Beyond the Horizon

📘 Our 2025 Activity Report is live. ✅ 7 projects, 5,000+ people reached ✅ 153 publications ✅ 27 events, 1,000+ participants ✅ 52 weekly monitoring reports ✅ 140+ partnerships ✅ 40% audience growth Promoting glocal peace and security through research, training and action. 👉 tinyurl.com/BtHAnnual2025

Abu Dhabi Peace Talks: Historic Prisoner Swap Agreed, Territorial Impasse Remains Trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in Abu Dhabi have wrapped up after two days of intensive dialogue. While the talks ended without a breakthrough on ending the broader war, both sides agreed in principle to a major prisoner of war exchange. . envoy Jared Kushner characterized the upcoming swap as potentially the largest humanitarian release of prisoners in the conflict. Key takeaways from the summit: Post-War Security in Focus: Discussions expanded toward reshaping Europe's post-war security architecture and international guarantees, though deep divides remain over whether security arrangements should precede or follow a ceasefire. The Territorial Divide: Disagreements over land continue to stall comprehensive settlement efforts. Moscow reiterated demands for Ukraine to relinquish the entire Donbas region and ruled out territorial exchanges, while Kyiv firmly rejects ceding territory. Next Diplomatic Moves: . mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling directly to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Dublin to review openings and explore bringing European partners into the negotiating format. #AbuDhabiTalks #RussiaUkraineWar #Diplomacy #PeaceNegotiations #Geopolitics #GlobalSecurity #PrisonerExchange

Moscow Floats Bilateral Non-Aggression Pacts With Individual NATO Members Russia has proposed that it could conclude bilateral non-aggression pacts with individual NATO member states and offer them additional security guarantees. Speaking at a security conference in Moscow, senior Russian diplomat Alexey Drobinin outlined three potential security models: Collective defense alliances or mutual assistance pacts, comparable to Moscow's arrangements with Belarus and North Korea. Political commitments pledging not to assist an adversary in the event of aggression, citing Russia's pact with Iran. Bilateral mutual non-aggression pacts, which could directly involve individual NATO member nations. The initiative surfaced alongside peace talks in Abu Dhabi, where Russian chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky described a rebuilt European security architecture as the central focus of the negotiations. While . officials have shown openness to broader security discussions, several European leaders argue that a ceasefire and clear progress toward ending the war in Ukraine must take priority. Drobinin did not identify any specific NATO nations interested in such deals, and no formal negotiations have begun. #EuropeanSecurity #NATO #Russia #UkrainePeaceTalks #Geopolitics #ForeignPolicy

G7 Foreign Ministers Conclude Paris 2026 Talks: Standing United for Global Stability and Resilience G7 Foreign Ministers and the High Representative of the European Union concluded their two-day meeting under the 2026 French G7 Presidency in Paris on 9–10 November. Here are the key takeaways from the joint declaration: Unwavering Support for Ukraine: Reaffirmed steadfast commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, agreeing to step up winter energy assistance, advance air defence and military production support, and tighten sanctions to disrupt Russia's shadow fleet. Middle East & Maritime Security: Reasserted the right to safe, unimpeded transit through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, while backing ongoing diplomatic efforts and humanitarian relief across Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria. Indo-Pacific Peace: Recommitted to a free, open Indo-Pacific, stability across the Taiwan Strait, and the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Critical Infrastructure & Technology: Agreed to strengthen protection for undersea cables and satellite networks against hybrid threats, expand the G7 Critical Minerals Resilience and Production Alliance, and advance trusted deployment safeguards for frontier AI models building on the Hiroshima AI Process. Countering Illicit Networks: Partnered with Brazil and the Republic of Korea to launch the G7+ Ports Network to Combat Drug Trafficking. #G7 #G7Paris2026 #ForeignPolicy #GlobalSecurity #Diplomacy #MaritimeSecurity #EconomicResilience #AI

📊 New Infographic: China–Switzerland Relations | October 2026 Beijing Summit Following Swiss President Guy Parmelin’s October 2026 visit to Xi Jinping in Beijing—marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Innovative Strategic Partnership—both nations signed agreements on trade, scientific data, and labour that deepen regulated commercial ties while enduring political and security differences continue to constrain trust. 💡 Key Takeaways 📈 Expands prospective duty-free access for Swiss exports to China from roughly 50% to 99.8% while broadening rules on digital trade, services, and investment access, pending domestic approval. 🔬 Mandates upfront clarity on sensitive Chinese data classifications so Swiss researchers can avoid unexpected export bans and bilateral SNSF project calls suspended in 2021 can resume. 🌱 Pairs the trade upgrade with a standalone bilateral labour and employment agreement alongside a legally binding chapter on trade and sustainable development. ⚖️ Deepening economic regulation coexists with critical boundaries, including Swiss concerns raised over human rights in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, as well as institutional safeguards against espionage risks. 🔗 Explore the full infographic here: behorizon.org/china-switzerl… #ChinaSwitzerland #Geopolitics #FreeTrade #InternationalRelations #SwissForeignPolicy #BeijingSummit #TradePolicy #ScienceDiplomacy #EconomicSecurity #GlobalTrade #ForeignAffairs #SupplyChain #Sustainability #DataGovernance

