Iran, Russia, Turkey: A New Middle Eastern Trio?
A turnaround in Russian-Turkish relations has become the main topic of discussion and source of concerns for Western countries for several weeks. A thaw in relations between these two countries is accompanied by another actor that can strengthen the construction of anti-Western bloc in the Middle East. This actor is Iran which is striving for supremacy in the region of Middle East and the Islamic world. Iran is putting pressure on Western countries to implement all provisions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) regarding cessation of sanctions and propounding the construction of multi-pole world, where the United States does not possess a primary position. Iran remains a controversial […]
Ballistic Missile Defence Systems in East Asia and the Middle East – Conclusions for Poland
There is a need to possess at least ballistic missile defence (BMD) system in certain strategic points, defending against limited ballistic missile attack – it is a main conclusion from the “Ballistic Missile Defence Systems in East Asia and the Middle East – Conclusions for Poland” expert meeting, organized by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, which was held on June 5, 2016 in the Foundation’s office. During the panel, the panellists – Uzi Rubin from Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies (Israel), former Deputy Chief of Staff of the ROC Air Force (Taiwan) general Tsai-Mai Tien and Tom Karako from Center for Strategic & International Studies (USA), as well as invited guests […]
Baltic Sea States have common goals but look in different directions
On July 9, 2016 Casimir Pulaski Foundation organised the Baltic Sea Security Conference. An important task of the conference was to provide a platform for discussion on the security in the Baltic Sea region and to assess the potential of cooperation between navies of various countries. “Key thing in this perspective should be the choice of appropriate equipment, which the Baltic Sea states should possess” – said Zbigniew Pisarski, the President of the Foundation. “Poland is currently implementing a modernization programme of the Navy. The experience of other NATO countries can be very practical for selecting appropriate solutions” – he added. Among speakers there were Carl Bildt – Prime Minister […]
COMMENTARY: The diplomatic conflict between Russia and Turkey: a challenge to energy security
On November 24, 2015, the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian SU-24 bomber. The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, warned that this incident will bear ‘‘significant consequences’’ on bilateral relations. The conflict between Russia, a major oil and gas supplier to the EU, and Turkey, an important transit country, puts European energy security at risk. The Su-24 shoot-down President Putin denied allegations that the incident took place in Turkish territory. However prior to the shoot down, Russia had violated Turkish airspace on four occasions during the operation in Syria. Turkey warned Russia against such actions on prior occasions, yet intrusions continued. Moreover, Russia has a history of […]
Nowhere to run to? Austria’s defence policy searching for new paradigms
At the Europaforum Austria on November 8, 2013, a general discussion board on European integration and defence policy, the Austrian Minister of Defence Gerald Klug surprised the public when announcing the launch of a Centre of Excellence for Africa and further Austrian military engagement on the continent southwards of Europe. The move might be somehow surprising for external observers. Austria does not have political, economic or security interests at stake in Africa. However, considering domestic and especially bureaucratic politics, this step could be easily explained. Despite being on the front-line of the Cold War, Austria paid little attention to national defence during this period – at least compared to other […]
Witam Mr. Kerry! Shall we chat?
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Warsaw today (4 November) for meetings with “high-ranking” Polish leaders including Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski. Beyond this, both the State Department and Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been rather economical with information about meeting topics. State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki suggested on Friday (1 November) that talks would include the economic relationship, Afghanistan, missile defense and U.S. troop basing in Poland. While those items no doubt will be generally discussed, here are some other possible, more specific points on the agenda: • Iran and sanctions. As everyone knows, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani appears open to negotiations on the nature of Iran’s […]
America’s Russia Policy – Why a “Reset” Was Needed and Where It Stands
In March 2009, in the first months of the Obama administration, then-fledgling U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton personally met for the first time with Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s highly experienced and articulate Foreign Minister. One of candidate Barack Obama’s themes in his run for the Presidency had been that U.S.-Russian dialogue had worsened under George W. Bush and needed repair. His administration’s new strategy, pushed by current U.S. envoy to the Kremlin Michael McFaul (the campaign’s Russia advisor in 2008 and subsequently Director for Russia at the NSC), was to accept that the countries would have periodic serious disagreements, but to delink them from the overall relationship and focus on […]
The U.S. Election – consequences for nuclear security
Nuclear arsenal continues to play a narrow but crucial role in the U.S. military strategy. But, as most European NATO member states perceive the outcome of the U.S. 2016 presidential elections as ‘unexpected’, a debate on European nuclear deterrence capability as an alternative to the American one rekindles in major European capitals. Sensitive issue of the future of nuclear deterrence strategy and nuclear arsenal in Europe requires urgent action and smart funding commitments, both by the U.S. and its European allies. Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has sought to reduce the role of nuclear arsenal in deterrence of non-nuclear attacks on itself and its allies. […]