The tragedy of the Rotterdam shootings

The Rotterdam shootings under the prism of terrorism consist of shootings that shortly occurred one after the other. The shooter identified as Fouad L. first stormed into his neighbor’s house. He ended up killing 39-year-old Marlous and her daughter who were his neighbors in the building. He first set fire to the house and continued storming towards the Erasmus Medical Center in the city where he shot 43-year-old, professor Jurgen Damen. While the people present at the facility panicked and ran, the suspect launched Molotov cocktails at the screaming staff and patients. This incident has left 3 people dead.

Type: Social Terrorism

Social Terrorism is a type of terrorism carried out by an individual or group that feels marginalized and oppressed. An individual/group may use social terrorism as an instrument to instigate fear in the system that has wronged him. Social terrorism is often used as an umbrella term that encompasses mediums to seek revenge, political change, social unrest, or simply to spread terror.

Motivating Factors: Ego and Revenge.

The killing of the neighbor is a method to seek revenge for the police complaint she made regarding animal abuse. Fouad. L was convicted of abusing a rabbit in 2021, and due to his conviction, his diploma was put on hold . He terrorized the people at the medical facility In order to protest the sabotage the staff of Erasmus Medical Center had caused him in return for his conviction. He took the lives of his neighbor, Marlous, and her daughter who had launched various complaints against Fouad’s Behavior. He burned her house down. He shot the professor as revenge for the sabotage and defamation the institution put him through by holding his diploma. His ego was hurt by the humiliations he had to face hence he took revenge for their actions.

Intensity and Impact: Such an incident has not taken place in the Netherlands in the past decade hence, it comes as a shock to the nation of Netherlands. They have gathered in masses outside the
neighbor’s house and at the medical facility with candles and flowers in their hands. The Dutch feel scared and intimidated by the actions of Fouad.

Affects both internal and international: The domestic and international effects of the shooting will be that people displaying such forms of destructive behaviors such as animal abuse or viewing graphic images containing stabbing etc. will be taken more seriously under the law . They will be immediately placed in social welfare centers where they are treated for their illness. Additionally, stricter psychological test that don’t let people with mental illness pass through easily have to be designed domestically and internationally. Fouad could’ve been granted his diploma after a psychological test; hence the criterion of evaluation must be redesigned so that culprits cannot get back in the system. Imagine, if he had been able to practice his diploma, he could’ve risked so many lives.

Prediction for the future, whether more cases of this sort emerge or not?

Yes, they will take place because the issue of having social pressures that result in social terrorism as a coping mechanism has been constantly increasing in the Northern Hemisphere. These must be serious consequences for resorting to violence for their mental trauma. If a similar incident arises out of the need for an ethnocentric, religious, or ideological point of view, charges of treason are charged. That group or individual is labeled as a terrorist. In this case, it should be treated with the same seriousness because taking someone’s life because of revenge and getting away with it due to mental disease is a way of maneuvering the loopholes of the law. The thought that a person can get away with taking three lives because of a mental disease is a dangerous one. It is important to remember that mental illness is not an excuse for violence. If someone is a danger to themselves or others, they should seek external help.

This event is a reminder of the importance of tolerance and understanding. We must all work together to create a society where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of their religion, race, or ethnicity. In the aftermath of the shootings, it is important to support the victims and their families. We can also do our part to prevent future tragedies by speaking out against hate and discrimination.

Bruce, About Gregor. 2023. “Definition of Terrorism – Social and Political Effects – JMVH.” JMVH. May 26, 2023. https://jmvh.org/article/definitionof-terrorism-social-and-political-effects/.
BBC News. 2023. “Rotterdam Shootings: Hospital Was Warned of ‘psychotic’ Suspect.” BBC News, September 29, 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66958337.amp.
Desk, Web. 2023. “Rotterdam Shootings Death Toll Rises to 3 as Wounded Girl Dies.” The News International, September 29, 2023. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1114336-rotterdam-shooting-student-gunman-goes-on-killing-spree-leaves-3-dead-in-university.
Biesemans, Bart. 2023. “Suspect in Rotterdam Shootings Had Troubled Past, Targeted Victims.” Reuters, September 29, 2023. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dutch-prosecutors-warned-school-about-rotterdam-suspect-before-alleged-shootings-2023-09-29/.

