Series:PISM Spotlight

0.00 €

Opposition Candidate Wins Presidential Election in Sri Lanka

Opposition Candidate Wins Presidential Election in Sri Lanka

Author(s): Patryk Kugiel / Language(s): English

Keywords: Sri Lanka; president; elections; opposition candidate; Gotabaya Rajapaksa;

Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s victory in the presidential election in Sri Lanka (16 November) could lead to an end to the political crisis and improvement in security. However, the likely withdrawal from cooperation with UN bodies seeking accountability for crimes committed during the civil war may worsen Sri Lanka’s relations with the EU and allow China to increase its influence there again.

More...

0.00 €

Left-Wing Candidates Victorious in SPD Leadership Election

Left-Wing Candidates Victorious in SPD Leadership Election

Author(s): Lidia Gibadło / Language(s): English

Keywords: Germany; SPD; Left-Wing; results;

Saskia Esken and Norbert Walter-Borjans won the leadership election of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). In the second round, the respective SPD deputy to the Bundestag and former finance minister of North Rhine-Westphalia won the support of 53,06% of the group’s members, beating the favourites, Olaf Scholz, the current finance minister of Germany and deputy chancellor, and the Klara Geywitz, a former member of the Brandenburg parliament. The election result is a signal that party members want the grouping to have a more left-wing profile.

More...

0.00 €

NATO Leaders Meeting in London

NATO Leaders Meeting in London

Author(s): Artur Kacprzyk / Language(s): English

Keywords: NATO; leaders; meeting; London; security; policy;

The meeting of NATO heads of state and government in London on 3-4 December confirmed that on its 70th anniversary, the Alliance is still fundamentally important to its members. The Allies managed to overcome political tensions, related mostly to remarks by the presidents of the U.S., France, and Turkey, and adopt a joint declaration on further NATO adaptation to current threats and challenges. At the same time, divisions within the Alliance remain visible and may eventually weaken the implementation of the London decisions.

More...

0.00 €

The Normandy Format Summit - No Real Progress

The Normandy Format Summit - No Real Progress

Author(s): Agnieszka Legucka,Daniel Szeligowski / Language(s): English

Keywords: Russia; Ukraine; Donbas; Normandy Format Summit;

The Normandy Format (Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France) summit, held in Paris on 9 December for the first time since 2016, did not bring any breakthrough in the negotiations regarding settling the situation in Donbas. The Russian authorities still lack the political will necessary to end the conflict.

More...

0.00 €

Political Deadlock in Israel

Political Deadlock in Israel

Author(s): Michał Wojnarowicz / Language(s): English

Keywords: Israel; politics; elections; deadlock;

An attempt to build a coalition majority after the second elections this year in Israel have failed. Without concessions from the leaders of the major political forces, the next election, scheduled for 2 March 2020, may not resolve the unprecedented stalemate.

More...

0.00 €

Decisive Victory for the Conservatives in the 2019 UK General Election

Decisive Victory for the Conservatives in the 2019 UK General Election

Author(s): Przemysław Biskup / Language(s): English

Keywords: UK; General Election; Conservatives; Victory;

The Conservative Party won the 2019 general election with their strongest mandate to govern since Margaret Thatcher’s success in the 1980s and backed by the largest parliamentary majority since Tony Blair in 2001. The results should provide enough votes for the swift ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement and the opening of talks on the EU-UK future relationship in February. The Tories’ success was possible due to the fierce competition between Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The results also increase the likelihood of independence and unification referendums in Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.

More...

0.00 €

Still No Deal in the Belarus-Russia Integration Negotiations

Still No Deal in the Belarus-Russia Integration Negotiations

Author(s): Anna Maria Dyner / Language(s): English

Keywords: Russia; Belarus; integration; negotiations; gas; oil; prices; tax;

Despite the extension of negotiations, on 20 December in St. Petersburg, the presidents of Russia and Belarus did not sign documents deepening economic integration of the countries because of a lack of agreement on the prices for gas and oil and arrangements related to their tax codes.

More...

0.00 €

Latest Yuan Depreciation Escalates U.S.–China Dispute

Latest Yuan Depreciation Escalates U.S.–China Dispute

Author(s): Marek Wąsiński / Language(s): English

Keywords: USA; China; Yuan; Depreciation;

The U.S. and China are escalating their trade conflict despite negotiations to resolve it. In response to new tariffs to be imposed by the U.S., the Chinese authorities allowed their currency to depreciate below the symbolic value of 7 yuan per dollar on 5 August, which led to plunges in major global stock exchanges, among other effects. The protracted and escalating dispute, now expanded to currency issues, will negatively impact the global economy, including the EU’s.

