If 2020 is remembered for the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 stands to be the year of the vaccine. Nonetheless, the coronavirus will continue to shape the world, and the likely scenario is a gradual decline of the pandemic, marked by sporadic outbreaks. In the second half of the year, the effects of the vaccine will be felt, the Biden administration will settle in, and there may be a new government in Israel. The international system remains polarized, even as each country focuses on its individual problems. The Biden...
The European Union was careful not to identify with the United States in the struggle against China waged by President Trump on the economic front, against China’s trade policy, and on the cognitive front in the demand to investigate and blame China for not preventing the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, European Union leaders did not hide their concerns about Chinese aggression in the economic sphere, and even less so their criticism of China’s policy on human rights and minority rights. The election of Joe Biden as...
The heads of the European Union and the President of China recently announced the conclusion of a comprehensive investment agreement, reached after seven years of negotiations. For China, this agreement joins the free trade agreement in Asia (RCEP), the strengthening of bilateral relations with African countries, and declarations calling for the preservation of the nuclear agreement with Iran and the promotion of regional dialogue in the Gulf. A Chinese decision to accelerate negotiation processes and sign economic agreements, along...
After years of a weakening transatlantic alliance, exacerbated by President Trump’s four years in office, strategic cooperation between the European Union and the United States is likely to resume. This cooperation is necessary to tackle the coronavirus crisis and its consequences, as well as the geopolitical and technological changes that have occurred over the last two decades. The renewed dialogue between the two sides of the Atlantic will have implications for several other actors in the international arena, primarily...
The Barcelona Process was launched in 1995 in order to strengthen the relations between countries on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Pursuant to this process, and in an effort to correct its lapses, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) was founded in July 2008 as a broad inter-governmental framework with 43 member countries, including Israel. After a hesitant start, the new regional body gradually shaped its organizational identity and scored successes, among them dozens of projects valued at billions of dollars in the realms...
The maritime border demarcation agreement between Greece and Egypt signed on August 6, 2020 represents a direct counter-response to the maritime border demarcation agreement between Turkey and the Government of National Accord in Libya that was signed in November 2019. The Greece-Egypt agreement was described by leaders in Athens and Cairo as a new stage in their bilateral relations. Furthermore, it signifies an important step in solidifying an anti-Turkish axis in the Middle East, which is led by Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and Israel,...
On July 30, 2020, the European Union decided to impose restrictive measures on nine individuals and entities from China, North Korea, and Russia for their responsibility or involvement in cyberattacks. The sanctions include a travel ban, asset freeze, and prohibition to make funds available to these individuals and entities. On the political level, it seems that Western countries have managed, despite other differences, to demonstrate a coordinated approach in this field and act in cooperation. From the perspective of international...
French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Beirut following the massive explosion that rocked the city reflected the trend of growing French activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially in the context of the Libyan civil war and the conflict involving Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. This activity represents an attempt to curb the weakening of French influence in the region in the face of mounting competition from other actors. Following the wave of terrorism that France suffered over the past decade, the Mediterranean has...
The rejection by the Security Council of a US draft resolution to extend the embargo on arms sales to Iran, scheduled to expire on October 18, 2020, is evidence of the administration’s isolation, which is largely a result of the displeasure with its unilateral steps and the deep rift with its traditional allies in Europe. The administration now intends to demand that the Council invoke a clause for a snapback of all sanctions and curbs that were previously imposed on Iran and lifted after the nuclear agreement was reached....
A report by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament sheds light on Britain’s efforts to resist Russian attempts to weaken Britain, part of Russia’s goal to undermine the status of Western democracies and widen social rifts within them. According to the report, Britain has not handled the threat well, due to lapses in the strategy it adopted when confronting the challenge and problems with its implementation. These can be attributed to gaps in the regulation of relations between the various responsible bodies, the low...
In January 2020, the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) hosted its 13th Annual International Conference. Entitled “Strategic Assessment for Israel: A Look at the Coming Decade,” the conference included discussions, simulations, and lectures on strategic issues important to Israel’s national security. The conference was attended by decision makers, opinion leaders, and leading researchers from Israel and abroad. We invite you to read the digital version of the booklet that summarizes the conference...
After some 100 hours of discussion, the leaders of the 27 European Union (EU) member countries reached agreement on a seven-year budget and recovery plan aimed at dealing with the enormous damage caused to date by the coronavirus. The total budget will be €1,800 billion, of which €750 billion will be allocated to the recovery plan. French President Emmanuel Macron described the agreement as “a historic day for Europe and a turning point in the history of the EU.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel, rotating president of the European...
