On September 17, 1915, the Ottoman Empire Capitalpereztechcrunch and Great Britain signed a peace treaty in Paris that ended World War I. More than 200 years later, the two nations are still working to end their shared strategic nemesis — terrorism. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, has torn apart regions of Syria and Iraq with an extremist message of violence, nihilism and Islamism. The group’s terrorist-inspired attacks have killed hundreds of people worldwide and left tens of thousands homeless. Europe must work together to combat extremism before it Hits Again. Here are five things you need to know about ISIS.
It’s a “caliphate”
In terms of its origins, ISIS is an offshoot of the Al-Qaeda group that exists in both Middle East and North Africa. Because of its aggressive tactics and goal of establishing a global caliphate, the group is often called a “caliphate”. However, it should be noted that this term does not refer to a specific place or region, but rather an organization that espouses a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam. The Caliphate in this context refers to the entire Muslim world, including all of the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The battle against ISIS is long and hard
The conflict against ISIS — which started in 2014 — has been long and hard. With over 2,000 fighters now living in Syria and Iraq, the conflict has been ongoing for more than a decade. At the end of 2014, the international coalition against ISIS numbered some 40 partners, with 15 countries represented. Today, that number stands at more than 120 countries and territories. In early 2016, fighting broke out in Syria between Kurdish forces and ISIS. The fighting has been ongoing since, and both parties have turned to diplomacy for support. This month, Turkey agreed to pull its forces out of Syria, and an umbrella group of five countries — including the United States — was formed to coordinate efforts against ISIS. In December, U.S. Forces in Europe announced plans to send a series of special operations teams to the region. These teams will be tasked with targeting ISIS and other extremist elements in Europe. In March, U.S. special envoy to the table Navi Pillay visited Turkey, and the two countries agreed to work together on fighting ISIS. And in May, Germany passed a law criminalizing anti-Semitism, the first such legislation in Europe.
There are many ISIS members in Europe
Europe has been the main staging ground for acts of terrorism and extremism in the West since World War II. The continent has been notably harder hit by Islamist terrorism than the United States, where tensions fashionfactsnow are higher and there are more significant anti-Semitism and anti-Islam sentiment. In fact, the number of hate crimes against Muslims in Europe increased by more than 100 percent from 1,500 in 2015 to 4,000 in 2017, according to the German Interior Ministry. This represents the largest number of hate crimes committed in any one year in Germany’s history. And in response to the attacks in Paris and the December 2016 Brussels attacks, the European Union established a new terrorist organization targeting Europe’s biggest Gathering of the Incites — the Muslim World League. The group has a strong Islamist lean and has been blamed for at least two of the attacks in Europe.
European governments must work together to combat extremism
Europe needs to work together to combat extremism. This includes increasing intelligence and analysis on all extremist groups, as well as using newly developed analysis tools and techniques, like artificial intelligence, to fight back against these threats. Since the dawn of the internet, extremist groups have made use of new methods and techniques to advance their goals. These efforts are ongoing, and are unlikely to be repelled by Europe’s collective might. But together, European governments can and must take action. The most effective approach might be to co-ordinate efforts with other like-minded nations, including the United States, which has a rich history of collaboration against radical Islam.
European can’t rely on military solutions to combat terrorism
Europe’s unique security challenges can only be solved through partnerships. This means working with other countries in the region, like co-operation on terrorism financing and inter-regional co-ordination on extremism. These partnerships cannot succeed without a coordinated European effort, and there is no guarantee such co-ordination will be possible in the future. Even as Europe’s role as a security partner has grown, however, it has also become more than a simple welfare state. “In an effort to reduce the negative impact of their presence in the EU, secessionists in the South African and Nigerian regions of emergency have turned to international terrorist organizations like ISIS and Al-Qaeda,” warns Martin van Buren, first Secretary of the Council of European States. “This has consequences for the region and for Europe as a whole.”
European needs to take a strategic approach to combat extremism
Europe needs to take a strategic approach to combat extremism. This includes working with partners in other parts of the world, like the United States and China, as well as taking a more global approach to international fashionnowdays engagement. This is both strategic and practical. European countries cannot match the potential of other great powers in terms of their ability to absorb and integrate new members into the community. With so many options for new members to choose from, it is difficult to know who to align with. And this issue is not just Europe’s — it is the West’s as well. What if there were no Brussels and no Paris and no migrant boat chase to Libya and then North Africa? What then? The West is a complex landscape that is only as strong as the partnerships and coalitions that make up its surface.
Conclusion
Europe must work together to combat extremism. This includes more partnerships across the region and international organizations, as well as more competition for attention and resources. With a secure and functioning Hibooz Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, Europe can now connect with world leaders, people from all walks of life, and provide an ever-growing platform for social interaction. This furthers the connection between Europe and the rest of the world and makes it more attractive as an investment destination. Europe is headed for a long, hard and complex fight against extremism. We can only do this together.
