EDITORIAL

Nicolas Bardis
(Former Director Veolia, France & Former CEO ATHENS WATER Co)

Copyright: @ 2024 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 11 July 2024

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

After last month’s humiliating defeat to the far-right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen in European parliamentary elections, President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the Parliament and called for national elections. The outcome of this election (in two rounds) emerged a left-green alliance the New Popular Front (NFP) as the surprised winner.
The NFP won 182 seats in the 577-seat national assembly, while Macron’s centrist Together coalition retained 168 deputies and the RN, which after the first round on 30 June had been eyeing a majority, finished third with 143.... Read more

Dragan Petković, Ph.D.

(The author is an independent analyst and a former Defense Attaché of the Republic of Serbia in Athens. He was directly involved in the area of international military cooperation during the long period of time – for more than ten years. In addition, he has acquired his doctoral degree in the area of military-technical sciences)

Copyright: @ 2024 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 1 July 2024

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

Abstract

Western Balkans is inevitably affected by the geopolitical turmoil. Numerous challenges for the peace and stability worldwide are reflecting on almost all countries of the said region. War between Ukraine and Russia and the Israeli operations against Hamas as well as the rise of the right movements after the elections for the European Parliament are for sure the most influential among other issues in the said region and wider. The Republic of Serbia is still trying to find the political solution for the issue of Kosovo and Metohija without the disturbance of the internal stability, the Republic of North Macedonia is on the new crossroad after the recent elections in that country while the Hellenic Republic is warning their northern neighbors about the obligations from the Prespa Agreement. Finally, Bosnia and Herzegovina is again in the state of reevaluation after the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly concerning Srebrenica. Consequently, Western Balkans needs to find new balances in order to empower peace and stability in the heart of the European continent.

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Shaul Shay
(Senior research fellow at the International Institute for Counter-terrorism (ICT) at the Interdisciplinary Centre Herzliya and former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council)

Copyright: @ 2024 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 16 June 2024

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Algeria in March 2024, marking the first official trip by an Iranian president to the country in 14 years. [ Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in helicopter crash on May 19, 2024.] Raisi visited Algiers to attend the 7th Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) and during his visit, he met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebbounne and signed several bilateral agreements. Algeria and Iran share similar positions on regional matters, including their support for the Polisario Front in Western Sahara and the Palestinians. ... Read more

By Glen Segell

(University of Cambridge, Visiting Professor and Research Fellow in the Department of Political Studies and Governance at the University of the Free State, South Africa. He is also Research Fellow at the Ezri Center for Iran & Gulf States Research, University of Haifa, Israel, and Editor of The Middle East Tracker and The London Security Policy Study. He is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Western Galilee College and serves as an Executive Advisory Board Member of the International Political Studies Association Research Committee on Armed Forces and Society. He holds the rank of Brigadier-General (Reserves) and is an expert for NATO STO)

Copyright: @ 2024 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 26 May 2024

Introduction

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as a region has some characteristics that have remained consistent for over a century. These include that change is cataclysmic and not slow or evolutionary. Rather change is revolutionary.

Most countries have an authoritarian political system where leadership changes in monarchies and dictatorships comes only with the death of the incumbent. Most wars have religious elements where conflict resolution is uncompromising by their very nature of individual and communal absolute beliefs. Violent confrontations are explained as a manifestation of the deities will (Islamic Allah), and as a situation in which the believer’s (warrior’s) faith is put to the test....Read more

Shaul Shay
(Senior research fellow at the International Institute for Counter-terrorism (ICT) at the Interdisciplinary Centre Herzliya and former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council)

Copyright: @ 2024 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 28 April 2024

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

Sudanese and Iranian officials have agreed to expedite their steps to resume relations and restore diplomatic representation. The recent rapprochement raised questions about the reasons for that path amid the civil war in Sudan and the regional conflict between the Iranian backed Houthis and Israel the US and its allies that erupted when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people.[ Mohamed Amin Yassin, what is Sudan's Purpose of Diplomatic Approach with Iran? Asharq Al Awsat, January 22, 2024..... Read more

Anthony Ioannidis, Ph.D.
(RIEAS Academic Advisor)

John M. Nomikos, Ph.D.
(RIEAS Founder & Director)

Copyright: @ 2024 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 2 April 2024.

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

Establishing a National Intelligence University (NIU) is crucial for meeting the dynamic requirements of national security, intelligence, and global competitiveness. This initiative is driven by the need to elevate professional intelligence education, promote innovation in intelligence practices and technologies, and enhance collaboration and understanding across various agencies..... Read more