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The first article of the publication series deals with the current state of terrorist threats. It focuses on the Jamaat Nusrat Al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the most important association of Al-Qaida offshoots in the region.
Following the White Paper of the Federal Ministry of Defense from 2016, the German Federal Government has now published a comprehensive national security strategy – for the first time ever. The Federal Foreign Office was in charge, other ministries as well as the Federal Chancellery were closely involved in the development process. The National Security Strategy published on June 14, 2023 comes at a time of multiple crises and conflicts: Russia is not only attacking Ukraine, but is directing its aggression against the entire free democratic world. Does the national security strategy reach all aims?
Karin Johnston is a lecturer at the School of International Service at American University and the University of Maryland, College Park. We asked her to analyze how the United States is approaching China in 2023 across the different branches of government and party lines. She observes: “Attitudes have hardened against China, forming around them a different consensus – that China must be countered at all costs, and at all levels of engagement – economically, technically, militarily, and diplomatically.”
Discussion on the new National Security Strategy on 8 June 2023 at the University of Potsdam
2022 was the most violent year in Costa Rica's history. The number of homicides reached a record 656, which corresponds to a murder rate of 12.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, twelve percent higher than the previous year. In comparison, Germany recorded a homicide rate of 0.25 in 2022. It is to be feared that the increase in violent crimes is a longer-term trend that is far from having reached its peak. This year, the number of killings is already 43 per cent higher than last year. Experts fear that homicides will rise to 900 by the end of 2023. What is the reason for this surprising development in the Central American showcase country Costa Rica?
Against the backdrop of the war, our core themes - security, innovation and representation and participation - have once again proven their worth in the past year. They have given our work the necessary orientation in turbulent times. We were able to sharpen our positions and communicate them to the public in a targeted manner.
Karin Johnston is a lecturer at the School of International Service at American University and the University of Maryland. We asked her to take a closer look into why the Arctic is becoming a growing strategic priority for the Biden Administration. She observes: “The brutal war in Ukraine initiated by Russia has had a substantial impact on the Arctic.”
Almost two years after the collapse of the government and the takeover by the Taliban in Kabul, the situation in Afghanistan has worsened drastically and is of grave concern to the international community. With millions of people needing humanitarian assistance and severe human rights abuses, the security and terrorist dimension of this development, should not be underestimated. The following publication addresses this complex of issues from different perspectives: The situation in Afghanistan, the effects in the regional and international context, and the consequences for Germany and the European Union.
Gespräch auf Einladung des Politischen Bildungsforums Brandenburg und der Paneuropa-Union Berlin-Brandenburg am 28. Februar 2023 in Berlin.
