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IMAGO / Pond5 Images

New defence strategies for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

Baltic Bastions

"[...] they will be treated like pigs in their own country". This sentence comes at the end of a long series of blatant threats by Russian President Putin against the three Baltic States, in this case Latvia. The statement was made in response to the alleged mistreatment of Latvia's Russian-speaking population. Such statements cause great fear of attack in these states, which had to fight hard for their independence from Russia. Faced with the feared reduction of Western support for Ukraine and the resulting sharp increase in the potential threat from Russia, the three Baltic States published new defence strategies in 2023. But how do the Baltic States intend to secure their independence, and are these concepts a blueprint for other states?

Oliver Morwinsky, Alexandra Clobes, Fausta Šimaitytė
January 29, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / Lehtikuva

Finland Relies on Popular Politicians in Times of Crisis

Alexander Stubb in first place after the first round of the presidential elections

Finland has enjoyed special attention in the security policy context at least since the country joined NATO in April 2023 and due to its comprehensive strategy of defensive democracy ("total defense"). Hybrid attacks from the Russian side have increased since Russia's attack on Ukraine. Finland recently had to close its border posts in the east due to migration controlled by Russia. The Finnish president, who is directly elected every six years, is the commander-in-chief of the army and is responsible for enacting laws, appointing ministers and foreign and security policy. Sauli Niinistö, who is still in office, negotiated the path from his country's application to NATO membership prudently and purposefully with an overwhelming vote of the Finnish population and thus also received a great deal of international recognition. Alexander Stubb, like Niinistö from the conservative Rally Party, is now likely to succeed him. He received 27.2% of the vote on election night, but was closely followed by Pekka Haavisto, former Green Foreign Minister in the Marin cabinet, with 25.8%.

Gabriele Baumann
January 29, 2024
Country Reports

Environment, Social and Governance for SMEs Resilience

Case Insights for a Sustainable Future

This report offers a panoramic view of the sustainability journey of various Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), from traditional enterprises to innovative digital start-ups, in Malaysia that have reimagined their operations with a sustainable lens. These case studies provide a comprehensive perspective on the integration of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) practices into different business models and their pivotal role in enhancing business resilience and competitiveness.

January 29, 2024
Country Reports

Senegal elects a new president

On the way to a new era

On February 25, 2024, Senegal will elect a new president. It is the twelfth election since Senegal's independence in 1960. Four presidents have been in office so far, now the fifth will be elected. This is the first time in Senegal's history that an incumbent president is no longer standing as a candidate. Although Macky Sall can look back on 12 successful years, there are many voices - especially among the predominantly young population - who would prefer to see a different generation of politicians as future rulers. The controversial opposition politician Ousmane Sonko himself has not been admitted. It remains to be seen whether the weakened but still very present opposition will be able to assert itself.

Caroline Hauptmann
January 25, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

China's powerlessness in the Red Sea

Houthi attacks pose a strategic dilemma for Beijing

Washington has asked Beijing for support to curb attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on merchant ships in the Red Sea, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing US government circles. China's own interest in de-escalation and securing trade and supply chains appears to be obvious. However, why China is holding back in the conflict, even though it is economically heavily dependent on exports, raises questions.

Johann C. Fuhrmann
January 25, 2024
Country Reports

Meeting of Czech and Slovak parliamentary assistants in Prague

Inter-parliamentary meeting of parliamentary assistants of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and the National Assembly of the Slovak Republic in Prague

The programme included visits to Czech institutions, as well as discussions on possible political-security and civic activities that could be implemented in the coming years to strengthen information security and resistance to disinformation, authoritarian tendencies and to strengthen the ties between the parliaments of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Michael Murad
January 23, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / USA TODAY Network

How important is Iowa?

On the Outcome of the First Primaries for the U.S. Presidential Election.

Donald Trump wins the Republican primaries in Iowa by a large margin. This consolidates his role as the favorite for the presidential nomination. However, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley remain in the race.

Paul Linnarz
January 16, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / Bestimage

Smaller, bourgeois-conservative, constant

France has a new government.

President Emmanuel Macron and the new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal presented a streamlined and largely conservative government on 11 January, which is characterized by the retention of several political heavyweights and the unexpected arrival of former Sarkozy minister Rachida Dati in the culture portfolio.

Anja Czymmeck, Nele Katharina Wissmann
January 15, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

Indonesia in Super Election Year 2024

Indonesia faces the biggest elections in its history in 2024.

Indonesia faces the biggest elections in its history in 2024. In the third largest democracy in the world, more than 204 million voters will not only elect a new president and the composition of the national parliament, but will also elect governors and regional parliaments in all 38 provinces, as well as all county councils and mayors in the country. The incumbent president, Joko Widodo, is no longer allowed to run after two terms in office. But even if the election campaign for his successor is fiercely waged, all signs point to continuity. For Germany and the EU, this means that Indonesia will continue to be an important, albeit not always easy, partner.

Dr. Denis Suarsana
January 15, 2024
Country Reports
IMAGO / ABACAPRESS

President Emmanuel Macron prepares for the European elections with new prime minister

Gabriel Attal succeeds Élisabeth Borne.

There had been rumors in Paris for several weeks that there could be a government reshuffle and on 8 January the time had come. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne submitted the resignation of her government to President Emmanuel Macron. In a message published on X, he thanked the outgoing prime minister and spoke of her "exemplary" work, which had been carried out with "courage". In her letter of resignation, Borne explained that she was not resigning on her own initiative, but had been asked to do so by the President of the Republic. Emmanuel Macron then appointed Gabriel Attal, the former education minister and Macronist from the very beginning, on January 9. At the age of 34, he is the youngest prime minister of the Fifth Republic, having recently been named the most popular politician in French opinion polls and having previously been Macron's government spokesman and education minister in the Borne cabinet.

Government reshuffles are not unusual in France. In his first term of office (2017 - 2022), two prime ministers served under President Emmanuel Macron. After the tense end to 2023 surrounding the reform of the immigration law, Macron wants to calm the political waters within his own majority by appointing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in the 2024 European election year, which will once again be characterized by a duel between the liberals and the right-wing populist camp in France.

Anja Czymmeck, Nele Katharina Wissmann
January 10, 2024
Country Reports
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The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is a political foundation. Our offices abroad are in charge of over 200 projects in more than 120 countries. The country reports offer current analyses, exclusive evaluations, background information and forecasts - provided by our international staff.

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