• Image of a road - © Envato Elements

    African conflictivity

    While it is a key pillar of the AfCFTA , transport connectivity has the potential to either advance or hinder peacebuilding and stabilisation efforts in Africa. This Brief examines the linkage between connectivity and conflict dynamics, and how conditions can be created to ensure...

  • Picture of the 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum - © EUISS

    China's global security initiative

    This Brief examines China’s newly-unveiled Global Security Initiative (GSI) and its significance as part of a larger diplomatic offensive to advance Beijing’s strategic agenda and promote an alternative security governance architecture.

  • Image of footprints in the sand- © Unsplash

    Footprints in the sand

    In recent years both China and India have expanded their presence in the Middle East. This Brief shows however that their footprint in the Maghreb is primarily economic and remains light in comparison to that of the long-standing partner of the countries in the region: the EU.

  • Abstract image of a web - © Unsplash

    European defence partnerships

    This Brief analyses EU defence cooperation with key partners and makes suggestions for how these strategic partnerships might be further tailored and enhanced, including the idea of ‘Institutional nesting’ as a way to reconcile overlapping cooperation formats.

  • Image of the Bosphorus bridge - © Unsplash

    Sailing through the storm

    As the conflict in Ukraine continues to unfold, Türkiye is trying to perform a delicate balancing act. This Brief explores how Türkiye seeks to maintain equidistance from Russia and the West to assert its strategic autonomy while exploiting Russia’s current weakness to project...

  • Yearbook of European Security 2022

    The 2022 Yearbook of European Security provides an overview of events in 2021 that were significant for European security. The book charts major developments in the EU’s external action and security and defence policy.

  • The summit of Arab states

    In the wake of the Arab League summit that took place in early November in Algiers – providing an opportunity for an energy-emboldened Algeria to assert its regional influence – this Brief examines why the organisation has often been criticised for its ineffectiveness, and how...