EDITORIAL

Andrew N. Liaropoulos
(RIEAS Senior Analyst & Assistant Professor, University of Piraeus, Greece)

Copyright: @ 2021 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 8 December 2021

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

A review of the policy papers that the European Union has published and the statements that key officials have made over the last three years, highlights the anxiety that the EU will not be able to effectively regulate its digital universe, protect its citizens’ data and compete successfully with China and the US in the arena of digital geopolitics. References made by EU policymakers to digital or technological sovereignty and digital autonomy imply that the EU is a weak actor in the digital domain and thereby, this affects its ability to regulate its digital services, protect its critical information infrastructure and shape the development of global norms regarding cyberspace governance. ... Read more

Andrew N. Liaropoulos
(RIEAS Senior Analyst & Assistant Professor, University of Piraeus, Greece)

Copyright: @ 2021 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 21 November 2021

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

The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the use of digital technologies in the name of public health and safety and vividly illustrated how societies, even democratic ones, can tolerate the expansion of executive power and accept restrictions on liberties. In China, the pandemic justified the use of such technologies and policies to a further extent, but also served as a proof by the government, that its model of digital control succeeded in handling the coronavirus crisis. China is exporting its model of digital authoritarianism, via the Digital Silk Road (DSR), the technology component of the Belt and Road Initiative. The exportation of the digital authoritarianism model is targeting mainly states in East Asia, Africa and Latin America, but its implications are global, if digital surveillance and social credit systems become the new normal.... Read more

Dr. Gulrez Sheikh
(Author, Columnist & geopolitical analyst based in India)

Copyright: @ 2021 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 14 November 2021

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

According to a WSJ investigation, between 1998 & 2019, Beijing supported Huawei with about $75 billion via tax breaks, loans, credits. China also raised barriers to foreign telecom suppliers at home, protecting Huawei & other domestic providers, and lobbied foreign governments to help Huawei secure deals abroad.

Since Huawei/ZTE are required by law to cooperate with China’s intelligence operations if asked, they will remain vulnerable to pressure from Beijing. Chinese businesses operates without ethics, morals or rules. In Serbia, recently leaked documents suggest that Huawei made shadowy payments to obtain contracts with a state-owned telecom company....Read more

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

Copyright: @ 2021 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 7 November 2021

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

In Yemen hostilities have escalated since September 2021, claiming thousands of casualties on both sides. The Iran backed Houthis (Ansarullah) fighting to gain control of oil-rich Marib province - the last stronghold of government forces in northern Yemen. Marib is also geographically significant because it located at a crossroads between the northern regions and the southern Shabwa Governorate.... Read more

Alexandros Drivas, Theodore K. Bazinis,
Periklis Staboulis, Konstantinos Karanikolos
(Strategic Analysts)

Copyright: @ 2021 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 1 November 2021

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

In era characterized by change and geostrategic transformations, states should realign and adjust their strategic thinking and performance. Traditional ways of self –help like building collective defense mechanisms or increase military might are not adequate in a period of global-wide geostrategic transformations. States should also find ways to increase their value within their regional or interregional security system by upgrading their strategic footprint and influence. Flexibility and establishment of partnerships aiming at mutual benefits may be the key of success. Naval cooperation consists the first stepping stone upon which strategic objectives could be accomplished. ... Read more

Raagini Sharma
(RIEAS Senior Analyst, and Research Director, Indic Researchers Forum)

Copyright: @ 2021 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 24 October 2021

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

Strategic Defense Cooperation Pact between Greece & France

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and French President Emmanuel Macron inked the new defense deal at The Elysee Palace in Paris, France on September 28, 2021. This defense deal that includes an order for three French Belharra Frigates and three Gowind 2500 Corvettes for Hellenic Navy worth about 5 billion euros along with the order of 18 Dassault-made Rafale fighter aircraft last year has added fuel to the fire to the already strained relationship between Greece and Turkey. Greece has also asked for six more of Dassault Fighter aircraft providing additional boost to its weapon modernization programme.... Read more