The evolution of European and Euro-Atlantic policy making in the wider Black sea: EU and NATO attempts at strenghening regionalism in an area of strategic interest[Over]
Debates about the geopolitical, geo-economic and strategic significance of the wider-Black Sea (WBS) region have become fashionable amongst Western policy makers and the international scholarly community since the end of the Cold War. While the Black Sea represented a “front line” in the stand-off between rival superpower blocks during an age which now seems to have slipped into the bygone days of our youth, the major geopolitical realignments which have taken place in Eurasia during the last two decades have evidently led to our “re-discovery” of one of the world’s most historically significant geostrategic playing fields. To read more click here.
- Wednesday, 1 August 2012, 20:27
Rivalry in the Eastern Mediterranean: The Turkish Dimension[Over] Mehmet Öğütçü, EGF Expert on global energy security matters
The discovery of large gas reserves off the coasts of Israel and Cyprus posed a number of dilemmas for Turkey. Its response reflected both resource rivalry and underlying political conflicts. Turkey and its neighbors need to avoid harsh rhetoric and brinkmanship. Instead, pending solutions of bilateral differences, they should consider interim agreements to reduce risk and allow exploration and production to go ahead in a more predictable environment. To read more click here.
China and the Iranian Nuclear Crisis: Between Ambiguities and Interests[Over] Djallil Lounnas, EGF Affiliated Expert with focus on Insurgency and Trans-national radicalism in North Africa and Sahel-Sahara
This article analyses, the complex relationship between Tehran, Beijing and Washington on the Iranian nuclear issue. Indeed, China’ policy towards Iran has often been described as ambiguous, in supporting Washington, on the one hand, while protecting Tehran, on the other hand. In this article, we argue that, in fact, Beijing policy vis-a-vis Tehran depends on the state of its relationships with Washington. Indeed, a closer analysis shows that China is using Iran as a bargaining chip with the United States on, among others, two key security issues, i.e., Taiwan and the oil supply. The guarantee of a secured oil supply from the Middle-East in addition to a comprehensive policy of the US with regard to Chinese security interests in Taiwan as well as the use of smart sanctions against Tehran, which would thus take into account, to a certain extent, Beijing economic interests in Iran, are, indeed, the guarantee of Beijing’ support to the US policy towards Iran. Click here to read more.
- Friday, 6 July 2012, 05:01
What are the main obstacles for realisation of Southern Energy Corridor projects?[Over] Martin Vladimirov, Expert on Balkan-Black Sea External Relations and Energy Security
It has been two decades now since the southern energy corridor, linking the energy producing Caspian and Middle East regions with European consumers, was incepted. The 1990s proved to be very successful after the U.S. was able to fill in the geopolitical vacuum in the Wider Black Sea region and divert significant amounts of Caspian oil and gas away from Russia and in direction Europe. Yet the strong push for diversification of the European energy supply came to a sudden halt after 9/11. The U.S. changed its geopolitical priorities focusing on the destabilized Middle East and South Asia. Since then the EU has been painfully searching for alternatives in accessing the vast Caspian reserves. The Nabucco gas pipeline, which has been seen as the strategic continuation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) corridor, has remained only a distant dream as gas quantities available are simply not enough to fill the 31 billion cubic meters (bcm) pipeline capacity. READ MORE
- Tuesday, 12 June 2012, 09:29
North Africa after the Arab Spring[Over] Political Outlook for Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt
Key points:
- Morocco’s monarchy seems to have survived the wind of change blowing on Arab countries last year and is
currently trying to hold on to its power by allowing reforms that partly reduce its absolute authority.
- The adoption of a new constitution and the victory of moderate and nationalist Islamic parties are signs that
mark Morocco’s gradual progress towards the demands of protesters who have taken the streets last year.
- However, civil society is not yet a primary actor in Moroccan politics and a widespread sense of communalism
is still missing.
- Tensions are still present in Morocco, due to the unresponsiveness of the central government regarding the
high levels of unemployment, structural corruption and deficiencies in welfare and health systems.
- Morocco has been praised by the international community for its counter-terrorism efforts, although major
security risks stem from the unresolved situation of West Sahara. High unemployment and persisting poverty,
however, continue to ensure fertile grounds for terrorist recruiters.
- New economic deals with the EU are expected to have a positive impact on the Moroccan economy, which is
of great interest for foreign direct investors.
READ MORE
- Tuesday, 8 May 2012, 06:09
Kofi Annan’s Syrian mission[Over] Mikhail Roshchin
Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan appears to have made some diplomatic strides in efforts to mediate the violent uprising in Syria. And Annan’s mission also has gained Russian support, which is a crucial key to an international consensus on how best to resolve the Syrian conflict. We are joined on the line with Mikhail Roshchin, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences. READ MORE
- Saturday, 31 March 2012, 05:58
EGF Middle East Briefing - Egypt’s New Political Landscape: between Democratization and Old Legacies[Over] Claudia Nocente
EGF Researcher, Global Security
Egypt’s Islamic state on the horizon
Egypt is once again in the headlines. The results of the first, allegedly, free elections after the ousting of Hosni Mubarak as the Egyptian president are causing widespread concern, especially in the West, about the country’s process towards democratization. Many fear that the legacy of the former political establishment will haunt the country for many years to come. Egyptians have been denied any aspect of a wealthy social and political life and are now concerned about the fruits of their courageous actions and the new seeds last year’s events have implanted. What will Egypt look like a year from now? Will it end up embracing a hardline Islamist direction in the administration of political power? READ MORE
Post-Revolution Tunisia: Still Waiting for Economic Recovery[Over] by Naim Ameur Expert on political transition in Tunisia and the Maghreb
One year after the Jasmine Revolution of January 14, 2011, Tunisia has successfully advanced in its democratic transition and political reform process. The election of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) held on October 23, 2011 was well organised, and for the first time in history, it was fair. Al-Nahdha (which means “renaissance” in Arabic), a moderate Islamic party, won 41 per cent of the NCA seats. READ MORE
- Thursday, 8 March 2012, 17:15
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