One hundred and eighteen years ago, the First Balkan War started initiating an unstoppable spiral of events leading to the Second Balkan War, Balkan Crisis and the global World War I. What are the key lessons to be drawn from how the small Balkan states were able to drag the more powerful states into their ethnic conflicts? What are the principal unintended consequences of the influence of the Great Powers in the Balkans? And how can this provide an example of why NATO plays a crucial role in arresting the ripple effect of ethnic conflicts?

With Trump's arrival at the White House and in the light of his statements and promises as part of his campaign, many believed that the Iranian regime, with all its military forces, security and militia apparatuses, would be in front of hell, as was the case with the Ba'athist regime in Baghdad earlier this century. In fact, his foreign policy during the first months of his presidency confirmed what he promised. The nuclear deal touted by the Obama administration as a major achievement, with a Trump signature, has become a reflection. He then made a number of steps to hit Tehran

The multitude of cleavages that have become increasingly apparent across the European space in recent years underscores the need for a paradigm shift in the way that the European Union relates to its citizens. The United Kingdom’s exit from the EU, the success of Eurosceptic and populist discourse, the radicalization of public opinion, as well as the persisting differences in the developmental trajectories of EU countries highlight the need to (re-)think the European project in order to provide member states with a common sense of direction.

The Turkish Defense Ministry announced the launch of two military operations aimed at military posts of the PKK and Yazidi militias linked to it, in the Sinjar, Qandil, Makhmur and Haftanin areas, during which Turkish army used its air force, including drones.

The arrival of COVID-19 suddenly ended the diplomatic lifestyle that has existed for decades. Diplomacy has moved to phones, emails and virtual meetings. Teleconferences and secure video have become the norm, making more difficult to engage in delicate negotiations. A global pandemic is not the best time for diplomacy and some fear that the virus crisis could fuel diplomatic atrophy, as the quarantine measures have prompted questions about the very nature of this profession.

On the night of the 25th of March 2015 a multinational coalition consisting of 150,000 people, led by Saudi Arabia, started a devastating war in Yemen.
In the five years of armed conflict, the structure of the Yemeni front has been defined by its mobility, volatility and by the temporary lines between the combatants.

The coordinated response of the EU to the multiple threats and crises came in support of the member states that were significantly affected and confronted with domestic tensions and turmoil. Solidarity and cohesion were the strongest tools that the EU used to establish a common approach at the level of the European bloc, an action that was also a real challenge regarding reaching a mutual understanding. The difficulty of reaching common ground, agreed upon by all member states, delayed the EU’s reaction most of the time. The COVID-19 pandemic represents a new turning point in the history of the EU, in a political, economic and social context, where it is absolutely necessary to take actions that are mainly aimed at strengthening the concepts of solidarity and cohesion at the European level.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a series of threats to the resilience of the European bloc at an extremely rapid pace, forcing it to adapt, equally rapidly, to the new challenges. The economic, social and political crisis could therefore be seen as a defining moment that puts to test the European solidarity and cohesion.

From the Editor

The need to maintain a physical distance during the COVID-19 pandemic brought back into the spotlight the issue regarding easier online access. Becoming aware of the opportunities and threats that the online environment poses, is an important aspect when taking advantage of the potential that digitalization has.