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From Neutrality to NATO: Finland’s Historic Shift and the Evolving Security Landscape
In May 2022, Finland and Sweden endeavored to join NATO concurrently. This event heralds one of the most momentous shifts in Europe’s security paradigm in decades, catalyzing a heightened state of confrontation between Russia and NATO. Among the five Nordic nations, the remaining triumvirate aligned with NATO post-World War II, whereas Finland and Sweden assumed roles as neutral entities. Although both countries espouse neutrality, their rationales for NATO membership and their perspectives on accession vary. A 2016 research dossier from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored that, “unlike Sweden, which clandestinely benefits from military alliances with the United States, Finland maintains a circumspect stance toward the Western pact (NATO).”…
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Can the Elections in Turkey and Greece Ease Tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean?
Entering May, two important countries along the Eastern Mediterranean Sea—Turkey and Greece—are holding presidential and parliamentary elections respectively. Turkey’s presidential election has attracted the attention of the outside world, not only because Erdogan, the strongman who has dominated the country’s political arena for 20 years, declared that this is his “last battle”, but also because of the severe public opinion challenges he once faced, reflecting some The mentality of voters seeking change after years of populism. In contrast, there is not much suspense in Greece’s parliamentary election: the moderate right-wing “New Democratic Party” led by the current Prime Minister Mitsotakis won more than 40% of the votes, much higher than…
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Europe’s Strategic Dilemma: Unity or Division?
In recent years, Europe has entered an eventful season and has been caught in multiple crises from which it is difficult to extricate itself. The Ukrainian crisis has pushed Europe into the morass of war, exposing its strategic dilemma. Faced with changes in Europe and the world, Europe stands at a historic crossroads–will it unite or divide? Should it take the path of strategic independence or continue relying on the United States? The era of quiet prosperity is over After World War II, Europe achieved overall peace, economic prosperity, and social development through integration, realizing the longest period of peace and prosperity in European history. However, in recent years, Europe…
