Defence

Russian and Chinese warships conducted the first ever joint patrol in the western part of the Pacific Ocean on October 17-23, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Saturday.

For 30 years, Iran has adopted a cautious approach to developments in the South Caucasus, wary of the risk of encirclement. Iran's current massive military drills on the border with Azerbaijan are meant to send a signal that Tehran has its red lines too, argues Benyamin Poghosyan in this op-ed for commonspace.eu

The deal, signed by Greek prime minister Mitsotakis and French president Macron, is partly intended to promote European military cooperation. France in particular is pushing for more cooperation at the European level to improve Europe's position vis-à-vis the United States and China. According to Macron, the agreement contributes, among other things, to European peace and security, Mitsotakis said the deal would connect the two countries "for decades to come".

The establishment of AUKUS, and subsequent submarine dispute, has exposed once more the EU's strategic vulnerability. At present the EU has no common foreign policy and no European armed forces capability, and strategic autonomy remains an illusion. But it is not a wrong goal to pursue, argues Maximiliaan van Lange in this op-ed.