The Iraq-Turkey Pipeline resumed operations on October 2, 2023, after being shut down for six months due to a payment dispute between Ankara and Baghdad. Following an arbitration decision by International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ordering Ankara to pay Baghdad penalties for unauthorized exports between 2014 and 2018, Turkey has suspended flows on the pipeline, Iraq’s northern oil export route. Later, Ankara began performing maintenance on the pipeline that supplies 0.5% of the world’s petroleum. The two nations decided to continue their legal dispute over arbitration rulings while delaying restarting flows until a maintenance assessment of the pipeline was finished. Since late June, discussions over how and when to resume pipeline have been going on between Turkey and Iraq.

The oil pipeline connecting Iraq and Turkey is crucial for both countries as well as for the world oil market. The line serves as a crucial link for the Kurdistan region’s crude exports, which are essential to the region’s economy, and it is also a major supplier of sour oil to refineries serving the Mediterranean market. Much of the output in the Kurdish region has been halted as a result of the export ban and shutdown. The pipeline ensures that the global economy has access to a consistent and reasonable supply of oil. Oil from Iraq is transported through pipeline to the Mediterranean coast, where it is loaded onto tankers and sent to refineries all over the world. The pipeline also contributes to the control of oil prices by assisting in limiting the rise in oil prices by giving the world market an additional source of oil supply.

The pipeline transports crude oil from Kirkuk and the Kurdish Blend Test to the port of Ceyhan. It carries around 450,000 barrels of oil per day from northern Iraq to the Mediterranean coast, and is a key export route for Iraqi oil. It is also an important source of revenue for Turkey. Alpaslan Bayraktar, the Minister of Energy for Turkey, announced the reactivation of the pipeline at the ADIPEC summit in Abu Dhabi. He also said in an interview, “We informed the other side that the route is ready for operations as of 4 October, 2023, that there are no obstacles to oil shipments or to storing oil in Ceyhan and sending it to global markets.” The pipeline’s resumption of operations is a positive development for Iraq and Turkey, as it will help to boost oil exports and generate much-needed revenue for both countries.

Australia announced on October 5, 2023 that it will rejoin the Green Climate Fund (GCF), a United Nations-backed fund that helps developing countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change. The landmark 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change resulted in the establishment of the largest Green Climate Fund (GCF), which has approved projects of worth $13 billion in 128 nations. The decision by Australia to rejoin the GCF reverses the previous government’s decision to withdraw from the fund in 2018. The Morrison administration cited governance and efficiency concerns, while many critics accused the government of breaking its international climate pledges. Therefore, Australia’s decision to rejoin the GCF has been welcomed by many climate experts and developing countries, the decision came ahead of a GCF donor conference in the German city of Bonn. The GCF is a vital source of funding for climate projects in developing countries, and Australia’s contribution will help to support these efforts.

The new Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has pledged to take stronger action on climate change. Rejoining the GCF is seen as a key step in restoring Australia’s position as a prominent player in climate action. The Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said that the government will make a modest contribution by the end of the year, although it is not yet clear how much Australia will contribute to the GCF. In addition, Penny Wong asserts that Australia is a lifeline for the Pacific island nations, Australia is assisting the Pacific’s transition to renewable energy and will continue to increase funding to the region directly. Moreover, it was stated, “We have taken into consideration suggestions from our partners in the Pacific on the best methods to focus our efforts on climate financing and ensuring that all aspects deliver for Pacific goals. Due to increasing sea levels and the more frequent and severe storms that have accompanied increased global temperatures, the Pacific islands are among the most susceptible to climate change.”

To conclude, financing is one of the key concerns in global climate diplomacy. In order to promote climate mitigation, adaptation, and capacity building as well as to meet the needs of the most vulnerable countries. It is critical that developed countries address the issue of climate finance by establishing clear and transparent structures for climate finance implementation.