More...

0.00 €

Servant of the People Party Wins Absolute Majority in Ukrainian Parliament

Servant of the People Party Wins Absolute Majority in Ukrainian Parliament

Author(s): Daniel Szeligowski / Language(s): English

Keywords: Ukraine; parliament; People Party; elections; majority;

Servant of the People, a party associated with President Volodymyr Zelensky, won early parliamentary elections in Ukraine with 43% of the votes in the proportional part and 129 out of 199 seats in single-mandate districts. The party is the first in modern Ukrainian history to gain an absolute majority in the Verkhovna Rada.

More...

0.00 €

Kim-Trump Meet in Panmunjom

Kim-Trump Meet in Panmunjom

Author(s): Oskar Pietrewicz / Language(s): English

Keywords: Donald Trump; Kim Jong Un; meeting; foreign policy;

On 30 June, U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met for the third time, in a meeting notable for Trump walking into North Korea. The event was mainly an image-building opportunity for both leaders but they did agree to revive working-level negotiations on denuclearisation and sanctions. For North Korea, the meeting is another step in overcoming political isolation. For South Korea, whose president Moon Jae-in accompanied both leaders, it was a chance to regain significance as an intermediary in the U.S.-North Korea talks.

More...

0.00 €

G20 Osaka Summit Outcome Similar to Last Year’s Meeting in Buenos Aires

G20 Osaka Summit Outcome Similar to Last Year’s Meeting in Buenos Aires

Author(s): Marcin Przychodniak,Marek Wąsiński / Language(s): English

Keywords: G20; Osaka; Summit; economy; trade; USA; China;

In the conclusions of the G20 summit in Osaka on 28–29 June, the leaders warned of risks to economic growth and expressed support for free trade and reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). However, the most important event of the summit was the meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. They confirmed the resumption of trade negotiations, which could lead to the withdrawal of the tariffs and counter-tariffs imposed due to the ongoing trade conflict and greater opening of the Chinese market to U.S. companies.

More...

0.00 €

Xi Jinping’s Visit to North Korea

Xi Jinping’s Visit to North Korea

Author(s): Oskar Pietrewicz / Language(s): English

Keywords: China; North Korea; Xi Jinping; Kim Jong Un; visit; foreign policy; trade; denuclearisation;

On 21–22 June, Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited North Korea where he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It was the first visit of the Chinese president to North Korea in 14 years and the fifth summit of the leaders in 15 months. Xi and Kim used the meeting to put pressure on the U.S. to continue the talks with the North on denuclearisation and negotiate with China on trade.

More...

0.00 €

Tokayev Elected President of Kazakhstan

Tokayev Elected President of Kazakhstan

Author(s): Arkadiusz Legieć / Language(s): English

Keywords: Kazakhstan; president; elections; Kassym-Jomart Tokayev;

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as expected, won the presidential elections in Kazakhstan on 9 June with almost 71% of votes in the first round. His victory marks the culmination of the first stage of the succession of power after Nursultan Nazarbayev and ensures the continuation of the country’s domestic and foreign policy. However, the scale of protests during the elections is a challenge for the country’s stability.

More...

0.00 €

End of The INF Treaty

Koniec traktatu INF

Author(s): Artur Kacprzyk / Language(s): English

Keywords: nuclear weapons; security; treaty; foreign policy;

Stany Zjednoczone wystąpiły 2 sierpnia br. z Traktatu o całkowitej likwidacji pocisków rakietowych krótkiego i średniego zasięgu (INF) z 1987 r., wskazując na wieloletnie łamanie go przez Rosję. Administracja Donalda Trumpa chce rozwinąć technologię i wprowadzić do służby zakazane wcześniej wystrzeliwane z lądu pociski manewrujące i balistyczne o zasięgu 500–5500 km. Będzie dążyła do rozmieszczenia takich pocisków, wyposażonych wyłącznie w głowice konwencjonalne, w Azji, a być może także w Europie. Będzie to jednak zależało od dynamiki politycznej w USA i ustaleń z sojusznikami.

More...

0.00 €

Parliamentary elections in Denmark

Wybory parlamentarne w Danii

Author(s): Kinga Raś / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Denmark; parliament; elections; 2019;

Wybory parlamentarne w Danii 5 czerwca br. wygrali socjaldemokraci stojący na czele nieformalnego „czerwonego bloku”, który zdobył nieznaczną większość. Oznacza to utratę władzy przez dotychczasową koalicję centroprawicową. Nowy rząd prawdopodobnie zwiększy zaangażowanie na rzecz państwa opiekuńczego, lecz niekoniecznie złagodzi dotychczasową politykę migracyjną.

