Infosõda ei ole tulevikuoht, vaid praeguse aja otsustav lahinguväli. Sõja võitmiseks peab lääs lõpetama kaitses mängimise ja haarama initsiatiivi, kirjutab Pekka Kallioniemi RKK nädalakirjas. @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

"The information war will be won not only by defending our values, but by strategically projecting them into contested information environments." The west must stop playing defence to avoid losing the information war, writes Pekka Kallioniemi. @vatniksoup.bsky.social

Beijing's growing compute capacity strengthens its hand in the global AI race — and the west should take note. Toomas Hanso examines Eastern Data Western Compute (EDWC), its roots, role in China’s AI policy, and what it means for its global ambitions.

⬇️ Check out the new report “Europe-Russia: Balance of Power” by Ifri, which assesses the evolving power balance between Europe and Russia and highlights the challenges Europe must address by 2030. ICDS was glad to help. @kristiraik.bsky.social @ivanklyszcz.com

Takaichi’s summit with the US President was widely considered as a first major foreign policy trial for the new Prime Minister—a test she mastered successfully, writes Prannavan Surendran.

Resilience isn’t a destination. It’s a muscle you exercise every day. Too often, resilience is treated as crisis management rather than a standing posture, writes David Cattler.

Kõigile tuttavat tuumaseent, mis tekib siis, kui hiiglasliku plahvatuse tõttu üles paisatud rusud tõusevad atmosfääri ülemise piirini ja seejärel laiali vajuvad, ei ole nähtud juba 45 aastat. Tony Lawrence kirjutab RKK uudiskirjas tuumakatsetustest. @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

Estonia’s story shows that democracies can adapt faster than they believe, if they treat resilience not as an emergency measure but as second nature, writes David Cattler.

Venemaa suurim relv on paratamatuse illusioon – usk, et nad suudavad lõputult kannatada ja ohverdada inimelusid oma eesmärkide nimel. See relv tuleb murda, leiab Postimehe intervjuus RKK koosseisuväline teadur David Cattler. @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

Europe's struggles in the Sahel reveal deep challenges: weak local buy-in, lack of shared identity, and clashing interests between international actors and Sahelian elites. Eric Hall argues Europe must recalibrate its strategy around realistic goals.

Today, ICDS had the honour of hosting Taiwan's Vice Minister of Defense, Mr Alex Po. The seminar compared how Estonia and Taiwan respond to repeated airspace violations and strengthen their airspace sovereignty. @kristiraik.bsky.social

How can Europe adapt in the Central Sahel? After coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, Russia’s Africa Corps is filling the void. Europe’s role must shift to realistic, limited, and strategic engagement in a multipolar Sahel, writes Eric Hall.

📅 Tomorrow, ICDS hosts Taiwan’s Vice Minister of Defense, Mr Alex Po, in Tallinn. The seminar will compare how Estonia and Taiwan respond to repeated airspace violations and strengthen airspace sovereignty. @kristiraik.bsky.social

USA president, kes veel septembris kritiseeris “sügavat, pimedat Hiinat”, on 30. oktoobri eel oma tooni muutnud, viidates nende “väga heale suhtele” ja “suurepärastele eelistele”. Toomas Hanso kirjutab RKK/ICDS uudiskirjas Trumpi ja Xi peatsest kohtumisest. @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

Austria's National Day marked 70 years of neutrality. With war on the EU's doorstep and alliances shifting, can neutrality still shield the country in today's divided world? Felix Gasper gives a short overview.

As the US president visits Japan, Bart Gaens writes that PM Takaichi’s strong stance on autonomous defence, increased deterrence, eased export restrictions on defence equipment, and tough stance on immigration will likely appeal to Trump.

Russia targets Estonia’s Russian-speaking community, using language, culture, sports, and social media to push narratives of Western decline and oppression.

Möödunud nädalal sai Euroopa taas terava meeldetuletuse, et USA president Donald Trump on valmis sõlmima Vladimir Putiniga kokkuleppe, tuues ohvriks Ukraina suveräänsuse, kirjutab Kristi Raik RKK uudiskirjas. @kristiraik.bsky.social @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

While a US invasion of Venezuela is unlikely, many believe the White House is using intimidation to incite an insurrection against Maduro or a coup d’état. Ivan U. K. Klyszcz writes about the situation in Venezuela and the role Europe could play. @ivanklyszcz.com

Russian anti-war grassroots initiatives in Europe are struggling to act as agents of change or influence Russia. A new report by Igor Gretskiy examines these movements and their challenges.

Russia is easing restrictions on reservists serving abroad — a sign it lacks the manpower to sustain its offensive in Ukraine, says ICDS researcher Igor Gretskiy. ERR: news.err.ee/1609830016/r...

Relvatarned Ukrainale liiguvad taas, Trumpi retoorika on muutunud Putini suhtes kriitilisemaks ja arutelu Tomahawkide saatmise üle põhjustab Kremlis valulikku reaktsiooni. Võib eeldada, et Venemaa ähvardused Lääne suunal sagenevad, kuid kas need on enam usutavad, küsib RKK uudiskirjas Marek Kohv.

"Nearly four years into the war, the exiled Russian opposition has proven largely irrelevant to Ukraine’s struggle against the invasion." Igor Gretskiy's commentary on why PACE’s new Russian platform may backfire.