The BRICS group of emerging economies, formed in 2010 which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has been a driving force in the global economy for over a decade. The invitation of becoming new- members has been accepted by Saudia Arabia, UAE, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Argentina transforming the traditional BRICS, into BRICS+6. This membership will come into effect from 1st January 2024. The group’s GDP has risen to over 35% of global GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) and accounts for over 46% of the world’s total population. The BRICS are slightly larger than the G7 in terms of purchasing power parity. But when evaluated in current nominal US dollars, the group is still much smaller than its advanced-economy equivalent since their currencies trade at values that are much lower than what PPP implies.

The BRICS+6 alliance has already had a substantial impact on the world economy. Global commerce and investment are being boosted by the group’s increasing demand for goods and services. The group’s businesses are also becoming into significant players in the international market, going up against Western firms in a variety of areas. Additionally, the BRICS+6 group is becoming more significant in the world’s financial markets. The central banks of the group currently hold a sizable amount of US Treasury bonds, and more and more people are using their currencies for investments and trade abroad.

The BRICS+6 alliance is making more of an impact on the global scene. In international organizations like the G20 and the UN, the group is taking the initiative. Additionally, the group is creating fresh regional coalitions, like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

President Putin, while making his speech at the BRICS summit last month reaffirmed the African states that, Russian support will always remain steadfast in the development of the African continent. The inclusion of Ethiopia will contribute modernization of the nation’s agricultural sector. Ethiopia may also benefit from the use of cutting-edge agricultural technologies and know-how from BRICS nations, with Russian grain and fertilizers positioned to help.

Although both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are important oil producers, they have recently expanded their economies into fields like tourism, finance, and technology. The BRICS group’s economy would become more varied and resilient as BRICS would have access to healthy markets which will help build capital. Another benefit that the inclusion of UAE and Saudia Arab offerss is that they are the top fuel producing economies in the world. These countries along with Russia can potentially pose a threat to the supply and demand of oil across the world. This is an indirect message to the hegemony of the western economies. While many must view this as a potential method of obtaining fuel for a cheaper rate, we must consider the fact that western economies depend on fuel imports from all the three countries.

China is one of the largest investors in Iran. Iran has been sanctioned by the western world, but China chose to have good ties with Iran. With pipelines that connect Pakistan to China, China has invested 400 billion dollars in the Iran Oil and Gas industry. The completion of this developmental aid will result in China obtaining discounted fuel and gas over the next 25 years. This will also benefit the other countries included in the BRICS+6 and they will also be able to get subsidies on fuel and gas if they maintain good ties with Iran. China has signed a trade pact with Iran that is scheduled to boost by 150% this year. Considering the sanctions that Iran had to face at hands of the west, China proved to be a competitor that seeks economic prosperity not an ethnic or religious bias.

Argentina is a major producer of agricultural products, minerals, and energy, which would add to the diversity of the BRICS economy. This would make the BRICS group more resilient to shocks in any one sector. It has a large domestic market and strong economic ties to other countries in Latin America. BRICS businesses could benefit from access to these new markets, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure, technology, and energy. Additionally, Argentina is a member of the G20 and other international organizations. Its inclusion in the BRICS group would make the group more representative and influential on the global stage. This would give the BRICS countries a greater voice in shaping the global economic and political order.

The inclusion of Egypt is a major benefit to the BRICS economies as most of the economies involved produce finished products. An essential commercial route the rest of the globe is the Suez Canal. It offers a time and money-saving bypass for ships moving between Asia and Europe. Additionally, the canal brings in billions of dollars annually for Egypt. This canal is an economic artery for Egypt and is seen as a benefit by BRICS as it they might receive levies in delivering their products through the Suez canal. Egypt is a member of the Arab League and the African Union, and it is a major player in the Middle East and North Africa region. Its inclusion in the BRICS group would make the group more representative and influential on the global stage.

