In a landmark advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on 23 July 2025 that all UN member states have legal obligations under international law to address climate change, which the court described as an existential threat to life on Earth. Powerful countries too must be held responsible for their current emissions and past inaction. [This text was first published in the World & New World Journal (WNWJ) on 18 August 2025.]

NATO has decided on a huge increase in defence spending: member countries are expected to spend 5% of their GDP on defence, 3.5% directly on armed forces and 1.5% on some broader security spending. For Finland, which joined NATO in April 2023, this new policy comes at a time of no or slow economic growth, public spending cuts and with severed relations with Russia. [This version of the text was first published by Brave New Europe on 27 June 2025.]

The London Ukraine summit, attended by 16 European leaders, culminated on Sunday evening (2 March 2025) in the announcement of a future peace plan . The summit agreed that Britain and France will draw up a plan to end the conflict. Britain and France intend to propose a one-month ceasefire. The summit also discussed increasing support for Ukraine, strengthening Ukraine’s position, sending troops to Ukraine and rearming Europe. [This was first published by Brave New Europe on 3 March 2025.]

The concept of security dilemma is central to understanding the conflict between the West and Russia. This understanding helps explain how states’ efforts to strengthen their own security may paradoxically increase uncertainty and tensions in relations between states and their alliances. This blog was first published at Brave New Europe.