International relations

Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis emphasized the importance of diplomacy rooted in international law during a conference on Saturday called "Between Two Wars: Trials of Law and Politics in the International Legal Order." 

"Diplomacy is either strictly based on international law, or it is not diplomacy. This will be our motto starting January 1," Gerapetritis declared. 

Bulgaria's entry into the Schengen area is set to bring a tailored approach to border controls with Romania, focusing on flexibility and targeted inspections. This strategy aims to enhance security without hindering tourism, commerce, or daily travel. Below are key developments, policies, and implications surrounding the upcoming changes. Flexible Border Controls

Germany will from Monday expand border controls to the frontiers with all nine of its neighbours to stop irregular migrants in a move that has sparked protests from other EU members.

Berlin announced the sweeping measure following a string of deadly extremist attacks that have stoked public fears and boosted support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Israel strikes Lebanon saying it has thwarted a large-scale Hezbollah attack, while the Lebanese group announces its own cross-border raids to avenge a top commander's killing.

The Israeli military said its fighter jets had destroyed "thousands" of Hezbollah rocket launchers "aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel", far from the border.

Turkey on Friday called on all sides to refrain from steps that could lead to a wider conflict in the Middle East, after Israel reportedly attacked Iran in a tit-for-tat retaliation for Iran's strike.

US President Joe Biden has urged Israel to unilaterally call for a 6- to 8-week ceasefire in Gaza, criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach as a "mistake." This follows Biden's recent public pressure on Israel's conduct during the conflict, particularly after the deaths of seven aid workers in an airstrike.

The last decade Thucydides has moved to the center of the discussion, with concepts like the "Thucydides trap" debated in policy circles in Washington, DC when looking at how to navigate US relations with a rising China in what appears to be a new era of great power competition.

So what can Thucydides tell us about our world today?

Türkiye has announced that it has suspended the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty), which was signed in 1990 to ensure mutual arms control between Russia and Europe following the Cold War.

Bulgaria has stirred controversy by casting a dissenting vote against a resolution proposed in the UN Human Rights Council, which sought to impose a ban on arms sales to Israel in light of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The decision, reported by BNR "Horizon," has drawn criticism and raised questions about Bulgaria's stance on the matter.

President Barack Obama's critical role in helping Greece stay in the eurozone follows in the post-WWII tradition of American engagement in the European project for geopolitical reasons, even though it was initially driven by financial concerns, argues Katerina Sokou, ELIAMEP and Atlantic Council non-resident research fellow in a research paper just published.