If we pinpoint the locations on a map, BRICS have made their presence noteworthy by connecting to all parts of the world. The BRICS has promised to invest in all the developing economies to not only promote their markets but to raise the standard of living in these countries too. The BRICS have also planned on creating a mutual monetary unit and developing their own currency. All the trade performed in these countries will be dealt in their own currency, possibly giving the currency a preference over the US dollar.

Adding the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Iran, and Ethiopia to the BRICS+6 alliance will increase the group’s dominance on the political and economic fronts. The group will thereafter be able to challenge the current global order and take on a more significant role in world affairs.

Israel and Germany signed a $3.5 billion deal for Israel to sell its Arrow 3 hypersonic missile defense system to Germany. This is the largest defense deal between the two countries to date. The Arrow 3 is a missile defense system that is designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles outside the earth’s atmosphere. It is considered to be one of the most effective missile defense systems in the world. The Arrow 3 missile defense system is a powerful shield that will protect Germany from the threat of ballistic missiles. It is a testament to the strength of the relationship between Israel and Germany that they have partnered on this important defense project. According to Brig. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, director general of the Defense Ministry, the “landmark deal, the largest defense export agreement in our country’s history, will propel Israeli defense exports to a new record, following last year’s remarkable achievement of $12.5 billion.”

Israel has utilized the system to defend itself against attacks from Iran and Syria since its initial deployment at an Israeli air force facility in 2017. The Arrow 3 system will provide Germany with a much-needed boost to its air defense capabilities. The deal is also a sign of the deepening defense ties between Israel and Germany. The two countries have been cooperating on defense matters for many years, but their cooperation has intensified in recent years due to shared concerns about terrorism. The Arrow 3 deal is a major win for Israel’s defense industry. The deal, which is estimated to be worth $3.5 billion (3.3 billion euros), is the largest ever for Israel’s defense sector. It is also a sign of the country’s growing status as a global leader in missile defense technology.

The jointly created Arrow 3 missile defense system will be exported to Germany by the United States government, marking the largest-ever single defense contract for Israel. In a statement, the Defense Ministry said that the United States Department of State informed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior ministry officials that the United States government had approved the sale of the defense system, which had been developed jointly by the Israel Missile Defense Organization and the United States Missile Defense Agency and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries. Germany has stated that it anticipates receiving the Arrow 3 system in the final quarter of 2025. To conclude, increasing Israeli-German cooperation and the current deal will boost relations and security between the two countries.

In accordance to a report from Human Rights Watch (HRW), numerous European maritime corporations are allegedly sending their outdated and dangerous ships to be demolished. The “Trading Lives for Profit” study was released on September 28, 2023, in cooperation with the Shipbreaking Platform, a group of NGOs fighting to put an end to hazardous and unsustainable shipbreaking activities. European shipping firms have come under fire for leaving their old ships to be demolished in hazardous and dangerous ways on Bangladeshi beaches. As per the Human Rights Watch (HRW), it is said that the Sitakunda beaches of Bangladesh have developed into one of the largest shipbreaking yards in the world, offering cheap sources of steel for the nation’s construction industry.

Since 2020, 520 ships have been sent by shipping companies from Europe to the facility where thousands of workers disassemble ships without safety gear. According to HRW stated that “companies scrapping ships in Bangladesh’s hazardous and polluting yards are profiting at the expense of Bangladeshi lives and the environment.” Additionally, the report asserted that since 2019, at least 62 workers have died in accidents in Sitakunda’s shipbreaking yards, and many more have been hurt or become ill. According to the research, poisonous materials from the ships that are being broken up flow into the soil and water, severely harming the environment.

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal forbids the shipment of hazardous waste from wealthy countries to developing countries. International law is broken when hazardous ship waste is dumped in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association (BSBA), which speaks for yard owners, reported that its members have taken action to improve safety in advance of a new international agreement on safe and environmentally sound scrapping, which is scheduled to go into effect in 2025. Mohammad Abu Taher, president of the BSBA said, “We are turning our shipbreaking yards into green yards even though it is expensive, we are working on it and to supply protective equipment to workers.”

