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Implications for Relations with China
SIPRI Insights on Peace and Security No. 2020/3 February 2020 EU SECURITY PERSPECTIVES SUMMARY w This SIPRI Insights Paper IN AN ERA OF CONNECTIVITY: assesses European Union security perspectives on IMPLICATIONS FOR connectivity, alongside and in relation to the EU’s evolving relationship with China. The RELATIONS WITH CHINA EU’s relations with China have undergone an important shift ian anthony, jiayi zhou and fei su in recent years, with a strengthened emphasis by the I. Introduction EU on the challenges to bilateral cooperation. In An important shift in the relations between the European Union (EU) and addition, since 2014, EU and EU China is underway. The strengthening rhetoric from EU member states member states’ security shows the growing concern over China’s expanding economic presence perspectives have undergone a and potential political influence in Europe; as a result, the EU has started to wider reassessment—one that re-evaluate its policies towards China and reconfigure the relations between has increased the prominence the two sides. This is evidenced in ‘EU–China: A Strategic Outlook’, a report of the military dimensions of published by the European Commission in March 2019, which recognizes connectivity, including military China not only as a cooperation and negotiating partner, but also an eco- mobility, in EU security planning. The EU and China are nomic competitor and systemic rival.1 China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) currently pursuing synergies has contributed to the evolution in EU–China relations, and it is now being between their separate 2 examined in Europe as part of the overall assessment of relations with China. -
68Th EMMY® AWARDS NOMINATIONS for Programs Airing June 1, 2015 – May 31, 2016
EMBARGOED UNTIL 8:40AM PT ON JULY 14, 2016 68th EMMY® AWARDS NOMINATIONS For Programs Airing June 1, 2015 – May 31, 2016 Los Angeles, CA, July 14, 2016– Nominations for the 68th Emmy® Awards were announced today by the Television Academy in a ceremony hosted by Television Academy Chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum along with Anthony Anderson from the ABC series black-ish and Lauren Graham from Parenthood and the upcoming Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls. "Television dominates the entertainment conversation and is enjoying the most spectacular run in its history with breakthrough creativity, emerging platforms and dynamic new opportunities for our industry's storytellers," said Rosenblum. “From favorites like Game of Thrones, Veep, and House of Cards to nominations newcomers like black-ish, Master of None, The Americans and Mr. Robot, television has never been more impactful in its storytelling, sheer breadth of series and quality of performances by an incredibly diverse array of talented performers. “The Television Academy is thrilled to once again honor the very best that television has to offer.” This year’s Drama and Comedy Series nominees include first-timers as well as returning programs to the Emmy competition: black-ish and Master of None are new in the Outstanding Comedy Series category, and Mr. Robot and The Americans in the Outstanding Drama Series competition. Additionally, both Veep and Game of Thrones return to vie for their second Emmy in Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Drama Series respectively. While Game of Thrones again tallied the most nominations (23), limited series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story and Fargo received 22 nominations and 18 nominations respectively. -
Russia's Intervention in Venezuela: What's at Stake?
POLICY BRIEF Russia’s Intervention in Venezuela: What’s at Stake? SEPTEMBER 2019 JOHN E. HERBST and JASON MARCZAK bsent of civil war, Venezuela is suffering the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in recent memory. Malnourished children search for their next meal. Parents lack access to even the most basic medicine for their families. Rampant inflation Amakes money instantaneously worthless, while general lawlessness provides a breeding ground for illicit trade with tentacles that reach from the Americas to Europe and beyond.1 It is an astonishing crash for a country bestowed with the world’s larg- est oil reserves and that was once a beacon of prosperity and a thriving democracy. Today, twenty years after Hugo Chávez became president and six years after his successor, Nicolás Maduro, inherited the presi- dential palace, Venezuela’s breakneck descent into one of the world’s top crises has renewed a push for democratic change. Following Maduro’s assumption of a fraudulent new term in office, much of the world’s attention and optimism turned to Juan Guaidó, president of the National Assembly, and as of January 23, 2019, the interim president of The Adrienne Arsht Latin Venezuela, as now recognized by more than fifty democracies.2 America Center broadens global understanding of regional transformations But Guaidó and other democratic forces face headwinds for reasons through high-impact work that beyond the repression and violence unleashed by the Maduro regime. shapes the conversation among External actors are using Venezuela as a battleground for their own policymakers, the business selfish national interests, bolstering the corrupt and faltering Maduro community, and civil society. -
