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Opinion
Opinion: New Dutch government installed, as a gentle pro-European breeze blows over The Hague
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Opinion: New Dutch government installed, as a gentle pro-European breeze blows over The Hague

11 January 2022
A new government for The Netherlands was installed on Monday (10 January) made up of a coalition of four political parties: VVD, D66, CDA, and ChristenUnie. One important feature of the coalition agreement is its positive and optimistic approach towards the European Union. Is this then the end of Euroscepticism in the Netherlands? Maximiliaan van Lange analyses in this article for commonspace.eu the background to the formation of the fourth Rutte Cabinet (Rutte IV) and examines how the Netherlands will now pursue its objectives within the European Union.
Maximiliaan van Lange
Editor's choice
Opinion
Opinion: Crisis in Kazakhstan gives Putin more leverage on Central Asia
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Opinion: Crisis in Kazakhstan gives Putin more leverage on Central Asia

7 January 2022
As an uneasy calm returns to Kazakhstan, it seems that once again, the only beneficiary from another crisis in the post-Soviet space has been Russian President Vladimir Putin, writes Maximiliaan van Lange in this op-ed for commonspace.eu. Putin’s decision to quickly deploy airborne troops as part of a "peacekeeping force" to support the Kazakh regime in controlling the turmoil surprised even some Russian commentators who have called it inappropriate. But by its actions, Moscow is sending a message that it will not tolerate turmoil in former Soviet states. With this step, Russia has considerably strengthened its position in Kazakhstan and nips in the bud the risk of a domino effect in Central Asia
Maximiliaan van Lange
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Commentary
Commentary: Important moment for Europe's "Strategic Compass for security and defence"
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Commentary: Important moment for Europe's "Strategic Compass for security and defence"

21 November 2021
The "Strategic Compass" is designed to answer three questions: Which challenges and threats does Europe face? How can the EU better pool its assets and manage them effectively? And what is the best way to project Europe's influence both as a regional and global actor
Maximiliaan van Lange
Editor's choice
Opinion
Opinion: For the EU strategic autonomy is as yet only an aspiration, but one worth pursuing
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Opinion: For the EU strategic autonomy is as yet only an aspiration, but one worth pursuing

27 September 2021
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.
Maximiliaan van Lange
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Analysis
Analysis: Why what happens in Greenland matters
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Analysis: Why what happens in Greenland matters

12 April 2021
The snap elections for the parliament of Greenland last Tuesday (6 April) attracted unusual interest from major powers who have been watching the political and economic impact of the election results on their interests in the Arctic region. Among them, the Chinese, who have invested in the Kvanefjeld mine on the island. Maximiliaan van Lange analyses the background to the recent Greenlandic general elections, and the Island's geostrategic position in the Arctic in this article for commonspace.eu.
Maximiliaan van Lange
Editor's choice
Analysis
Analysis: Can Arctic routes provide an alternative to the Suez Canal as a major east-west trade route?
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Analysis: Can Arctic routes provide an alternative to the Suez Canal as a major east-west trade route?

29 March 2021
The recent blockage of the Suez Canal by the 400-metre-long 'Ever Given' container ship exposed the vulnerability of global trade routes. It reopened the debate about alternative routes, including the opening of the Northern Sea Route via northern Russia, and the Northwest Passage via northern Canada. These routes, however, are not without their problems. Maximiliaan van Lange analyses the background and current thinking in this article for commonspace.eu.
Maximiliaan van Lange