Human Security Centre Human Rights and International Security Research

The world of football is often less about the game on the field and much more about anything that happens around it. Governments exploit the sport for propaganda, investors for reputation improvement, and sports officials for personal gain.

Disagreements between Russia and Turkey have again led to an intensified war in Syria, which forces the European Union to act and not only fulfil its moral obligations, but also find sustainable solutions for its member states and the community as a whole.

The European Union has already committed mistakes dealing with China—in the context of 5G and many other infrastructure-related projects.

The agreement that has now been reached should avert a deployment of the Turkish military for the time being. But the statement is so vaguely worded that the agreement could be overturned by one side or the other at any time.

While the US is focussed on pushing back Iran, it does not want to carry the costs of such a mission all by itself.

Germany wants to set the agenda in Europe, yet it does not commit financially and support a modernisation of NATO through fair burden-sharing.

India is considered to be the largest democracy in the world and on the verge of becoming one of the super-nations on Earth alongside the United States and China. But while India’s economic future may be global, its security issues are very much local.

Key economic indicators could suggest that there is nothing to worry about for King Mohammed VI. and decision-makers across the country. But these neglect the ongoing direct and indirect security threats the kingdom has to deal with.