On 8 March 2022, the European Commission presented its proposal for an EU Directive to fight violence against women, based on the wording of the Istanbul Convention. The scope of such a Directive is to set a common approach on the topic, which would later bring to the harmonization of European national legislations. The Directive would comprehend the criminalization of …

India’s Supreme Court recently upheld a decision to revoke special status of Kashmir by revoking Article 370 of its Constitution, a decision predicted to impact India’s relationship with its neighbour Pakistan.  Background: Kashmir a region symbol of tensions between India and Pakistan  The two South-Asian nations have a well-established history of conflict ever since their independence following the end of …

Since the invasion of Ukraine, the EU has imposed many rounds of ever-tighter sanctions against Russia and its currently debating about its 12th round. Some people claim these sanctions have not worked. Yet, the European Union was ready to dismantle any allegation. According to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, within a year, the European sanctions …

Following a brief truce negotiated between Israel and Hamas for the release of some hostages, the bombarding of Gaza has re-started. Israel’s intent remains the same: to eradicate Hamas. Hamas’ intent also remains the same: to eradicate Israel. Arguably, neither of them is succeeding in their efforts to do just that. Hamas’ attacks on the 7th of October 2023 only reignited …

The summer of 2023 witnessed two additional coup d’états, in Niger and Gabon, the latest in a wave across West Africa in recent years. A perceivable trend is that these coup d’états have occurred in former French colonies, with a coup d’état in Mali in 2021 and in Burkina Faso in 2022. While respective reasons underlie these coups, there is …

The African continent is showing a particular deterioration in the protection of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and other identities’ (LGBTQ+) rights. Most African countries have already imposed restrictive policies against LGBTQ+ communities, while others are worsening now their conditions. Same-sex relations are illegal in more than 30 African countries altogether, constituting half of the total 69 countries banning these …

As the largest emitter of greenhouse gas, it is crucial that China and the EU work together to speed up green growth initiatives globally to help address the ongoing climate change crisis. Underneath it all lies historical geopolitical rivalries and competitive economies. Still, the existential threat of the impending environmental disaster that we are facing should prompt urgent climate cooperation. Fortunately, …

On Wednesday 6 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, neglecting the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC accused Putin of illegally deporting Ukrainian children to Russia, which is clearly a case of war crime, and consequently has obliged the Russian President to limit …

Under the Biden Administration, the US foreign policy focused on improving its relations with the countries of South-East Asia. The program, called Indo-Pacific Strategy, signed a complete change of direction from the Trump era. Indeed, in 2016 the US government tried to disrupt the relationship created in the past with Indo-Pacific states and, especially, did not commit to protecting Taiwan …

China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei are countries that are surrounding the South China Sea which is an area of dispute because of territorial interests. Concurrently, disputes over islands, like the Second Thomas Shoal, and territorial waters have their roots in history in combination with economic motives based on strategic concerns and exploitation of sea life, as well as national …