Europe

With all evidence considered, the actions of the Belarusian security forces amount to a denial of not only the rights to freedom of association and assembly but also freedom from torture, free speech, the right to due process and effective remedies and demonstrates failures of the national accountability mechanisms.

While the assessment of general and specific IHL only leaves more questions, the short and safe answer is that Russia’s sole use of thermobaric weaponry is permitted by IHL.

Moscow must not be allowed to get away with this, even if the sanctions are also costly to the side imposing them. If Russia thinks it has won Ukraine, it is naïve to think it will stop there – this victory will only embolden it to go after everything else it desires.

Since the fall of the USSR, Ukraine has come a long way. While the country still struggles with corruption and economic challenges, it has made strides towards becoming a successful, Western-facing democracy. To safeguard this progress, and the state’s territorial integrity, the West should stand firm against Russia’s recent manoeuvres in forthcoming talks – and Ukraine must be involved.

With mounting tensions between the two states, two key concerns regarding the potential population displacement a major conflict would trigger have taken the spotlight. Firstly, in the event of a full-scale invasion by Russia, where shall the displaced Ukrainians flee to? Secondly, will these displaced Ukrainians have the humanitarian and military support to allow for their escape?

The current context demands proactive, thoughtful and purposeful action across multiple well-coordinated organisations, all working towards a shared vision of Europe’s future in the space domain.

While politicians continue their war of words and the EU’s eastern border continues to be fortified, it is these migrants who are stuck in the middle of two worlds unknown to them who are facing the consequences. This crisis may not be about them, but it has everything to do with them.

The diplomatic row between Lithuania and China was a calculated risk for the former, and its negative effects were felt much more by the latter. Vilnius’ unwavering standing of its ground, made possible by Beijing’s limited economic and political leverage, made another dent in China’s image as all-powerful.

Transport Aircraft should not be such a contentious issue, yet in Switzerland they are. Excuses presented by political parties and interest groups are a stain on the country’s humanitarian tradition and a betrayal to Swiss citizens abroad who are at the mercy of other states in times of need.

When it comes to the Euro-Atlantic region’s relations with Beijing, the former is likely to maintain a cautious approach. The People’s Republic of China needs to be kept in check, but a door for dialogue and collaboration must be kept open.