Every Monday, the CERESE publishes the assessment of the previous week’s news by the Research Trainees:

I like the European Union’s reaction to North Korea’s tactics. As stated by European Diplomacy Chief Josep Borrell, the EU “unequivocally condemns” the launch of the North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile. Pyongyang violates the UN resolutions aimed at maintaining global peace and security and reinforces concerns about the escalation of tensions in the region. The EU’s condemnation can act as a crucial point of pressure on North Korea while encouraging other countries to rally to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. This united stance is an essential precondition for achieving a world free of nuclear threats and supports efforts toward a more secure and stable international community. This decision by Brussels is a positive development as it underlines the importance of international cooperation to deter nuclear threats and respect international security norms.

I dislike Lavrov’s statement on an upcoming Russian-Iranian agreement on close defense cooperation. More specifically, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia and Iran intend to sign an agreement on close defense cooperation soon. Russia has also stated that the Iranian President is set to visit the Russian capital before the end of 2024. The above statements are particularly worrying for the West due to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, where both countries are involved. Since the exact content of this defense agreement has not yet been made known, it is not an exaggeration to imagine a scenario of mutual military assistance between the two on separate open fronts.

The aforementioned opinions are those of their respective authors and they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Institute of International Relations or its Researchers.