Atlantic Council blogs

Who Will Play the Lead in Eurasia’s Pipeline Opera?

By Alexandros Petersen

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso was in Turkmenistan last week negotiating ways the Caspian country’s vast natural gas reserves might ameliorate European dependence on Russian resources through the so-called Southern Energy Corridor. Coming on the heels of a successful agreement inked in Baku to bring Azerbaijani gas to the European Union, Barroso’s meeting in […]

Dept. SecDef meeting with NATO and EU to improve cyber security

By Jim Garamone, defense.gov

From Jim Garamone, defense.gov:  Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III is meeting with NATO and European Union officials here to strengthen cyberdefense capabilities. This is Lynn’s second visit to the alliance in four months to discuss cybersecurity. “It’s an opportunity for Deputy Secretary Lynn to meet and discuss with NATO and EU leaders ways […]

China’s new stealth fighter may use US technology

By Slobodan Lekic and Dusan Stojanovic, the AP

Still Fighting Russia, This Time With Words

By Clifford J. Levy, the New York Times

Baltic states invited to join Nordic defense organization

By AFP

From AFP:  Nordic nations on Friday invited the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to join a body that aims to smooth cooperation among the region’s armed forces, the Estonian military said. Lieutenant Commander Ingrid Muehling told AFP that the Baltic trio were formally asked to join NORDEFCO at the close of a two-day […]

Uzbek Leader’s Visit to Brussels Was NATO’s Idea

By Eurasianet.org

From Eurasianet.org:  NATO, not the European Union, initiated the idea of inviting Uzbekistan’s controversial leader, Islam Karimov, to visit Brussels, according to an aide to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Bin Laden threatens France in new message

By the AP

From the AP:  Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden called on France to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in exchange for releasing French hostages being held by affiliates of the extremist group, according to a new audio message broadcast on an Arabic news channel Friday. "The exit of your hostages out of the hands of our […]

Is China Trying to Divide U.S. and Europe?

By Banning Garrett

Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with President Barack Obama this week on the heels of Vice Premier Li Keqiang’s charm offensive in Europe early this month. Li, the presumptive future premier, made deals to purchase European government bonds, buy European goods and invest in European countries. Should the United States — and Europe — […]

Jihadists Losing Momentum?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

The fourth issue of Inspire, al Qaeda’s online English-language magazine, appears to be running out of ideas to provoke mayhem among the heathen nations and the Muslims who do their bidding. Women jihadis are praised for their courage and men chastised for sitting on their hands. Singled out is Roshanara Chaudry sentenced to life in […]

Turkey’s Kissinger

By James Traub, the New York Times