More...

0.00 €

Wagner Group Arrives in Belarus - Potential Threats to Poland

Grupa Wagnera na Białorusi - potencjalne zagrożenia dla Polski

Author(s): Anna Maria Dyner / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Belarus; Wagner Group; Poland; Threat;

Na Białoruś dotarło już kilkanaście konwojów z najemnikami Grupy Wagnera, a ich liczebność w tym państwie jest szacowana na 3–5 tys. osób. Oficjalnie zadaniem wagnerowców jest szkolenie białoruskiej armii. Z wypowiedzi Łukaszenki wynika jednak, że mogą oni zostać wykorzystani do prowokacji granicznych przeciwko państwom wschodniej flanki NATO. Polska powinna wzmocnić ochronę wschodniej granicy, ale też rozważyć uznanie Grupy Wagnera za organizację terrorystyczną. Może teżzabiegać o wypracowanie wspólnego podejścia NATO do tej organizacji.

More...

0.00 €

Saudi Arabia Hosts International Consultations on Peace in Ukraine

Międzynarodowe konsultacje w Dżeddziena temat pokoju na Ukrainie

Author(s): Sara Nowacka,Maria Piechowska / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Saudi Arabia; International Consultations; Ukraine; War; Peace;

W dniach 5–6 sierpnia br. w Dżeddzie w Arabii Saudyjskiej odbyły się międzypaństwowe konsultacje na temat pokoju na Ukrainie. Wzięli w nich udział przedstawiciele 40 państw, w tym z Afryki, Ameryki Południowej i Azji. Do rozmów nie została zaproszona Rosja. Spotkanie stało się platformą starań o budowę poparcia dla ukraińskiego planu pokojowego – kładącego nacisk na odzyskanie integralności terytorialnej Ukrainy – wśród państw, które nie zajęły dotąd zdecydowanego stanowiska w sprawie rosyjskiej agresji.

More...

0.00 €

Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. Declare Expanded Trilateral Partnership

Deklaracja Japonii, Korei Płd. i USA o rozszerzonym partnerstwie trójstronnym

Author(s): Mateusz Piotrowski / Language(s): English

Keywords: Japan; South Korea; USA; foreign policy; trilaterat partnership;

18 sierpnia przywódcy Japonii, Korei Płd. i Stanów Zjednoczonych spotkali się na trójstronnym szczycie w Camp David. Partnerzy zdecydowali się na zacieśnienie relacji w obliczu rosnącego zagrożenia ze strony Chin i Korei Płn. oraz współpracy tych państw z Rosją, która prowadzi wojnę na Ukrainie. Zainicjowanie poszerzonej współpracy w formacie trójstronnym, w tym gotowość Japonii i Korei Płd. do kooperacji, wzmocni założenia strategii USA wobec IndoPacyfiku i usprawni współpracę z sojusznikami w regionie.

More...

0.00 €

What will be the Consequences of Prigozhin's Death?

Konsekwencje śmierci Jewgienija Prigożyna

Author(s): Filip Bryjka,Agnieszka Legucka / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Yevgeny Prigozhin; Dmitry Utkin; plane crash; death; consequences; Ukraine; war;

23 sierpnia br. w obwodzie twerskim w Rosji w wyniku katastrofy samolotowej najprawdopodobniej zginęli Jewgienij Prigożyn oraz Dmitrij Utkin. Wyeliminowanie kierownictwa Grupy Wagnera należy wiązać z nieudanym buntem przeprowadzonym przez Prigożyna dwa miesiące temu. W wyniku zamachu Władimirowi Putinowi uda się czasowo umocnić swoją pozycję, a aktywa Prigożyna zostaną przekazane zaufanym ludziom prezydenta.

More...

0.00 €

South Africa BRICS Summit Amplifies the Voice of the Global South

Szczyt BRICS w RPA wzmacnia głos Globalnego Południa

Author(s): Patryk Kugiel / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: South Africa; BRICS; Summit; Global South;

Spotkanie liderów grupy BRICS w Johannesburgu 22–24 sierpnia przyniosło decyzję o rozszerzeniu forum o sześciu nowych członków. BRICS staje się tym samym najsilniejszym głosem Globalnego Południa, co zwiększy presję na reformę systemu międzynarodowego w kierunku ograniczenia roli Zachodu i zwiększenia wpływów państw rozwijających się.

More...