The Fluctuating Relationship Between Russia and the Wagner Group
THE FLUCTUATING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE WAGNER GROUP by Preston Feinberg A research study submitted to Johns Hopkins University in conformity with the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Global Security Studies Baltimore, Maryland December 2020 © 2020 Preston Feinberg All Rights Reserved Abstract This study analyzes how the Wagner Group’s behavior in various geographic locations has affected their fluctuating relationship with the Russian government and how it has changed over time. This research is important for policymakers and scholars alike because it provides insight into how the Russians conduct their foreign policy to accomplish their geopolitical objectives. The research reviews the Russian-Wagner relationship through the prism of the principal-agent theory. The study hypothesized that as the Wagner Group has become more dispersed in various locations around the world that it would act more independently of the stated objectives of the Kremlin. The data used for this research illuminated the complicated relationship between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defense. The study further hypothesized that there would be a greater deal of turmoil within the principal-agent relationship between Russia and the Wagner Group than the data ended up showing. This study has shown that the Kremlin and Putin himself find many more benefits than costs by using the Wagner Group to achieve his foreign policy goals. Looking into the future, one should expect to see the continued proliferation of Private Military Companies (PMCs) like the Wagner Group to continue operating on behalf of or in support of the Russian government’s geopolitical objectives. -
Between Russia and Iran: Room to Pursue American Interests in Syria by John W
STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES 27 Between Russia and Iran: Room to Pursue American Interests in Syria by John W. Parker Center for Strategic Research Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is National Defense University’s (NDU’s) dedicated research arm. INSS includes the Center for Strategic Research, Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs, and Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction. The military and civilian analysts and staff who comprise INSS and its subcomponents execute their mission by conducting research and analysis, publishing, and participating in conferences, policy support, and outreach. The mission of INSS is to conduct strategic studies for the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the unified combatant commands in support of the academic programs at NDU and to perform outreach to other U.S. Government agencies and the broader national security community. Cover: In the Gothic Hall of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, President Donald Trump met with President Vladimir Putin on July 16, 2018, to start the U.S.-Russia summit. (President of Russia Web site/Kremlin.ru) Between Russia and Iran Between Russia and Iran: Room to Pursue American Interests in Syria By John W. Parker Institute for National Strategic Studies Strategic Perspectives, No. 27 Series Editor: Thomas F. Lynch III National Defense University Press Washington, D.C. January 2019 Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Defense Department or any other agency of the Federal Government. -
A Turkish View of the Wagner Group in Syria
MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA A Turkish View of the Wagner Group in Syria OE Watch Commentary: The Wagner Group is a Source: “Rusya uzmanları Putin’in paralı askerleri olan Wagner Grubu’nu Russian private military company that has played a anlattı (Russian experts talked about Putin’s mercenaries of Wagner Group),” role in Russian operations in Syria. While the Russian Haberturk, 26 February 2018. http://www.haberturk.com/wagner-grubu-nedir- Government has not yet officially acknowledged the rusya-uzmanlari-putinin-parali-askerleri-olan-wagner-grubu-nu-anlatti-1853055 existence of this paramilitary group, it gained attention The Russian media refers to the group as a paramilitary unit equipped with on 7 February when personnel from the company carried heavy weapons and armored vehicles, but without officially acknowledging out an attack on Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in it. However, it is believed that it operates under the directives of the Russian Deir Ezzor. The accompanying excerpted article from Ministry of Defense. Then why doesn’t this paramilitary unit officially exist? the Turkish newspaper Haberturk reports on the Wagner Professor at Moscow State University Kerim Has provided Nalan Koçak from Group and it provides some insight into the Turkish the Habertürk newspaper with answers: “Private paramilitary companies in perspective of its activities in Syria. The article notes Russia are prohibited by law. However, the Kremlin allows its citizens to work several things about the group, but it only provides as mercenaries abroad. Knowingly they [the Kremlin] create legal loopholes. information that has been published in a number of other However, these mercenaries are not allowed to work inside the country. -
