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Jun 9 , 2022

Op-Ed

How Will Sweden’s and Finland’s Membership in NATO Impact Arctic Geopolitics?

NATO membership for Sweden and Finland undoubtedly has the power to change the security architecture in Europe. Often overlooked, however, are the potentially significant consequences in a much different region—the Arctic. Inclusion of the Nordic states in the NATO alliance would mean that all members of the Arctic Council—except Russia—will

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Defense & Security

May 24 , 2022

Policy Brief

Blocking NATO Expansion Could Mean Far-Reaching Implications for Turkey

The efforts by Turkey to block Sweden and Finland from becoming a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have led to confusion and frustration within the alliance. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced Turkey’s opposition to NATO expansion, and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) followed with similar remarks.

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May 23 , 2022

Op-Ed

Russia’s Weaponization of Europe’s Energy Dependency and the Global Risks It Brings

Ever since Vladimir Putin assumed leadership, the world and especially Europe have been watching nervously how Russia may act given its position as a dominant energy supplier (see the Appendices for information on Russia’s key oil and gas importers and main pipelines). The first time Europe literally held its breath

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Mar 25 , 2022

Podcast

Richard Falk: Legal and Global Challenges of the Ukraine War

In this Orion Talks podcast, Dr. Richard Falk discusses the position of international law and United Nations vis a vis the Ukraine conflict and ongoing humanitarian crisis. He talks about plausible solutions to minimize human suffering and evaluates two sides’ positions for a potential ceasefire or peace deal. He concludes

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Mar 9 , 2022

Podcast

Paul Poast: Trajectories of the Ukraine War and Challenges Ahead

  In this Orion Talks podcast, Dr. Paul Poast elaborates on his disagreement with John Mearsheimer’s arguments on the West’s responsibility in the Ukraine crisis. He also explains potential scenarios on how the war might end and how these scenarios interplay with Putin’s endgame in the conflict. Dr. Poast continues

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Mar 7 , 2022

Podcast

How to Deal with Putin’s Aggression?

In this Orion Talks podcast, Dr. Matthew Light talks about Russian president Putin’s purpose in the invasion, how to complicate his aims, and the lessons to take away from the crisis. Dr. Light also provides insights into NATO’s unity and enlargement plans, security in the Baltic region, and the former

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Feb 26 , 2022

Op-Ed

The Flaw in Putin’s Strategy and How the West Can Exploit It

Putin made clear that his goal is to absorb all of Ukraine, effectively re-unifying a key part of the old Soviet Union. Undoubtedly, Putin believes absorbing Ukraine -- its resources, economy, and over 40 million people -- will increase Russia's relative power and enable still more bold geopolitical expansion in

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Feb 17 , 2022

Op-Ed

NATO’s New Strategic Concept Is Facing the Ukraine Crisis

A huge military buildup near the Russian-Ukrainian border, bellicose statements from Russian President Vladimir Putin, tons of offensive weaponry (including main battle tanks, infantry combat vehicles, and Iskander short-range ballistic missile systems) make for a tense situation that raises the risk of conflict between the two countries to an unprecedented

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Feb 8 , 2022

Op-Ed

Who Decides When to Fire? A Legal Debate over “Killer Robots”

Download PDF The combatants of war are humans and, for decades, humans assumed sole responsibility for making decisions about the use of lethal force in combat situations. Not anymore. Countries around the world now design and manufacture lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), such as self-guided submarines and unmanned drones, that

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Jan 18 , 2022

Op-Ed

The Crux of the Eastern Mediterranean Dispute: The Megisti Island Case

The maritime delimitation problem in the Eastern Mediterranean and other disputes related to the Aegean Sea have been the source of chronic tension between Turkey and Greece since 1974. The newly discovered oil and gas reserves, estimated to be 879 million barrels and 286.2 trillion cubic feet, respectively, have added

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Jul 2 , 2021

Podcast

Withdrawal of US Military from Afghanistan: Risks and Responses

Download PDF The withdrawal of US military from Afghanistan has been on the presidents’ agenda over the last decade. The decision to actually do so, however, has been delayed multiple times because of the U.S. concerns about a resilient Taliban insurgency and the inability of the Afghan government to

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