Category: Security policy

Construction project for the inland sea

The Russian-Ukrainian war also had a major impact on the navies of the Baltic Sea states. They were already in the process of rebuilding capacities that had been radically curtailed after the Cold War. Historically neutral Sweden is one of the countries whose security architecture has been most affected by the recent Russian aggression, a fact that is most evident in the country's imminent accession to NATO. The country is already in the midst of a major military revitalisation programme called Totalförsvaret 2021-2025 (translated roughly as Total Defence), which was passed by the Swedish parliament at the end of 2020. From the perspective of the navy...

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It's about the islands

As a major economic power, Japan maintains an extremely efficient coastguard with a wide range of tasks and capabilities in addition to its navy. Together they ensure security in a conflict-prone region of the world. With over 6800 islands (of which more than 400 are permanently inhabited) and a coastline of 29,751 kilometres, Japan is one of the world's largest maritime nations. In addition to the four large main islands, smaller island groups such as the Ogasawara and Ryukyu Islands ensure that Japan, with a land area of 380,000 square kilometres, has almost as large territorial waters (430,000 km2) and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of more than ten times its land area. With...

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Piracy: positive development

Piracy: The IMB's Annual Piracy Report for 2022 shows a further decline in the number of attacks. The security measures have proven their worth and remain necessary. The statistics on global piracy from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in London have been published since 1990. It is the most reliable barometer of current developments, even if it does not record all cases, as only cases that are reported to the organisation are registered. In 2022, 115 incidents were recorded worldwide, compared to 132, 195 and 162 incidents in the previous three years. From a global perspective, this is a pleasing development, as in the years 2009 to...

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Turning point at sea

The world is on the move: Climate change, upheavals between nations and new technologies are among the challenges facing modern navies. This makes it all the more important to adapt their capabilities quickly. In times of multiple crises, the world is changing and with it the strategic environment. This also applies to naval forces, which are undergoing rapid development around the globe. Local wars are taking place, regional ones are conceivable. The Cold War is back with new centres of gravity in Eastern Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Starting positions for future conflicts are being established in the Arctic, Antarctic and outer space. It is often about maritime borders,...

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Clear sailing in the Baltic Sea  

The close military cooperation in the Baltic Sea region that has been practised for years is now paying off. NATO candidates Finland and Sweden are demonstrating their value to the alliance in securing shipping routes during numerous manoeuvres. Russia has manoeuvred itself into a highly confrontational position and largely isolated itself internationally with its - by Western standards - value-disrespecting and aggressive actions towards Ukraine. For Russia's direct neighbours, Finland and Poland, but especially the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, this has created more than just a theoretical threat to their existence. Crisis and war scenarios of the Cold War that have long been a thing of the past...

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