Commentary

Tehran’s crackdown on anti-government protests and deepening military cooperation with Russia have put relations between Iran and Europe in a downward spiral. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group urges the EU to reinvigorate its efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Azerbaijan is keen to resettle territories regained from Armenian control. Landmines are its largest headache. To woo foreign support, Baku should be more welcoming of outside expertise. Along with Yerevan, it should also unlink demining from the conflict and consider joining the landmine ban treaty.

The erosion of Lebanese political institutions, which has already disabled the presidency and the cabinet, now threatens hundreds of municipalities. Amid its crippling economic crisis, Lebanon can ill afford to lose one of the last vestiges of state functionality.

Egypt faces an economic crisis that risks fuelling unrest. The International Monetary Fund demands reforms in return for loans, while the authorities seek to broaden their base through a much-criticised national dialogue. Foreign partners should cautiously support this balancing act to enhance the country’s stability.

As Twitter limits access to a tool to analyse conversations on the platform, researchers will be deprived of information that sheds light on political hate speech and incitement to violence. That will have real-world implications for tracking election meddling, disinformation campaigns and human rights abuses.

Kosovo-Serbia relations have floundered in recent months, reflecting underlying tensions over Kosovo’s northern municipalities. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group encourages the EU to mediate and promote normalisation of relations between the two countries.

La répression par Téhéran des manifestations antigouvernementales et l'approfondissement de la coopération militaire avec la Russie ne cessent d’empirer les relations entre l'Iran et l'Europe. Dans cet extrait de l’édition de printemps de la Watch List 2023, Crisis Group exhorte l'UE à redoubler d'efforts pour désamorcer les tensions.

Crisis-ridden Mali and Burkina Faso face jihadist insurgency and political turmoil. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group outlines what the EU and its member states can do to prevent these two countries from falling into further regional isolation.

The threat of organised crime in Latin America is growing and poses risks to security and human rights. In this excerpt from the Watch List 2023 – Spring Update, Crisis Group explains how the EU and its member states can help address the issue.

La menace du crime organisé en Amérique latine s'accroît et représente un risque pour la sécurité et les droits humains. Dans cet extrait de l’édition de printemps de la Watch List 2023, Crisis Group explique comment l'UE et ses Etats membres peuvent contribuer à résoudre ce problème.