with Anne de Tinguy –
organised by the IDEHN National Alumni Association
and EuroDéfense-France-
Article translated into English by students at ISIT Paris, and proofread by Christine Cross (EuroDéfense-France Council member)
with Anne de Tinguy –
organised by the IDEHN National Alumni Association
and EuroDéfense-France-
Article translated into English by students at ISIT Paris, and proofread by Christine Cross (EuroDéfense-France Council member)
Cyber
EU NATO relations
Space
Federation of Russia
The Treaty of Westphalia determined basic principles of the relationships between
European states which have lasted for centuries. The conclusion of the invasion –
whatever it may be, whenever it comes – could be similarly epoch-making. What the EU
thinks and does then will be significant, even though currently unthought. This brief article
explores starting points.
Emphasising the importance of the Arctic region for Russia, just before the beginning of the presidency of the Arctic Council in 2021 (suspended following invasion of Ukraine), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “It has been absolutely clear to everyone for a long time that this is our territory, this is our land”
Faut-il à nouveau une Ostpolitik (une politique orientale) ? En Allemagne, certains plaident en ce sens, ainsi un ancien dirigeant politique issu de la SPD, Matthias Platzeck, dans un livre paru en 2020. Nombreux sont cependant ceux critiquant l’appel du Président français à un dialogue stratégique avec la Russie. Le débat est ouvert. L’université de Bonn et l’Institut français ont organisé en novembre 2020 une table ronde sur ce sujet : « Avons-nous besoin d’une Ostpolitik 2.0 ? Visions depuis l’Allemagne et la France ». Il est intéressant d’envisager ces deux visions.
Russian military bases north of Arctic Circle and along a 20,000-kilometer coastline are of ever increasing importance, defending, controlling and denying the Northern Sea Route which is not just a “Polar Silk Road” but also a vital lane of communication to the Russian Pacific Fleet at Vladivostok. Significant investment in these strategic assets is exemplified by the bringing back into service and upgrading of facilities abandoned a quarter of a century ago on the collapse of the Soviet Union. They come within the Unified Strategic Command based in Arkhangelsk. The bases data below is derived from a number of public sources.
Arkitka is the first of a new class of Russian nuclear icebreakers. She’s designed to smash through Arctic ice up to 3 metres thick or more. But her long-delayed maiden voyage followed on a series of failed trials – and was marred by an inability to find thick enough ice to demonstrate her full potential, and equipment failures.
EuroDefense proposes strengthening existing processes of dialogue and consultation between USA, EU and Russia and further action on a number of sensitive situations.