Collapse of Memory
– – COLLAPSE OF MEMORY – MEMORY OF COLLAPSE Narrating Past, Presence and Future about Periods of Crisis Alexander Drost Olga Sasunkevich Joachim Schiedermair COLLAPSE OF MEMORY OF COLLAPSE MEMORY Barbara Törnquist-Plewa (Eds.) Alexander Drost, Volha Olga Sasunkevich, Olga Sasunkevich, Alexander Drost, Volha Joachim Schiedermair, Barbara Törnquist-Plewa Joachim Schiedermair, Barbara Törnquist-Plewa Open-Access-Publikation im Sinne der CC-Lizenz BY-NC 4.0 Open-Access-Publikation im Sinne der CC-Lizenz BY-NC 4.0 Alexander Drost ∙ Olga Sasunkevich Joachim Schiedermair ∙ Barbara Törnquist-Plewa (Ed.) COLLAPSE OF MEMORY – MEMORY OF COLLAPSE NARRATING PAST, PRESENCE AND FUTURE ABOUT PERIODS OF CRISIS BÖHLAU VERLAG WIEN KÖLN WEIMAR Open-Access-Publikation im Sinne der CC-Lizenz BY-NC 4.0 Gedruckt mit Unterstützung der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft aus Mitteln des Internationalen Graduiertenkollegs 1540 „Baltic Borderlands: Shifting Boundaries of Mind and Culture in the Borderlands of the Baltic Sea Region“ Published with assistance of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft by funding of the International Research Training Group “Baltic Borderlands: Shifting Boundaries of Mind and Culture in the Borderlands of the Baltic Sea Region” Bibliografische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek : Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie ; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.d-nb.de abrufbar. © 2019 by Böhlau Verlag GmbH & Cie, Lindenstraße 14, D-50674 Köln -
The Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries Submitted By: Maat For
A Report on Mercenary Activity in Libya Submitted to: The Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries Submitted by: Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights (an organization in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council). Submitted on : Libya Submitted in : March 2020 1. Regulatory Frameworks and their Application Although Libya signed the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries in 2000 1, the country’s internal legislation and laws do not contain any provisions prohibiting the mercenary activities or providing for the imposition of penalties on them, along with the insufficient investigations to arrest a group of foreign mercenaries in Libya, due to the nature of the conflict between the warring forces and the proliferation of mercenaries to fight on all different sides, in addition to the free presence of a group of them working to carry out criminal activities and violations of human rights. Despite the weakness of the Libyan state, the control of multiple parties over the decision-making system, and the grinding civil war 1 International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries .Untied nation http://bit.ly/2W4MWOK ﺩﻳﺴﻤﺒﺮ treaty collection . .1989 ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻈﻤﺔ ﺣﺎﺻﻠﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻤﺮﻛﺰ ﺍﻻﺳﺘﺸﺎﺭﻱ ﺍﻟﺨﺎﺹ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺠﻠﺲ ﺍﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎﺩﻱ ﻭﺍﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻲ ﻣﻨﺬ 2016 Organization in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council since 2016 Address: 148 MisrHelwan El-Zyrae Road , El Matbaa Sq, Hadayek El Maadi, 4 th Floor, No 41 , Cairo, Egypt 148 ﻁﺮﻳﻖ ﻣﺼﺮ ﺣﻠﻮﺍﻥ ﺍﻟﺰﺭﺍﻋﻲ - ﺍﻟﻤﻄﺒﻌﺔ – ﺡ ﺍﻟﻤﻌﺎﺩﻱ - ﺍﻟﺪﻭﺭ ﺍﻟﺮﺍﺑﻊ - ﺷﻘﺔ 41 - ﺍﻟﻘﺎﻫﺮﺓ | ﺹ.ﺏ : 490 ﺍﻟﻤﻌﺎﺩﻱ PO Box : 490 El Maadi Website: www.maatpeace.org E-mail : [email protected] Tel. -
Russia's Middle East
RUSSIA’S MIDDLE EAST YOU PROBE WITH BAYONETS. IF YOU FIND MUSH, YOU PROCEED ... MICK MULROY & ERIC OEHLERICH FEBRUARY 2020 POLICY PAPER-4 CONTENTS * 1 THERE WAS A FIREFIGHT * 2 THE COUNTER-TERRORISM HANGOVER * 2 GET IN THE GAME * 3 AUTHORITIES NEEDED: GLOBAL AND EXPANDED, TO MATCH OUR PRIORITIES * 4 THE “GERASIMOV DOCTRINE” * 5 RUSSIA IN SYRIA * 7 LIBYA IS THE NEXT BATTLEGROUND * 8 2020 VISION: A CLEAR-EYED APPROACH * 9 ENDNOTES SUMMARY This paper looks at the 2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS), and the Irregular Warfare Annex (IWA) to that guiding document, with recommendations on how to better implement the strategy. It also analyzes the current Russian way of conducting irregular warfare by reviewing their actions in Ukraine, Syria, and Libya. THERE WAS A In all likelihood, Wagner Group is a Kremlin condoned cover company and FIREFIGHT some of those Russians might have been active members of the Russian During the winter of 2019, teams of U.S. special forces known as Spetsnaz.2 Army Special Forces and U.S. Marines While the Russian military had at first were positioned alongside their allied disowned the mixed Russian and Syrian militia unit, the Syrian Democratic Forces force, toward the end of the battle they (SDF), by an oil field near Deir Ezzor, Syria. called the hotline and asked U.S. forces What looked like a Russian-led militia to cease their defensive kinetic strikes. force, including a number of armored Both the U.S. and Russian soldiers at vehicles, lined up nearby in preparation Deir Ezzor were fighting at the tip of for a ground attack. -
