The possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and a subsequent descent into war is now the focus of the international agenda. It is not clear if Russia intends to launch a military move or if it seeks to leverage its buildup of troops to force the West to accept its demands. Even if the military conflict does not materialize, this is a crisis of an “ideological” nature that is hard to resolve. The US administration and its NATO allies are promoting a policy revolving around the search for diplomatic solutions, including the threat...
The international system is struggling with many crises and challenges, led by the continued efforts at economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis while coping with the pandemic itself; the intensifying competition between the United States and China, which heightens the divisiveness in the international dynamic; and the climate crisis, which tests the ability to cooperate despite disagreements. The US administration has less attention for the Middle East, and is restoring human rights considerations to a central place in its policy,...
The strategic assessment for Israel for 2021 is shaped by significant uncertainty in three principal areas: the level of success in coping with COVID-19; the modus operandi and policies of the new administration in the United States; and the political developments in Israel. The current assessment is based on a broader conception of national security, which places greater weight than in the past on the domestic arena and on threats to internal stability, social cohesion, values, and fabric of life. This of course does not detract...
Growing trends in the Middle East over the past year have pushed Russia and Iran closer, even though conflicting interests prevent them from becoming strategic allies. Moscow and Tehran coordinate positions in the negotiations underway in Vienna regarding a return to the nuclear deal and cooperate in several areas to dislodge American influence, and there is greater publicity regarding military-defense relations that are expected to lead to weapons deals. Russia from time to time even conveys messages of restraint to Jerusalem, lest...
At the start of H. E. President Isaac Herzog’s term of office, and following the many global and local developments and changes over the past six months – including a new administration in Washington, President Biden’s decision to try to return to the nuclear deal with Iran, the formation of a new government in Israel, and growing tensions in Israeli society, including clashes between Arabs and Jews in Israeli cities – the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) presented to President Herzog highlights on the main strategic...
Joe Biden made his first presidential visit outside the United States to Europe, attending the G7 summit, the NATO summit, and a meeting with EU leaders. At the end of the visit, Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva. For the US President, the trip was “about realizing America’s renewed commitment to [its] allies and partners, and demonstrating the capacity of democracies to both meet the challenges and deter the threats of this new age.” Specifically, the administration is interested in mobilizing US...
The political deadlock and severe economic crisis in Lebanon have prompted political leaders in the country to search for political backing from Moscow, and to invite Russian companies to invest in infrastructure and energy projects in Lebanon. At the very least, they seek to use their dialogue with Russia to improve their bargaining power while requesting aid from the West. Against the backdrop of the crisis in Lebanon, the stream of visits to Moscow by Lebanese politicians raises the question of Russia’s interests in the...
Under President Trump, the United States did not have a coherent and unified Russia policy. Congress maintained a traditional approach of using sanctions to push back against the Kremlin’s malign activity, while the White House prioritized (an ultimately unsuccessful) cultivation of interpersonal relations with President Putin to improve bilateral ties and provide the US an advantage in the competition with China. Under President Biden, the gaps on Russia policy between the executive and legislative branches are expected to narrow,...
The strategic assessment for Israel for 2021 is shaped by significant uncertainty in three principal areas: the level of success in coping with COVID-19; the modus operandi and policies of the new administration in the United States; and the political developments in Israel. The current assessment is based on a broader conception of national security, which places greater weight than in the past on the domestic arena and on threats to internal stability, social cohesion, values, and fabric of life. This of course does not detract...
The strategic assessment for Israel for 2021 is shaped by significant uncertainty in three principal areas: the level of success in coping with COVID-19; the modus operandi and policies of the new administration in the United States; and the political developments in Israel. The current assessment is based on a broader conception of national security, which places greater weight than in the past on the domestic arena and on threats to internal stability, social cohesion, values, and fabric of life. This of course does not detract...
The State of Israel’s strategic balance in 2020 is the basis for the policy recommendations for the coming year. In implementing these recommendations, it is important to emphasize the State of Israel’s overarching objectives: to strengthen Israel as a Jewish, democratic, secure, prosperous, and just state that is at peace with its neighbors. These objectives define Israel’s purpose, both in the eyes of the Israeli public and in the eyes of the international community.
The State of Israel’s strategic efforts and...
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...
