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Isa Yusibov wrote that October 17, 2003, was a day of conflicting feelings for him: he wished it had never happened, but he was also proud of it. He was 14 years old at the time and said his family had considered him an adult since then. The day after the presidential elections in Azerbaijan, in which his father played an important role according to him, Yusibov claimed to be one of the first victims of the repression against the pro-Western opposition. He wrote that he was beaten, humiliated, and spat on in front of about 300 to 400 students. Afterwards, he received his school file and was informed that he was no longer welcome because his father was considered a state enemy. Yusibov said that on his way to the exit, he made eye contact with teachers who had treated him kindly before the elections. Several teachers reportedly gestured for him to leave quickly. He wrote that the experience made him proud of his father and convinced him that the dictatorship would continue. A month later, his family reportedly fled to the Netherlands. The event compelled him to focus on geopolitics. Yusibov argued that the power transition surrounding Aliyev was a consensus among the West, Putin, Erdogan, and Iran. According to him, the West, led by Bush, had betrayed the democrats in Azerbaijan in favor of authoritarian stability. He also wrote that great power interests dictated politics in the Caucasus and that this situation had not changed 23 years later. Yusibov stated that his experiences had taught him how difficult it was to stand up for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. He wrote that he had seen the first signs of undermining democratic principles in the Netherlands as well, by parties that he believed targeted democracy. He referred to a previous interview with NRC and said he would not allow the Netherlands to become a country where the government disregarded fundamental rights. #Democratie #Mensenrechten #Geopolitiek (translated)

During the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Bangkok, the necessity of 'economic security' and 'resilience' is central in a world full of geopolitical tensions, where countries must protect their economies against threats such as wars, trade conflicts, and climate change. #IMF #economie #weerbaarheid (translated)

EU countries, led by Italy and Poland, are engaged in heated discussions about the emissions trading system and the CO2 price in exchange for lower energy costs, advocating for a postponement and revision of climate measures, as the pressure of rising energy prices and geopolitical dependencies increases. #klimaatbeleid #CO2beprijzing #energiestrijd (translated)

Sander Sassen wrote that Rob Jetten's call for all possible support for Ukraine amounted, in his view, to prolonging a war of attrition. He argued that the front line barely moved, that the Russian economy had adapted, and that Western munitions stocks and political support were finite. According to Sassen, diplomatic solutions were wrongly dismissed as a sign of weakness. Sassen referred to Ukrainian estimates of more than 1.5 million Russian dead and wounded and to Western analyses, including those from CSIS, which he claimed spoke of hundreds of thousands of casualties and over one hundred thousand deaths in Ukraine. He argued that the war constituted a demographic disaster for both countries and that further pressure from sanctions and weapons would result in more casualties. Negotiations, according to Sassen, were not capitulation but the way to end the war. He claimed that a full Ukrainian recapture of the borders of 1991 was militarily unrealistic without direct NATO intervention, risking a war with Russia. He advocated for territorial compromises, likely along the current front line, security guarantees for the remaining Ukraine, and an end to mobilization. He noted that Ukrainian men were forcibly taken off the streets in this process. Sassen acknowledged that such compromises would feel unjust and could reward aggression, but argued that they were better than continuing the current bloodshed. He accused Jetten and like-minded individuals of blocking serious diplomacy and urged the Prime Minister to immediately pursue a diplomatic solution. #Oorlog #Diplomatie #Vrede (translated)

Historian and journalist Hubert Smeets criticizes in his column the possibility of a new unjust agreement between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, which would force Ukraine to capitulate without real peace, and points out the consequences for the Ukrainian population and the geopolitical situation in Europe. #Oekraïne #Poetin #Trump (translated)

In his opinion piece, Max Pam argues that the chance is slim that the International Criminal Court in The Hague will ever open a case against Trump, given the geopolitical relations and Europe's subservience to the United States. #InternationaalStrafhof #Trump #Geopolitiek (translated)

The recent diesel agreement between Trump and Putin, intended to reduce diesel prices in the US, seems to be more symbolic than substantial, as analysts expect that geopolitical unrest and production issues in Russia will not significantly affect prices. #dieselprijzen #Trump #Poetin (translated)

Dutch diplomacy seems unable to accept that neutrality is an illusion, especially in the current geopolitical context with countries like the US, Russia, and Israel, which gives the Jetten government the opportunity to take action against the pressure on the International Criminal Court. #NederlandseDiplomatie #InternationaalRecht #Neutraliteit (translated)

The Belgian royal family visits Kazakhstan for the first time, a strategic partner on the borders of Russia, to strengthen cooperation in economic and academic fields, while the country emphasizes its neutrality in a complex geopolitical environment. #Kazakhstan #Belgique #Diplomatie (translated)

Mariba criticized Dilan Yeşilgöz after she claimed that Russia had been declared an enemy of the Netherlands. According to Mariba, Yeşilgöz stated that the Netherlands was not at war, but that a carefree peace was also not in sight. Mariba wrote that the Russian consulate had asked the Dutch government to confirm or distance itself from the statements. She believed it should be made clear whether this was about official policy, a political warning, or political rhetoric. According to Mariba, designating an enemy was not a strategy and threatening language could escalate tensions. She argued that the consequences of such statements ultimately affected civilians and urged the government to explain what the policy and risks were and how it intended to ensure security. She criticized the VVD and argued that politicians should think first before declaring an entire country an enemy. #Nederland #politiek #veiligheid (translated)

287 candidates, including Donald Trump, are in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize, while the relevance of the prize is increasingly being questioned, especially given the geopolitical implications and controversial winners from the past. #NobelprijsVoorDeVrede #MaríaCorinaMachado #DonaldTrump (translated)

Tank tourism in the Netherlands, caused by price differences at the pump with Germany, leads to long waiting times at German gas stations, while Dutchborder regions suffer from empty stores and hospitality, and a solution is not simple due to geopolitical and geographical factors. #Tanktoerisme #Benzineaccijns #Grensregio (translated)

Mike Pyle, a top investor at BlackRock and former economic security advisor, states that the ongoing talks between Trump and Xi are providing calm in the financial markets, despite the persistent geopolitical tensions and competition between the U.S. and China. #FinanciëleMarkten #Geopolitiek #BlackRock (translated)