✨ Relive Day 2 of the Tallinn Digital Summit 2025 — see the highlights in photos: flic.kr/ps/3bedY8 and catch up on the discussions: youtube.com/@tallinndigi... #TDS2025

The second day of the Tallinn Digital Summit has begun. Watch the live stream! 🔴 LIVE: www.tds.icds.ee/live 📸 PHOTOS: flic.kr/ps/3bedY8 #TDS2025

📸 A look back at Day 1 of the Tallinn Digital Summit 2025 — explore the highlights in photos: flic.kr/ps/3bedY8 #TDS2025

Tehisintellekt, mis veel hiljuti tundus olevat mugavusvahend või kauge tulevikumuusika, on viimase poole aasta jooksul muutunud suurjõudude arsenalis keskseks relvaks ja asendamatuks geopoliitiliseks tööriistaks, kirjutab Tallinn Digital Summiti direktor Sten-Kristian Saluveer. #TDS2025

#TDS2025 is officially underway, opened by a welcoming address from Estonia’s Prime Minister, Kristen Michal. @kristenmichalpm.bsky.social 🎥 Tune in to Day 1 live: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp4y...

This year's Tallinn Digital Summit is about to start! 🔴 Follow us live on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@tallinndigi... #TDS

📣 Tomorrow! This year’s Tallinn Digital Summit will bring together 1000 senior voices and 110 speakers from government, industry, and technology from around the world to shape global discussions on democracy, security, and innovation in the digital age. #TDS2025 ⬇️ Learn more

Kyiv’s story of heroic resistance and defence of democratic values has captured western hearts and minds. Ben Heap examines the roots of Ukraine’s messaging success.

🌍 Just 3 days to go! The countdown to Tallinn Digital Summit 2025 is almost over. Join global leaders, policymakers, and innovators in shaping the future of digital governance, AI, and democracy. ➡️ 9–10 October 2025 | tds.icds.ee #TDS2025

Eelmisel nädalal ütlesid oma “jah, aga” Trumpi esitatud 20-punktilisele rahuplaanile nii Iisrael kui Hamas. Pole aga sugugi selge, kas nad ütlesid jah samadele punktidele, selgitab Merili Arjakas RKK uudiskirjas Gaza rahuprotsessi tausta. @meriliarjakas.bsky.social @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

The Russian Orthodox Church and its clergy have acted as narrative launderers, translating Kremlin talking points into religious language. Marek Kohv explains how Russia wields religion as a means to achieve its political aims.

As the Czech election looms, Russian interference rears is head. Prague uncovers network of pro-Russian TikTok accounts aiming to sway Czech election theins.ru/en/news/285377

When the Church is available as a tool in the hybrid toolbox, the Kremlin never shies away from exploiting it, writes Marek Kohv.

One more of our trusted partners falls victim to the Georgian Dream’s increasing repression. As an independent policy research project sharing GIP’s democratic values, REUNIR stands with its Georgian colleagues. @horizoneu.bsky.social civil.ge/archives/703...

Welcome, David Cattler! 🤝 ICDS is delighted to welcome David Cattler as our new Non-Resident Research Fellow. More about his background and expertise: icds.ee/en/autor/dav...

A crisis in Venezuela involving the US might tip the balance in Washington in favour of hemispheric retrenchment. We in Europe must watch this carefully. www.france24.com/en/video/202...

How to grapple with the Shadow Fleet? Estonia’s navy has pioneered what Marek Kohv calls “legal harassment” — hailing suspicious ships and checking their paperwork.

🚨New article “The Elephant in the Lecture Hall: Russian Intelligence and Western Academia”🐘 Now FREE ACCESS:👉https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2025.2556211 Should we resume academic cooperation with Russian universities someday—despite their deep integration into the (COUNTER)INTELLIGENCE STATE?

From Hamas's perspective, agreeing to Trump's peace plan would require great faith in Israel keeping its promises – a faith they largely lack. The question is whether they also envisage any positive future for themselves. @meriliarjakas.bsky.social

The ability to manage and resolve disputes is not merely a technical requirement for EU enlargement but increasingly a strategic necessity in a more conflicted geopolitical environment. 📄 New report by Steven Blockmans and Butrint Berisha. @stevenblockmans.bsky.social @butrintberisha.bsky.social

Since 2022, Russia's oil transit through the Suez Canal has soared to nearly 70%, alongside naval ambitions and reported Houthi ties. What is Moscow’s strategy in the Red Sea region, and how does it fit its wider aggressive foreign policy? @ivanklyszcz.com

On suur küsimärk, kas Hamas on valmis uskuma Iisraeli valitsust piisavalt, et relvad maha panna ja pantvangid vabastada, kirjutab Merili Arjakas RKK nädalakirjas. @meriliarjakas.bsky.social @icds-tallinn.bsky.social

Venemaal pole meie piirkonnas piisavalt jõudu, et kujutada endast reaalset sõjaohtu. Nende fookus on Ukrainal. Lääne suunal tegutsetakse peamiselt selleks, et survestada lääneriike mõjutama Ukrainat Venemaa eesmärkide suunas, leiab Nele Loorents. #ABCDTallinn 🎧 Kuku: kuku.pleier.ee/podcast/kuku...

🤝 A heartfelt thank you to all the panellists, participants, volunteers, and supporters who made the 19th ABCD possible! #ABCDTallinn was organised by ICDS and @modestonia.bsky.social, in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. The main partner of the event was DefSecIntel Solutions.

"Estonian Defence Week helps to bridge academic discussions, political expectations, and defence industry opportunities." — Nele Loorents, Director of the ABCD, is glad that #ABCDTallinn was part of EDW.

As Moldovans head to the polls, the question is no longer whether Russian interference exists but whether voters believe European integration offers enough tangible improvement to outweigh economic pain and relentless disinformation, writes Nino Karanadze.

Fortifying Europe: Reconciling Europe’s Needs & Resources -Tuuli Duneton @modestonia.bsky.social -Alexandre Escorcia, Ministry for the Armed Forces (France) -Joanne Hamer, Ministry of Defence (UK) -Viktoria Hjort-Malmer, Ministry of Defence (Sweden) Moderator: Lara Jakes @nytimes.com #ABCDTallinn