To conclude, the issue of toxic ship dumping in Bangladesh requires more attention and financial assistance from the international community. This would entail offering support to the Bangladeshi government so that it can enforce the rules and legislation and request that European companies cease ship dumping to protect human lives and the environment.

Saudi Arabia and Brazil have had strong bilateral relations for many years. Both countries are key actors in the global economy, and they have many mutual interests, including the need to secure energy security and encourage economic growth. The two countries have reached a number of bilateral agreements in trade and investment. In July 2023, the Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo and the Saudi Ministry of Investment jointly held the Brazil-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum. More than 500 business executives from both countries attended the meeting. Khalid Al-Falih, the Saudi Arabian minister of investment, attended the meeting. He spoke with Brazilian government representatives and business executives about potential investment prospects between the two nations. Al Falih said, “Brazil and Saudi Arabia, two proud members of the G20 and energy producers, are well positioned to be strategic partners, with us being the economic leaders of our respective regions.” Over 25 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between Saudi Arabian and Brazilian businesses were signed in sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, technology, and energy as a result of the forum.

Despite the fact that the two countries have long been trading partners, the kingdom’s most recent investments in Brazil are in line with its ambitious “Vision 2030” reform project, which intends to diversify the Saudi economy and reduce its reliance on oil revenues. Brazil and Saudi Arabia are major trading partners and their trade volume is constantly increasing. According to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Brazilian exports to Saudi Arabia increased significantly in the first seven months of the year 2023 and reached to $1.87 billion, the biggest amount among all Arab nations. Brazil also imported $1.98 billion from the Kingdom, which was the most amount from any Arab nation. Moreover, Saudi and Brazilian government officials are visiting each other’s countries to discuss increased trade and investment potential. In addition, the Russia-Ukraine war and the escalating hostilities between the U.S. and China have increased interest of Gulf nations in one of the emerging economies i.e. Brazil and opened up new trade and investments prospects for the country, which also reflect broader geopolitical shifts in the world. Saudi-Arabia and Brazil are well-positioned to complement each other’s economies, therefore, the trade between the two countries is expected to expect to increases significantly in the years to come.

On September 13, 2023, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted a significant long-range strike drill in Greece in preparation for a potential attack on Iran and its nuclear facilities. This drill was the most recent in a series of such exercises. The two-day long joint exercise between the Israeli military and the Hellenic Air Force of Greece involved low-altitude and long-distance flights, aerial refueling, as well as the use of live ammunition, according to the Israeli military. During the drill, the Israel Defense Forces claimed that dozens of fighter airplanes, spy planes, and refueling aircraft flew thousands of kilometers between Israel and Greece. According to the Times of Israeli, the drill had two main objectives. The first one was cooperation with Greece that includes learning from one another whereas, improving IAF readiness was the second goal, while coping with extremely complex challenges such as long-distance flights, weather difficulties, and a lack of intelligence.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated, “The exercise is one of a series of exercises and models carried out by the IAF in the past year. Their purpose is to improve operational and mental competence for long-range flights, refueling, attacks in the depth of enemy territory, and achieving air superiority.” The recent combined drill between Greece and Israel are evidence of the two nations’ expanding collaboration. This collaboration extends beyond joint exercises, Israel handed two M-346 advanced training aircraft to Greece in May, and Greece has contracted Elbit Systems of Israel to give virtual avionics for the M-346 aircraft as well as to establish an International Flight Training Center at 120 TW Kalamata in Greece. Earlier, in September 2023, the leaders of Cyprus and Greece met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss trilateral relations. This is yet another indication of how closely the three nations are working together. Israel, Greece, and Cyprus are working with an aim to cooperate in areas such as energy, military, economics, and academia and to improve the security in the region. In addition, the IDF is reportedly planning to conduct a series of significant joint military exercises with the United States in the upcoming months, as a message to Iran. Israel and Iran are bitter enemies and share hostile relations, both countries are locked in a threatening standoff and the situation is expected to deteriorate between them.