Russian Private Military Companies (Pmcs)
September 16, 2020 Russian Private Military Companies (PMCs) Over the last decade, Russian private military companies personnel are highly experienced and trained ex-members (PMCs) have appeared globally in various conflicts. of Russia’s elite forces or intelligence services. Others Observers believe the Russian government is increasingly appear to be less qualified or trained and reportedly are paid using PMCs to project power cheaply and deniably. significantly less. Analysts have reported instances of Russian PMCs often operate alongside local militias, qualified, experienced Russian PMC personnel being used volunteers, criminal groups, and other non-state actors. In for specific operations and then gradually replaced by less many cases, such PMCs appear closely connected to and competent personnel. controlled by the Russian government; in other cases, the extent of government control is uncertain. Members of Multiple Russian PMCs are registered both domestically Congress may be interested in examining the scope of and internationally, including in Cyprus and Hong Kong. Russian PMC operations to understand the full range of Often companies are dissolved and reconstituted under new Russian tactics and operations when evaluating Russia’s management and names, often to obscure their true efforts to advance its foreign policy. ownership. The most well-known PMC is the Wagner Group (and entities related to it), allegedly financed and History and Legal Status operated by wealthy state-connected businessman Yevgeny During the 1990s, Russia experienced an increase in Prighozin (through his holding company, Concord internal demand for security services, which resulted in the Management and Consulting). The U.S. government has growth of a large domestic private protection industry. -
The Syrian Civil War: a Proxy War in the 21St Century a Senior Research Thesis California State University Maritime Academy Felipe I
1 The Syrian Civil War: A Proxy War in the 21st Century A Senior Research Thesis California State University Maritime Academy Felipe I. Rosales The Syrian Civil War: A Proxy War in the 21st Century 2 Abstract The Syrian Civil War is one of the most devastating conflicts of the 21st century and the cause of the worst humanitarian crisis in recent history. It stems between the ruling Al-Assad Regime and a series of opposition rebel groups. The Assad Regime has had the backing of this historical ally, the Russian Federation. Rebel forces have had the continued backing from a collation between western nations, led by the United States. The purpose of this thesis is to determine if the Syrian Civil War was a proxy war between the United States and Russia, and to determine what it means for the future of US-Russia relations. SInce the end of the Second World War and the rise of the nuclear deterrent, war by proxy has become a common strategy used by larger powers. If the Syrian Civil War is truly a proxy war between the United States and Russia, it brings to question the validity of the end of the Cold War. By comparing it to previous Cold War-era proxy wars, we can derive the features that make up a proxy war and apply them to the Syrian Civil War. This thesis uses several precious proxy wars as case studies. These include the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Afghan-Soviet War. While each of these was a very different war, they each share a handful of similarities that make them Proxy Wars. -
A Minefield of Opportunity
REPORT — SPRING 2020 A minefield of opportunity Transatlantic defence in the Trump era The authors in this discussion paper contribute in their personal capacities, and their views do not necessarily reflect those of the organisations they represent, nor of Friends of Europe and its board of trustees, members or partners. Reproduction on whole or in part is permitted, provided that full credit is given to Friends of Europe, and that any such reproduction, whether in whole or in part, is not sold unless incorporated in other works. The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union Publisher: Geert Cami Director: Nathalie Furrer, Dharmendra Kanani Programme Manager: Raphaël Danglade Programme Assistant: Clara Casert Editor: Robert Arenella, Arnaud Bodet, Eleanor Doorley, Angela Pauly Design: Elza Lőw, Lucien Leyh © Friends of Europe - July 2019 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visits the United States, April 2017 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visits the United States, April 2017 This report is part of Friends of Europe’s Peace, Security and Defence programme. Written by Paul Taylor, it brings together the views of scholars, policymakers and senior defence and security stakeholders. Unless otherwise indicated, this report reflects the writer’s understanding of the views expressed by the interviewees and participants of survey. The author and the participants contributed in their personal capacities, and their views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions they represent, or of Friends of Europe and its board of trustees, members or partners.