations between Bundescanzlerin and presidents of Russia and Ukraine and their significance for the future of Russian-German relations.

On a possible OSCE monitoring mission in the buffer zone between Afghanistan and the states of Central Asia

The author proposes to deploy the OSCE monitoring mission in the buffer zone between Afghanistan and the states of Central Asia. Such a mission could prevent the negative consequences of Afghan crisis from spreading to the states of Central Asia and ensure the peaceful transition of Afghanistan to stability and post conflict reconstruction. The positive experience of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine and possibility of its application to the proposed OSCE monitoring mission are analyzed in this context.

The «submarine crisis» and its possible consequences

The creation of a new military and political bloc AUKUS along with breaching «the contract of the century» for construction of 12 submarines by French Naval Group for Australia provoked a serious diplomatic crisis between France and the United States. The hot phase of the crisis was subdued by a telephone conversation between J. Biden and E. Macron, nevertheless, there are reasons to believe it will not disappear without a trace. The authors analyze possible consequences of the «submarine crisis»: its impact on transatlantic and Franco-American relations, European and Indo-Pacific strategies of Paris.

Strength and weaknesses of the soul of Europe

The paper explores major points of the EU Commission President’s annual State of the Union Address to MEPs. The author underlines the fact that Ursula von der Leyen focused on claims for global leadership in several areas of world politics. The ambitious plans of the “geopolitical Commission” to move towards the Healthcare Union and Defense Union, which imply strengthening of the supranational component of integration, are analyzed. The new “Global Gate” project, designed to counter China's economic expansion, is mentioned. But the enhancement of the EU's role in the world is hindered by persistent internal disagreements on numerous economic and political issues.