There are strong political and economic links between China and the South-American country Venezuela. In 1974, the two nations established diplomatic ties, and since then, their relationship has progressively improved. China is Venezuela’s largest creditor, lending the nation billions of dollars in return for oil exports. However, the United States sanctions imposed on Venezuela have had a substantial impact on the country’s economy and made it harder to export oil. But stills, China has made significant investments in Venezuela’s infrastructure, energy, and agriculture to help the country. On September 12, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro met and held bilateral talks. The Chinese President praised the relationship between the two countries and said, “China steadfastly supports Venezuela’s efforts to safeguard sovereignty, national dignity, and social stability.” During the meeting the two leaders has decided to upgrade their relations, and highlighted that China-Venezuela are good friends with mutual trust. Xi Jinping said, with Venezuela, China would elevate the ties to “all-weather strategic partnership,” a title only given to few of China’s diplomatic allies.

On behalf of the Chinese foreign ministry, Mao Ning, has also praised relations with Venezuela as “rock solid” and referred two countries as comprehensive strategic partners. The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, throughout his time in power, has developed relationships with China and was able to secure loans, cash, and investments for his nation. Before his meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing, a week earlier, he said on social media that his visit is intended to “strengthen cooperation and the construction of a new world order.” During his visit, Maduro stated that Venezuela is determined to work closely with China within frameworks like the United Nations and the BRICS. Therefore, Venezuela is actively courting membership in the BRICS, a group of significant emerging economies that recently supported expansion and welcomed new members. In order to improve the infrastructure for international trade, Venezuela ensured its supports for China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Following their discussions, the two leaders also signed several bilateral cooperation agreements spanning the fields of economy and trade, education, tourism, science and technology, health, civil aviation, and aerospace. China has welcomed Venezuela as it is the first nation from Latin America to join the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which is led by China. The two countries are committed to work together and the relationship between the two nations will continue to improve in the years to come due to mutual interests.

Introduction

The requirement of maritime surveillance is in more limelight and crucial than ever before, with the center of gravity of conflict veering towards the waters and oceans. Australia has the third-largest marine jurisdiction in the world, with an 8.2 million square kilometers exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This area has significant economic and conservation value because it is home to oil and gas fields, fisheries, and shipping channels. Australia is situated close to important maritime powers like China, India, and Indonesia and is surrounded by some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. For the purpose of extensive maritime interests and preventing foreign attacks and keeping track of local ship and aircraft movements, maritime surveillance is important.

Significance of Maritime Surveillance for Australia

The Australian government’s investment in maritime surveillance is a reflection of the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific region. The Australian government’s investment in maritime surveillance is also a signal of its commitment to working with its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia is a member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) commonly known as Quad, including four countries i.e. Australia, India, Japan, and the United States that are committed to cooperating on security issues in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad has been working to strengthen maritime cooperation in the region, therefore, the Australian government’s investment in maritime surveillance will complement these efforts. A well-protected maritime domain is not only essential for Australia’s trade and commerce but also for deterring foreign aggression and responding to maritime emergencies.

Australia to boost Maritime Surveillance Fleet

The Australian government’s decision to buy a new drone and upgrade existing patrol and response aircraft in a 1.5 billion Australian dollars ($965 M) deal is a significant investment in its maritime surveillance capabilities. The new drone, a MQ-4C Triton, is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can fly for up to 24 hours at a time. It is equipped with a powerful radar system that can detect and track ships and aircraft over large areas of ocean. The Triton will be based in Australia’s Northern Territory, which is closer to Asia and the Pacific Islands than the country’s southern coastline. The upgrades to the existing patrol and response aircraft, which include 14 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, will focus on improving their anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike, and intelligence collection capabilities which is anticipated to be completed by 2030. To conclude, the new investment and upgraded maritime surveillance will give Australia the ability to better monitor and protect its maritime interests which is also important for both economic and security reasons.