Human Trafficking in 2024: Trends and Patterns

In February of 2022, Russian forces invaded Eastern Ukraine, sparking the most intense conventional conflict in Europe since the Second World War. Three months later, historically neutral Finland and Sweden submitted letters of application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Two years into the conflict, it's time to take stock: NATO has expanded, alliance members have raised their defense spending, and Russia's credibility has degraded. Russia has responded, ramping up cyber threats and disinformation operations in the "near abroad" and strengthening its partnerships with revisionist actors like China.