Atlantic Council blogs

Why the euro is breaking the European dream

By Charlemagne, the Economist

From Charlemagne, the Economist:  A new report by a group of prominent economists—sponsored by Jacques Delors, the former president of the European Commission, and Helmut Schmidt, the former German chancellor—describes in telling detail how the euro is destroying itself.

Supporting Human Rights in Russia Should Be a Core Strategic Interest for US

By Anna Borshchevskaya

On Tuesday, July 10, the Russian Duma will vote on ratification of the agreement for Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). Policymakers in both countries view Russia’s entry as a foregone conclusion. The question before Congress therefore is how best to pressure Russia to respect human rights following its repeal of the Jackson-Vanik […]

The Challenges Facing Egypt’s Presidency

By Reham Mokbel

Egypt has finally taken its first step towards democracy, by electing Mohamed Morsi as president, following a long period of uncertainty and increased mistrust of the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC), fueled by their decision to postpone the election results.

Top News: Egypt’s Morsi Draws up Commission to Look into Protesters’ Deaths

By Tarek Radwan

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi issued a decree on Thursday evening calling for the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the killing of unarmed anti-regime protesters from last year’s Tahrir Square uprising until the military’s handover of executive authority late last month. 

Angela Merkel, Europe’s Weary Mountaineer

By Frederick Kempe

To help illustrate Germany’s historic dilemma as it calculates the risks of rescuing Europe, Ronald Freeman, a London banker friend, conjured up an image of Chancellor Angela Merkel as a weary mountaineer leading a perilous rock climb. Still some distance from safety, Merkel alternates between shouting instructions to those hanging behind her on a taut […]

NATO chief warns Syria to avoid escalation with Turkey

By AFP

From AFP:  NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Syria Thursday to find a political solution to the country’s crisis and warned against any new incidents with Turkey after a plane was shot down.

NATO rejects Turkey’s request for a no-fly zone over Syria

By Serkan Demirtaş, Hurriyet Daily News

Britain announces cuts of 17 major Army units

By Andrew Chuter, Defense News

From Andrew Chuter, Defense News:  Seventeen major units are to be culled by the British Army as part of a transformation plan that will see regular force personnel numbers reduced to 82,000 from the current level of 102,000, the defense secretary announced July 5.

Russia is making a very good case for Finland to join NATO

By Edward Lucas, European Voice

From Edward Lucas, European Voice:  [Russia] has launched a campaign of verbal intimidation against Finland, seemingly aimed at stopping the country from joining NATO.

Russia pushes Tajikistan to accept military base deal

By Thomas Grove and Roman Kozhevnikov, Reuters

From Thomas Grove and Roman Kozhevnikov, Reuters:  Russia pressed Tajikistan on Thursday to accept a deal that would extend Moscow’s lease on a military base in the strategically important country