A larger defence budget, a new missile order and a blocked acquisition. This week’s Asia on the Horizon asks who pays, who authorises, and who controls the assets behind the agreement. In this issue: - Japan weighs a 63 to 86 per cent rise in its five-year defence programme - North Korea tests a dispersal warhead and pairs air-defence trials with a cruise-missile drill - South Korea proposes extending its naval mission south of Oman, stopping short of Hormuz - Türkiye and South Korea broaden nuclear and defence cooperation - India and the Philippines discuss a larger BrahMos package - China blocks the Chinese component of SoftBank’s ABB Robotics purchase Read the full issue here: tinyurl.com/AsiaLI #AsiaOnTheHorizon #IndoPacific #Defence #Geopolitics #BeyondTheHorizon

Belgian #defence innovation funding, mapped. Four federal channels, three regional authorities, and the sector platforms working with Defence. What each funds, and which calls are open now. #DEFRA #ODIN #EDF #VLAIO behorizon.org/belgiums-defen…

Nordic Defence Alliance Pushes for Unified Regional Procurement Six of Northern Europe's major defence and technology leaders—Saab, Kongsberg, Patria, Terma, Ericsson, and Nokia—have unveiled a joint proposal for a common regional procurement system to streamline military production and enhance interoperability across the Nordic region. Unveiled at the Nordic Compass Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, the initiative directly addresses growing concerns that European defence budgets are rising faster than industrial capacity can deliver operational equipment. Key Proposals & Strategic Focus Areas: Mutual Certification Recognition: Equipment certified for military use in one Nordic country would automatically be recognized across all five participating nations, eliminating costly duplicate testing and administrative delays. Upfront Production Capacity Financing: Governments are urged to establish framework contracts that fund manufacturing capacity in advance, enabling suppliers to scale up output before receiving individual orders. Slashing Capability Timelines: Led by Finnish defence manufacturer Patria, the proposed common procurement model aims to compress capability delivery times from years down to months. Tech Cooperation Beyond Weapons: The alliance targets joint projects in space-based surveillance and missile-warning coverage, protection for critical subsea maritime infrastructure (such as undersea cables and ports), and secure cross-border military digital communications. Why This Matters for European Security: Together, the five Nordic NATO allies—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—represent roughly 10% of Europe’s total NATO defence expenditure, making the region the continent's fourth-largest defense spending bloc. By removing administrative obstacles while preserving national purchasing sovereignty, this Nordic model could serve as a valuable blueprint for broader European defence procurement reform. #NordicDefence #DefenceProcurement #NATO #DefenceIndustry #NordicCompass #EuropeanSecurity #MilitaryLogistics

🇺🇸🪖🇪🇺 EU Pushback on Proposed US-Russia Security Framework European leaders are firmly rejecting proposals by President Donald Trump and US special envoy Jared Kushner to negotiate a broad, postwar European security agreement with Moscow. Here is a breakdown of where the proposed deal and European diplomatic resistance stand: - The US Proposal: President Trump announced plans for a "big, beautiful" security deal extending beyond Ukraine to cover "all of Europe". Special envoy Jared Kushner has proposed modeling European security dialogue on the former NATO-Russia Council, which was suspended in 2014 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea. - European Rejection: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas insisted that a European security architecture is already in place, stressing that Putin does not have a veto over European security. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned that negotiating Europe's security over the continent's head is politically unacceptable and practically impossible, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha asserted that talks must focus on protection against Russia, not spheres of influence. - Ceasefire Prerequisite: European officials emphasize that while dialogue may eventually occur, any discussion of a broader European security framework can only take place after a ceasefire in Ukraine is achieved. - Abu Dhabi Peace Talks: The diplomatic tension comes ahead of US-mediated talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi. #EuropeanSecurity #EU #Ukraine #USForeignPolicy #NATO #Diplomacy #AbuDhabiTalks #Geopolitics

