“They made us burn everything we had… documents, clothes, even family photos.” South African recruit on arrival in Russia The recruit had left South Africa months earlier after responding to what he assumed was a legitimate security training offer in Russia. Instead, he was forced into a paramilitary unit and sent to the front lines in Ukraine. He was not alone. Dozens of South Africans, Zimbabweans, and Kenyans described the same manipulation tactics by the Russian milita

Across Europe, undocumented people are increasingly framed as a problem of control, with the discussion often turning into talk about borders and returns. Political discourse often suggests that if reception is reduced, access is restricted, or financial support is withdrawn, undocumented people will simply leave. However, the reality described by social workers in Dutch night shelters tells a different story. When the state withdraws, people do not simply disappear. They bec

Forty years Todya is January 1, 1986. Spain joins the European Economic Community (EEC) and becomes its twelfth member, joining alongside Portugal. These two countries, barely out of the shadow of dictatorship, integrate into the alliance with the promise of long-lasting democracy. Forty years after the Mediterranean enlargement, Spain is at a crossroads, led by its socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez (image). Between the regularization of 500,000 migrants and its high-

In Europe’s eastern periphery, beyond the checkpoints and Soviet monuments of Transnistria, another kind of battle is unfolding: not one fought on front lines by armed adults, but one taking shape in classrooms, youth camps, and spaces meant for education and play. For nearly three decades, the territory temporarily occupied by Russia along Moldova’s eastern border has existed under the effective control of Russia-backed authorities. While the conflict itself, a long-running

A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system arrives at Osan Air Base, South Korea, March 6, 2017. Nine years later, components of the same system were transferred from the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East. U.S. Air Force photo. Jeremy Larlee. -"The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement." On April 8, 2026, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stood at the Pentagon podium and declared the objectives of Operat

On April 21, 2026, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum opened a discussion on “Hybrid Threats and Disinformation: The Role of Civil Society in the Armenian Elections” in Brussels. The conference gathered European Union policymakers on one side, represented by MEP Miriam Lexmann, MEP Andrey Kovatchev, and Jan Latal from European Union External Action Services; on the other side civil society representatives, including Lousineh Hakobyan from the NGO Europe in Law Associ

In our ever changing society, we have fallen in line with viewing the Middle East through a very narrow lens. This lens is deeply problematic. Governments, particularly U.S.-backed states like Israel, have long shaped policies directly impacting the lives of citizens in the region. Additionally, Western outlets tend to portray citizens as enemies and reduce lived human experiences to mere statistical numbers. As students, we are introduced to a variety of perspectives of the

Maastricht is a large student city, with 23.000 students coming here to study, live, and shape daily life. However, when it comes to political representation, this reality translates into few seats at the municipal table. In 2022, only 7% of municipal councillors in the Netherlands were under 30. The average councillor was over 50. Therefore, students are hardly represented in daily local politics. This matters. Decisions on housing, mobility, safety, and public spaces direct

“I still think about our revolution in 2018 when all Sudanese people were on the streets, united against Omar al-Bashir. The most beautiful was the sit-in on April 6, 2019, outside the General Command headquarters. We were all in the square. I remember people saying this was the future of Sudan.” — Musa, age 40, from Khartoum We are living in a day and age where some are granted the privilege to remain ignorant, while others suffer daily. If you belong to the former category

Whilst the current crisis in Iran has demonstrated that geography is a strategic asset in times of conflict – with the Strait of Hormuz bringing global energy trade to a standstill when it was closed – this strategic chokepoint is, unfortunately, not the only one threatening what little stability appears to remain in the region. Another strategic point could be held hostage, but this time extending the conflict zone beyond the Gulf States to include the countries of the Horn

Welcome to the new six part series here at the Diplomat, called Democracy Dismantled . My name is Ella Leffler, I am a third year UCM student studying international relations and philosophy. As a German-American, the history and state of U.S. politics has frustrated me for as long as I can remember taking an interest in politics. The past year however, has been especially angering. Donald Trump has facilitated a multitude of domestic and especially international violations,

