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South Korea as the New International Defence Industrial Powerhouse: Implications For Europe

The Republic of Korea (ROK, or South Korea), a technologically advanced nation, is internationally famous for its export of semiconductors, cars and pop culture. In the past few years, South Korea has also successfully grown its defence industry, securing major deals abroad. Emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing defence exporters, South Korea ascended from the 31st position in 2000 to a top ten ranking between 2019 and 2023 in the global arms trade, taking many by surprise, especially in Europe.

Maldives Beyond the Myopic Lens: Why Major Powers Seek Leverage

Following the recent elections that tilted the Maldives towards a more outspoken pro-China stance, the geopolitical dynamics have been set into motion, presenting a compelling opportunity for the European Union. The changing circumstances opens the Maldives’ burgeoning role in global affairs, paving the way for enhanced collaboration in diplomacy, climate action, and reaffirming its critical importance in the theatre of South Asian politics.

Forging Ahead: Restoring EU-Philippines FTA Negotiations

In the complex geopolitical context shaping international dynamics — characterised by a plethora of (in)security dynamics, encompassing shifting alliances and global tensions — the significance of a solid partnership based on economic resilience and an increase of sustainable development has never been more relevant.

Bamboo Diplomacy Meets 5G: Europe’s High-Stakes Bid on Vietnam’s Telecommunications Transformation

In January 2024, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved Vietnam’s sweeping Information And Communication (IC) Infrastructure Plan For The Period Of 2021 – 2030, With A Vision To 2050. With ambitious goals such as connecting 100% of households to fibre optic cable by 2025 and for “5G mobile broadband coverage to reach 99% of the population” by 2030, Vietnam has gone all-in on overhauling its domestic economic policy to become a technologically integrated, highly developed state with full sovereignty over its data within the next 30 years.

The Human, Social, and Political Stakes of Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan

From 2017 to 2023 Pakistan has weathered a severe balance-of-payments crisis, compounded by the economic devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic and one of the worst floods in recent history in 2022. Despite these significant challenges, the government’s primary focus this year has shifted dramatically to a singular group, Afghan refugees.

Visiting Delegation of the Standing Committee on Energy of the House of Representatives of Thailand

On 31 May 2024 EIAS hosted a Visiting Delegation of the Standing Committee on Energy of the House of Representatives of Thailand, during a roundtable meeting. The Thai Delegation was visiting Belgium and France to attend meetings with policy makers, experts and other relevant stakeholders working in the field of energy.

Cambodia’s Strategic Overture to France and the EU: Caught Between Geopolitics and Human Rights

Relations between the EU, especially France, and Cambodia have been more strained in recent years due to the EU’s criticism of Cambodia’s human rights and democratic environment. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s visit to France on 18-19 January 2024 represented a turning point in the bilateral relations between the two nations.

The EU-Kazakhstan Memorandum of Understanding: Effectiveness versus Opportunities

The European Union (EU) and Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 7 November 2022 to establish strategic partnerships specifically focused on sustainable raw materials, batteries, and renewable hydrogen value chains. The MoU, although not binding, has the potential to encourage public and private investment in the exploration, extraction and process of critical raw materials (CRM) in Kazakhstan and to promote the reduction of trade barriers between the parties. As the agreement has entered its first year, understanding the extent to which the commitments have been fulfilled can provide more efficient processes in the future.

Forging Partnerships for the Future: Exploring EU-Japan Dialogue on Education, Culture and Youth

The third EU-Japan dialogue on Education, Culture and Sports held in Tokyo on 3 April 2024 follows the previous meetings held in Budapest in 2018 and by videoconference in 2021 during the pandemic. It demonstrates a continued commitment to cooperation and addressing challenges in the EU-Japan partnership. In response to the issues posed by the pandemic, the dialogues have particularly explored innovative strategies for higher education, including digital education and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). These digital transformations offer promising avenues for the strengthening of sports diplomacy, fostering collaboration and deepening cultural exchanges.