🇮🇹🤝🇪🇸🤝🇫🇷 🌊 Unifying Europe’s Naval Defense: Milestone EPC2 Agreement Signed at Euronaval 2026   Major momentum for European naval defense integration! At Euronaval 2026, leading shipbuilders Fincantieri (Italy), Navantia (Spain), and Naval Group (France) officially signed the EPC2 Consortium Agreement. This agreement marks the transition into the second phase of the Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette (MMPC / EPC) Programme, one of the European Union's flagship naval cooperation initiatives.   Coordinated by OCCAR under the PESCO framework and supported by the European Defence Fund (EDF), the EPC project aims to address industrial fragmentation and reinforce Europe’s strategic autonomy.   In parallel, Fincantieri and Navantia executed a Heads of Agreement to establish a proposed 50:50 joint venture. This company is planned to oversee joint design coordination, common procurement, co-production, and lifecycle support for national corvette requirements as well as export opportunities.   The EPC2 phase focuses on completing preliminary and detailed vessel designs while integrating cutting-edge technologies around a common Full Combat Multipurpose (FCM) platform. Built with a modular, highly interoperable design, the new corvettes will support a wide array of operational duties—including maritime surveillance, offshore patrol, escort missions, and the protection of critical sea lines of communication.   #EuropeanDefense #NavalIndustry #Fincantieri #Navantia #NavalGroup #Corvette #Euronaval2026 #MMPC #PESCO #StrategicAutonomy #DefenseCooperation

⚖️ Beyond the Headlines: Decoding Europe’s Defence Shift Europe’s rearmament is placing industrial strategy directly at the core of collective security. As governments balance national industrial returns with common readiness, the continent faces pressing requirements to replenish vital air defences, streamline cross-border procurement, and translate multi-billion-euro loan facilities into usable, delivered equipment. 📌 Key Takeaways 💶 The European Commission launched a second application round unlocking twenty-one point three billion euros in remaining SAFE loan capacity to finance collaborative military investments and joint procurement with Ukraine. 🛡️ The United States approved a proposed two point one billion dollar sale of five hundred Patriot PAC-3 interceptors to Ukraine funded by Canada, Germany, and Norway. 🏭 Poland was selected by Lockheed Martin to host a dedicated regional maintenance facility for European operators of Patriot PAC-3 interceptors. 🎯 The European Defence Agency and national authorities unveiled plans to establish specialized drone and counter-drone testing hubs in Latvia and the Netherlands. 🔗 linkedin.com/pulse/mapping-c… #EuropeanDefence #NATO #SAFE #AirDefence #PatriotMissiles #Ukraine #DroneTechnology #MilitaryReadiness #DefenceIndustry #Security

🌏 Asia’s Strategic Outlook: The Week in Review Asia’s strategic landscape this week is shaped by tightened party discipline in Beijing, expanding trilateral defense and Arctic cooperation, and friction over European-Chinese economic reciprocity as regional actors manage shifting strategic dependencies. 🎯 Key Takeaways 🇨🇳 China’s Communist Party concluded its Fifth Plenum by adopting a resolution on strict governance and ratifying the expulsion of thirty-three senior officials ahead of the 2027 Party Congress. 🤝 The foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, and South Korea signed a memorandum establishing the Trilateral Arctic Pacific Partnership to explore maritime safety and economic ties. 🏭 Japan and the United States agreed to set up an AMRAAM final-assembly facility in Japan and share technical data to increase interceptor missile production. 🇪🇺 German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier pressed Beijing on market access and export controls as bilateral trade data revealed a widening goods deficit. 🔗 linkedin.com/pulse/asia-hori… #Asia #IndoPacific #Geopolitics #China #Japan #SouthKorea #Defense #Trade #Security #AsiaOnTheHorizon

🇫🇷 🚀 France Tests Next-Gen SyLEx Sounding Rocket for Future Submarine Deterrent During the night of November 3 to 4, 2026, France’s defense procurement agency (DGA) conducted a successful experimental launch of the SyLEx (Système de lancement d’expériences) sounding rocket from the DGA Essais de missiles site in Biscarrosse. Developed by ArianeGroup under DGA management, the SyLEx suborbital launcher carried critical flight experiments dedicated to developing the future submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Announced by Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin, the platform also supports hypersonic demonstrator development and civilian high-atmosphere research, re-establishing a sovereign suborbital flight-test capability for France. This milestone comes less than a month after an unarmed acceptance test was conducted from the nuclear submarine Le Vigilant. The missile is slated to enter service in the 2030s aboard Le Triomphant-class and future third-generation ballistic missile submarines. #Defense #DGA #ArianeGroup #M51 #SyLEx #Submarine #Aerospace #France #BallisticMissile #SLBM #DefenseTech #MilitaryInnovation

🇪🇺 Europe Powers Up Chip Sovereignty with €525 Million Startup Investment The European Union has launched a €525 million ($590 million) funding push for semiconductor startups to help them scale up faster and narrow the gap with the United States and China. Currently, European chip design firms represent less than 1% of global revenue in the sector. To tackle this gap, the European Commission and EU member states are allocating €440 million in direct grants for commercial chip development. An additional €85 million will establish the European Chips Design Platform, offering startups essential access to design tools, IP blocks, technical support, and manufacturing capacity. EU Tech Chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized that establishing a strong chip design ecosystem is critical to stimulating local manufacturing demand and securing Europe's semiconductor value chain. #Semiconductors #TechSovereignty #EuropeanUnion #ChipDesign #DeepTech #Innovation #Startups #EU