As the war in Iran is now into its fourth week, concerns are growing that this could pull Europe and in particular the Netherlands, into economic instability. According to a report by the Atlantic Council , Europe’s decision to move away from using Russia’s pipelines for oil following the war on Ukraine in 2022 is now putting pressure on Europe to find other means of refilling their reserves. Even though the war unfolding in Iran might seem distant to students in Maastricht,

The results of the 2026 municipal elections in Maastricht reveal a significant change to the city's political landscape. Voters reshuffled the balance of power, paving the way for coalition talks that will determine policy for the next four years. These elections will directly impact daily life in Maastricht, affecting everything from student housing to cultural spaces and urban mobility. Following the ‘Visions for Maastricht’ Editions, it is interesting to examine the outco

On Thursday, March 12, the Maastricht Diplomat moderated a Local Elections Debate for the Maastricht municipal council elections. Sponsored by OmniUM and student party NovUM, the debate saw participation from 10 of the 17 parties, with five candidates present being leaders of their lists. They included: Muun Ubbink (#6) Socialist Partij, Floris Soeren (#5) Partij van de Arbeid/Labor Party, Luc Callemijn (#1) GroenLinks, Jules Vaessen (#1) Partij voor de Dieren/Party for th

Vote! Are you a European citizen, and are you registered in the municipality of Maastricht? Then, good news! You can vote in the upcoming local elections on March 18th ! Our local coverage team invited candidates for interviews, and it aims to give keys to students to make their choice, without any editorial endorsement. In this last episode, meet Aurele Boesten, 23-year-old co-lead candidate in the 2nd position on the list of the Party for M:OED (‘Maastricht: Open Eerlijk

Vote! Are you a European citizen, and are you registered in the municipality of Maastricht? Then, good news! You can vote in the upcoming local elections on March 18th! Our local coverage team invited candidates for interviews, and it aims to give keys to students to make their choice, without any editorial endorsement. We are already on our eighth episode! Check out the previous ones on our website. Today, we talk with Jo Smeets, from ‘Maastricht van Nu’. About Jo

Over Jo Maastricht Diplomat (MD): Bent u in Maastricht geboren? Jo Smeets (JS): Ik ben een rasechte ‘sjeng’, ja. MD: Wat betekent het voor u om Maastrichtenaar te zijn? JS: Het woord 'Maastrichtenaar' vind ik al raar. Iedereen die in Maastricht woont, is een Maastrichtenaar. Of je hier nou geboren bent of niet. Ik maak soms wel de grap dat je alleen een ‘sjeng’ bent als je hier geboren bent, maar een Maastrichtenaar is iedereen die hier woont. Ik ben wel trots op mijn stad, n

Numerous places are not only charted on maps but also serve as geopolitical hotspots in the markets, among them: the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow maritime passage has had a recent, significant influence on multiple economies, following the American and Israeli strikes against Iran and the regional reprisals that ensued. This narrow strip of water is more than just a logistical corridor; it is the artery of global liquid oil consumption. Where is this strait located? Why is

Maastricht kent, net als vele gemeenten, een breed scala aan lokale partijen. Een daarvan is de Senioren(Stads)Partij, met een naam die weinig aan de verbeelding overlaat omtrent haar publiek. Waar de loyaliteiten van deze partij daadwerkelijk liggen, hebben we met Harry Mevissen, gemeenteraadslid voor de SSP, besproken. De SeniorenStadsPartij & U Maastricht Diplomat (MD): Waarom bent u de politiek ingegaan? Harry Mevissen (HM): Lange tijd was ik werkzaam als vrijwilliger b

Vote! Are you a European citizen, and are you registered in the municipality of Maastricht? Then, good news! You can vote in the upcoming local elections on March 18th! Our local coverage team invited candidates for interviews, and it aims to give keys to students to make their choice, without any editorial endorsement. In this episode, learn more about the Senioren(Stads)Partij (Senior(City)Party) with Harry Mevissen. Maastricht, like many other Dutch municipalitie