Safety is one of the basic human needs. It should be understood that in order to be able to function properly and develop, a person needs appropriate conditions. One of the primary conditions is the guarantee of security, both looking through the prism of the individual and the general public. Previous disputes, conflicts and wars determine future political decisions and affect the type of international alliances formed. The guarantor of security is above all a stable, well-organized and strong state, as well as citizens who are aware of the responsibility for this security. Every country needs a strong ally to increase its security on the international arena. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Eastern Europe, including Poland, dropped the shackles of the Soviet occupation and turned its eyes to the west, seeking military support within that area. Membership in NATO has made Poles feel relatively safe since 1999. Poland’s allies have become members of the Alliance, whose strongest link is the United States. Poland’s position on the map of Europe determines its impact on the situation of the entire continent. European geopolitics mainly affects the conditions, security and politics of the Polish state. The aim of the article is to characterize the role of the Member States of the European Union in ensuring European security, on the example of Polish. This article constitutes an analysis and was created based on content analysis method and qualitative statistical data analysis.
Security has been a strategic necessity to understand the geopolitics of each State, its types of behavior in the face of contemporary challenges are due to its culture, historical influence, and objectives around protecting its territory. In promoting the guarantee of security, certain countries adopt alliances in their foreign policies, which can certainly play an essential role concerning a firm international position. All countries need a good ally to increase their defensive capacity against the external enemy. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, with the end of the Cold War, there was a change regarding the world order with a series of expansions of alliances, Poland, in 1999, was an affirmative country in international matters regarding defense and decided to join NATO. Being that its primary objective would be its protection given the historical factor of a possible military threat from Russia after decades of Soviet domination and influence, especially from the political point of view to bring political stability with commitments before a collective defense organization, being, therefore, an essential step in the matter in which the entry of the Polish State thus assumes a common goal and integration with Western Europe in terms of economics, politics and fundamentally security.
In accordance with the scope defined by the Polish legislation, the critical infrastructure in Poland consists of 11 systems, which are crucial for the security of the State and its citizens. These systems, because of the importance attached to them, must be subject to special, far-reaching protection. Critical infrastructure in each state plays a special role in ensuring continuity of operations of the state and its bodies. The efficiency of critical infrastructure is directly proportional to ensuring an adequate level and continuity in the distribution of services for which the state is responsible. The proper and safe functioning of the facilities that make up the critical infrastructure allows for the most efficient use by the state of the resources that should be mobilised in emergency situations that destabilise normal functioning of the state and its economy. Critical infrastructure is exposed to many types of attacks that aim to destabilise and disrupt proper functioning of the state. In terms of critical infrastructure protection, the state should take all measures to ensure full functionality, continuity of operations and integrity of critical infrastructure. It should be particularly proactive in preventing risks and threats and seek to reduce and neutralise the impact thereof. Critical infrastructure should be restored immediately in the event of failures, attacks and other incidents that disrupt its proper functioning. With the development of technology and engineering, a number of new sources of threats generated by modern equipment against critical infrastructure facilities have emerged. One increasingly common threat is from unmanned aerial vehicle platforms. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are extremely versatile devices that can be used in a wide variety of ways and it is up to the pilot’s skills, intentions and a chosen target to determine how the attack will be carried out and what threats it will induce. Given the seriousness with which the protection of critical infrastructure must be treated, it is important to note the scale of the risks associated with the use of UAVs. Each state should create both legal as well as actual opportunities through which the operator of critical infrastructure will be able to minimise or even eliminate the risk of unlawful use of unmanned aerial vehicles as tools to attack critical infrastructure.
One of the main areas of biometrics, fingerprinting, is crucial for identifying people on a social as well as an individual basis. It is based on the examination of distinctive fingerprint traits, which offer a trustworthy way to identify identification. Technology is extensively employed in security systems, particularly in access control, border services, and law enforcement. Fingerprinting is vital because it provides quick and accurate verification processes, which are essential for preventing crime and maintaining national security. It should be noted, nevertheless, that the efficacy of this technology is contingent upon the ongoing creation and maintenance of databases, in addition to the stringent enforcement of privacy regulations. Thus, can dactyloscopy— one of the most popular biometric instruments available today—fully meet the demands of international security? What is the relevance of its development for the future of personal identity and security systems?
Within the intricate tapestry of global geopolitics, small states occupy a distinctive and nuanced position, encountering a myriad of unique challenges and opportunities. This article critically explores Armenia’s complex engagement with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through the lens of small state theory, accentuating the geopolitical consequences arising from potential border openings following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Integrating small-state theory, the analysis fills a scholarly gap, providing nuanced insights into how Armenia’s foreign policy influences its BRI integration. Despite a decade since the launch of the Initiative, Armenia is not included in any BRI corridors and struggles to attract significant Chinese infrastructure investments compared to its neighbouring countries. The article concludes that Armenia’s cautious approach, prioritising security over immediate economic gains, exemplifies the delicate equilibrium small states navigate in the pursuit of global initiatives. In other words, Armenia, as a small state, seeks to align its interests with China’s mega-initiative while grappling with limitations on its participation.
