Economic sanctions have long assumed a significant role in the conduct of foreign and security policy, and there has been an ongoing debate about the appropriateness of these tools and their effectiveness in achieving the ends they set out to achieve. US President Woodrow Wilson once famously said…

In little over a decade, AI has moved out of the laboratories and into the consumer’s hands. AI has already begun to make big waves in military and strategic affairs too. Almost all defence experts agree that the application of AI in the armed forces could impact every sphere and degree of warfare…

The global economy is increasingly shaped by developments in digital technologies. These changes are not only affecting the high technology sector, they are restructuring almost all industries including traditional sectors like agriculture, basic manufacturing, retail markets and transportation.…

In the past several years, the ability to protect the external borders of Europe has been tested by the extraordinary movement of people fleeing violence and poverty in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The security of borders has become a top priority for many Allies, from the United…

Recent General Reports of the Political Committee have focused on the security challenges that the Alliance faces on its southern flank. Following up on the Committee’s earlier work on the issue, this draft report evaluates the nexus between the continuing instability of the Middle East and North…

INTRODUCTION: A SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED BATTLEFIELD The tragic and bloody civil war in Syria has, since its inception, exposed many of the fundamental fault lines dividing that region and threatening its stability. Those fault lines, moreover, have global implications as well, and, in some respects…

updated 1 March 2019

updated 20 March 2019

18 April 2018 - Qatar is a small country roughly the size of Montenegro. 2.7 million people live in the country, of which only 12% are Qatari citizens. The country has the highest per capita GDP in the world and is the world’s third largest gas producer and third greatest exporter of Liquified…

This report argues that Russia’s meddling in elections and referenda is a threat to the Alliance and its members. The Rapporteur reviews recent cases of alleged interference in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain. She argues that many of these actions are a continuation…

From 9-12 January, 32 members of parliament from 15 NATO member countries visited Abu Dhabi to discuss the broad geopolitical situation in the Gulf, the foreign and defence policy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to participate in a Joint Meeting of the UAE’s Federal National Council (FNC) and…

LATEST PROGRAMME UPDATED ON 18 NOVEMBER AT 18:45

18 November 2018 - Civil protection occupies an important place in NATO’s comprehensive approach to security. This report will focus on two regions where this aspect of security has become particularly acute in recent years: the High North and the Mediterranean.In the High North, climate change,…

NATO is implementing ambitious new adaptations to its defence and deterrence posture in response to a rapidly evolving international security environment. In parallel there is a rising expectation all NATO Allies must do more to invest in the success of these initiatives. The most vocal proponent…

Science and Technology Committee (STC) noted its worry “that NATO’s technological edge is eroding”. As a consequence, the STC is redoubling its efforts to identify the challenges in meeting Alliance goals and to lend political support to rectify any shortcomings. Most Allies are beginning to…

This general report will provide an overview of political developments in the Black Sea states, including the efforts (where appropriate) to consolidate democratic institutions, challenges in protecting human rights and civil liberties and the fight against corruption as well as the implementation…