Article by Dr. Moritz Brake in the FAZ - The seas are becoming a battleground.1
In a world where global sea routes are indispensable for trade, energy supply, and communication, the ocean is increasingly becoming a strategic battleground. In light of growing threats from hybrid attacks and geopolitical tensions, particularly in relation to Russia, China, and other authoritarian actors, Europe is facing an urgent challenge. Dr. Moritz Brake, an expert in security and defense policy, highlights the need to strengthen Europe's maritime resilience in his guest article to secure maritime infrastructure and geopolitical stability.
Security expert Umbach on Ukraine2
In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and international efforts to find a solution, the role of European states is increasingly gaining importance. From an American perspective, European partners are expected to take on more responsibility—both militarily and financially. A central symbol of this shift is the recent move to strengthen the NATO Contact Group for Ukraine, with the UK now taking the lead. This development reflects the expectations that Europe will become more involved in future security guarantees and the financing of Ukraine.
Joachim Weber on Phoenix: Jordan between US dependence and Arab solidarity3
In an interview with Phoenix der Tag, Joachim Weber, security expert at CASSIS University Bonn, explains the difficult diplomatic situation of the Jordanian king in light of Donald Trump's Gaza plans. Despite Jordan's critical stance towards these plans, the monarch must find a balance, as the country is financially dependent on U.S. support. Weber examines how this dependency affects Jordan's political behavior and what geopolitical tensions could arise from the king's visit to Washington.
Germany Before the Election: Election Campaign Between Uncertainty, Continuity, and Divisive Actors4
The political landscape in Germany is facing a decisive election, where uncertainty and divisions dominate the mood. The leading parties, primarily the SPD, CDU, and FDP, are under pressure to mobilize their electorate as political confrontations intensify. The election campaign is shaped not only by promises of continuity but also by deep divisions and controversial issues.
Hans-Dieter Heumann and Landry Charrier at the ECFR on Europe's power – challenges and geopolitical opportunities.5
The European Union stands at a turning point in its geopolitical development. As uncertainty in international politics grows, current geopolitical analyses show that Europe has the potential to redefine its role as a global power. The article explores how European sovereignty, military competitiveness, and strategic cooperation between European states could become Europe's key strengths in the coming years.
© WDR 5
WDR interview with Prof. Dr. Volker Kronenberger: The Chancellor candidates in the mirror of personality6
In the WDR 5 Tagesgespräch on February 10, 2025, political scientist Prof. Dr. Volker Kronenberger discusses the significant impact of personality traits such as sympathy and authenticity on the perception of the Chancellor candidates. In addition to a detailed analysis of the five nominated candidates, Kronenberger emphasizes that the responsibility of the incumbent Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, plays a central role in the current political situation.
Hans-Dieter Heumann in Focus Online on the Danger of Flawed Peace Negotiations and False Hopes for Ukraine7
The war in Ukraine has not only military but also significant political and strategic consequences for Europe. Experts like Viktoria Boiko and Hans-Dieter Heumann warn against dangerous illusions of a quick peace. They emphasize that Russia has weakened Europe's ability to act through hybrid warfare, which jeopardizes support for Ukraine. An early attempt at peace, when Russia is in a strong position and Ukraine in a weak negotiating position, could have severe consequences for European security.
© ZDF
Hans-Dieter Heumann on ZDF - Reconstruction and the Role of Arab States in the Middle East8
In this discussion, Anke Plättner moderates an in-depth conversation about the geopolitical challenges in the Middle East. Experts Melinda Crane, Prof. Thomas Jäger, Hans-Dieter Heumann, and Moritz Koch discuss, among other things, proposals for the reconstruction of Palestinian territories, which have been brought up by various political actors, including Donald Trump. Special attention is given to how Arab states are involved in this discussion. While some Arab countries may play a role in the reconstruction process, it remains unclear how they will address the question of whether and how Palestinians could settle in their countries. The experts also discuss the opportunities and challenges of normalizing relations between Israel and the Arab states and their significance for the stability of the region.
Links
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions/brake-die-meere-werden-zur-kampfzone
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions/sicherheitsexperte-umbach-zur-ukraine
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions/jordanien-zwischen-us-abhaengigkeit-und-arabischer-solidaritaet
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions/landry-charrier-deutschland-vor-der-wahl
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions/europas-macht-zwischen-herausforderungen-und-geopolitischen-chance
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions/die-kanzlerkandidaten-im-spiegel-der-persoenlichkeit-und-politischen-verantwortung
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions/hansdieterheumann-im-focus-online-ueber-die-gefahr-einer-fehlerhaften-friedensverhandlung
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions/hans-dieter-heumann-beim-zdf-politik-im-dialog-der-wiederaufbau-und-die-rolle-der-arabischen-staaten-im-nahen-osten
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions?b_start%252525252525252525252525252525252525253Aint=368&b_start:int=160&set_language=en
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions?b_start%252525252525252525252525252525252525253Aint=368&b_start:int=0&set_language=en
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions?b_start%252525252525252525252525252525252525253Aint=368&b_start:int=144&set_language=en
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions?b_start%252525252525252525252525252525252525253Aint=368&b_start:int=152&set_language=en
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions?b_start%252525252525252525252525252525252525253Aint=368&b_start:int=176&set_language=en
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions?b_start%252525252525252525252525252525252525253Aint=368&b_start:int=184&set_language=en
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions?b_start%252525252525252525252525252525252525253Aint=368&b_start:int=192&set_language=en
- https://www.cassis.uni-bonn.de/en/media-contributions?b_start%252525252525252525252525252525252525253Aint=368&b_start:int=688&set_language=en