EDITORIAL

John M Nomikos
(RIEAS Director)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 1 April 2026

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

Note: The author wishes to thank the participants of the project on Israel-Greece-Cyprus defense relations for their insightful remarks. This project was funded by Israel’s Ministry of Regional Cooperation and conducted in 2025 through a collaboration with Tel Aviv University and the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). The views expressed in this piece are solely those of the author.

Introduction

As the intelligence community inexorably concludes the first quarter of the twenty-first century and looking forward, it faces an unprecedented array of security and intelligence sharing information challenges. The chaotic world environment of the post-Cold War Era (Hamas attacks against Israel-2023, Israel – Iran war-2025, Ukraine-Russia war-2014, Libyan civil war-2014, Syrian civil war2011, India-Pakistan conflict-2015, break up of Yugoslavian crisis-1990 and Iraqi crises – 1991, 2003) offers a wide range of different issues to be understood, and a variety of new threats to be anticipated. The rapidly developing information age presents advanced and complex information technology and methodologies to be mastered and integrated into the intelligence process. ..... Read more

Εvangelia Akritidou
(RIEAS Senior Analyst)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 29 March 2026

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

The “12-Day War” (June 13–25, 2025) was a short military confrontation between Israel and Iran, involving Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, followed by Iranian retaliation. Despite its intensity, the conflict remained relatively contained both geographically and operationally. The current escalation differs markedly from that phase.... Read more

Bouzemouri Achraf
(RIEAS Senior Analyst based in Morocco)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 8 March 2026

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

When Donald Trump revived the language of a “war on drugs,” he did more than repackage an old American policy framework. He reframed narcotrafficking as an external invasion, one that justified border fortification, economic pressure, and even the rhetorical possibility of designat-ing cartels as terrorist organizations, the term narcoterrorism. While Washington speaks of in-vasion, the geography of the drug trade tells a different story. ... Read more

Riaan Eksteen, Ph.D.
(Research Associate, Department of Political Studies and Governance, Faculty: The Humanities, University of the Free State, South Africa)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 8 March 2026

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

BRICS members pose critical geopolitical and geo-economic challenges to the dominance of Western institutions. BRICS is essential in the Global South's endeavor to reform the Western-centric global order. The notion of multipolarity is more prevalent, especially as the BRICS states spearhead the creation of a more varied and inclusive global framework that enhances economic prospects and diminishes dependence on Western countries and institutions. ... Read more

Demetrios Tsailas (ret Admiral)
(He has taught for many years, operational planning, strategy, and security, to senior officers at the Supreme Joint War College. He is a member and researcher of the Institute for National and International Security)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 23 February 2026

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

Abstract

Over the past two decades, Turkey has transformed its engagement with Africa from marginal diplomacy into a structured, multi-domain strategy of geopolitical projection. This article argues that Ankara’s African policy constitutes a deliberate middle-power expansion model integrating statecraft, economic penetration, religious diplomacy, defense exports, and security partnerships.... 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: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 23 February 2026

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

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Cairo on February 4, 2026 was a turning point in bilateral relations. During the visit, President Erdogan and President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi witnessed the signing of 18 agreements in the fields of defense, tourism, health, and agriculture.[ Doaa El Bey, Reinforcing Egyptian-Turkish relations, Ahram online, February 11, 2026.] Foremost among the agreements was a Military Framework Agreement signed by Egypt’s Minister of Defense, General Abdel Megeed Saqr, and his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler.[ Egypt, Turkey enter new era of military cooperation with joint production of ‘Hamza’ drones, Egypt independent, February 6, 2026.].., Read more