Ecosystem, resource, conflict arena: there are many ways in which water is relevant to international politics. This issue of International Reports offers you in-depth analyses from Lake Chad to the Jordan river, from the South China Sea to Costa Rica.
View table of contentsEditorial
“Water” is a concise title, but one that covers a vast range of topics in the present issue of International Reports. The opening article highlights the many different dimensions of this theme from a foreign policy perspective: In their analysis of EU water policy, Olaf Wientzek and Nicole Linsenbold reveal how water plays at least three distinct roles that subsequently re-appear throughout this issue – namely the roles of water as an ecosystem, as a resource and as a conflict arena.
Water as a Multifaceted Priority for the EU
Challenges at Home, Opportunities Abroad
Water is a matter of great importance for the European Union, as the new EU Commission has recognised. In order to address challenges such as ensuring the quality of water bodies and the sustainable management of water as a key resource, it will be necessary not only to pursue conservation, but also to balance a wide range of interests – and European Christian Democrats and Conservatives will have a prominent role to play in this connection. Meanwhile, in external EU relations, increased engagement in the field of water and maritime security could yield a geopolitical dividend.
How We Can Make Europe’s Maritime Critical Infrastructure More Resilient
Lifelines under Threat
Vulnerable and lacking sufficient protection, maritime critical infrastructure is the target of hybrid warfare. The latest incidents involving submarine cables have revealed weak points that highlight an urgent need for action. However, protecting this vital infrastructure alone will not be sufficient to prevent significant disruptions in the future.
Flash Point in the South China Sea
How the Philippines and Vietnam Are Taking a Stand against China
Tensions in the South China Sea have escalated significantly in recent months, with China adopting increasingly aggressive tactics against its neighbouring states. How can smaller nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam push back against a dominant power?
Why Lake Chad Offers Ideal Conditions for Islamist Terrorists
A Safe Haven for Jihadists
Lake Chad’s water levels receded over decades, thereby turning what was once a vast body of water into a landscape of islands and narrow streams – a perfect hideout for jihadists currently expanding their reach in Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon as they thrive on growing poverty and the effects of climate change in this four-country region.
Israeli-Jordanian Water Management Relations
Between Conflict and Cooperation
One consequence of the brutal escalation in the Middle East conflict since October 2023 has been increased strain on relations between Israel and Jordan. For three decades, the two neighbouring countries have been bound by a peace treaty that also involves joint management of a key resource: water. While basic cooperation has largely held up despite all the political crises, there is still plenty of potential to expand collaboration.
Costa Rica’s Role in Protecting the Oceans
Land between the Seas
Everyone is familiar with the annual Climate Change Conferences. However, the Ocean Conferences receive far less public attention even though life on the planet depends on intact oceans. Known as a “green oasis” and a “pioneer in sustainability”, Costa Rica is set to co-host the third UN Ocean Conference in 2025. But what opportunities do these international conferences really offer, and what is the true state of ocean and environmental protection in this small Central American country?
On the Self-inflicted Causes of the Crisis in Journalism
The Sun Rises in the Morning, Not in the Evening
The economic hardships facing many media outlets are currently stifling any discussion about these organisations’ own culture of error and the urgent need for humility among journalists. However, journalism can only survive if it gets back to basics by refocusing on its core responsibilities and distancing itself from mere propaganda, activism and sensationalism.
International Reports (IR) is the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung's periodical on international politics. It offers political analyses by our experts in Berlin and from more than 100 offices across all regions of the world. Contributions by named authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial team.
Head of the Department International Reports and Communication
