Working Groups – Page 5 – EPIS Thinktank

Brazil and De-dollarization

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

The BRICS alliance has been debating alternatives to dollar-based global transactions for years. This initiative aims to diminish reliance on a singular reserve currency while fortifying financial sovereignty among member states. During the latest BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October 2024, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva intensified this position by advocating for […]

Military Recruitment Across 4 NATO States in 2025: a comparison between American, Canadian, Polish, and German responses

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

Jonathan Lott Developments in Ukraine and beyond have incentivized countries in Europe and beyond to modernize and grow their national military forces. Concerns that the United States may distance itself from Europe’s defense have also European Army—an effort which is not yet advancing. Although the technologization of war has meant that tasks which once required […]

The Lobito Corridor

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

Nacima Kerouad 1. Introduction Africa is a continent full of economic potential. It’s rich in resources, home to the youngest population in the world, and is attracting growing attention from global investors. According to the African Development Bank’s 2025 Macroeconomic Performances and Outlook report, 24 African countries are expected to see real GDP growth above […]

An American and an Arab Plan for the Gaza Strip

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

On 4 February 2025, President Donald Trump announced in Washington, D.C. his proposal to transform Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” a plan that would displace millions of Palestinians. One month later, Arab leaders convened in Cairo, where the Egyptian government put forward an alternative plan aimed at reconstructing Gaza while ensuring Palestinians […]

German Foreign Policy is Becoming More Autonomous

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

Mihnea Turcitu, Gergely Török The 2025 German snap elections produced an absolute and a relative victor among parties from Germany’s political right and far-right. The CDU claimed a plurality of seats in the Bundestag, putting its leader Friedrich Merz in a strong position to form the next German government, while the far-right AfD polled in […]

The Role of Saudi Arabia as a Diplomatic Mediator

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

Shadan Jagersma, Mina Alyat In recent years, the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia (KSA) has emerged as an increasingly significant mediator in some of the world’s most intractable conflicts. In February and March 2025, the Kingdom hosted bilateral talks between Russian and United States (US) officials to discuss prospects for a partial ceasefire in Ukraine and the […]

Operation Spiderweb and the Drone Revolution

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

Major wars and conflicts have often catalyzed radical shifts in the way wars are conducted and weaponry employed. World War I introduced trench warfare and the use of chemical weapons; World War II led to a widespread mechanization of warfare through the rise of tanks as one of the most influential weapon systems and other […]

Bukele’s El Salvador

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

Since 2019, after Nayib Bukele won the presidential election and secured a supermajority with his party, Nuevas Ideas, El Salvador has undergone a radical transformation in terms of ideology and policy. With soaring popularity, Bukele’s policies have significantly altered El Salvador’s security landscape, with a sharp decline in reported crime rates. According to government figures, […]

A Return to Coal?

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

by Jonathan Lott and Ahmad Ali “A conservative is someone who stands athwart history, yelling Stop.” -William F. Buckley President Trump recently signed four executive orders relating to coal extraction that have shaken up the status quo on American energy. While regions of the world like Europe face national security challenges relating to energy and […]

Policy Implications of Shigeru Ishiba’sPremiership

Octavian-Teodor DragonJuly 26, 20250

In late September 2024, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held leadership elections to replace the outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who had resigned due to a corruption scandal. A tight race between the two frontrunners had former Minister of Defense Shigeru Ishiba beating Sanae Takaichi, the then-Minister of State of Economic Security. Having won […]

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