Category: Blogs

France’s Constitutional Conundrum

By Alexandre Aubard

Neither of France’s two presidential candidates—Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron—is likely to obtain a favorable majority in the parliament in legislative elections in June. For the first time since the creation of the Fifth Republic in 1958, the president’s party is likely to be a minority party in the National Assembly and the Senate from […]

Mikheil Saakashvili: “By my own standards, I failed on every account in Odesa.”

By Diane Francis

Mikheil Saakashvili strode into the Toronto Four Seasons Hotel on a Saturday morning, all smiles and apologies for being late. The café was empty, except for myself, a handful of patrons, and a young waiter who had recently immigrated from Ukraine. I told him who I was waiting for and he smiled. Saakashvili is only […]

Trump’s First 100 Days: A Mixed Bag

US President Donald J. Trump’s first one hundred days in office have been defined by uncertainty, rhetorical blunders, and a degree of success, which, despite the criticism levelled at Trump, is part of the “learning curve” for any new president, according to a former Director of National Intelligence. “I’ve noted in past presidencies not unsimilar […]

Can Tunisia’s Government Make Necessary Reforms in the Face of Popular Demonstrations?

By Elissa Miller

Last summer, Tunisia’s parliament ousted former Prime Minister Habib Essid, a vote of no-confidence, as President Beji Caid Essebsi announced his intent to form a new unity government. He appointed Youssef Chahed, a little known young technocrat, to replace Essid. Chahed was presented as a fresh-faced, “courageous alternative” who would be better situated to push […]

Trump Again Raises NATO Defense Spending in Speech on Domestic Agenda

By Donald Trump, White House/Google Cache Version

Our government rushed to join international agreements where the United States pays the costs and bears the burdens, while other countries get the benefit and pay nothing

Does RT Really Believe in Free Speech? Prove It

By Jeffrey Gedmin

RT aims to discredit the United States in a straightforward way. The Kremlin-funded television network—established in 2005, operating in English, Arabic, and Spanish—doesn’t report on America and the West warts and all, but rather focuses single-mindedly on warts alone. That’s not all. Sins of omission, falsehoods, and conspiracy theories—like Ukraine shooting down the Malaysian Airlines […]

NATO Considers New Counterterrorism Post Following Trump Demands

By Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is considering appointing a senior official to oversee counterterrorism efforts

Nordic Governments Deepen Defense Collaboration

By Gerard O’Dwyer, Defense News

The Nordic countries have further deepened cross-border collaboration with the launch of the Nordic Defence Materiel Agreement.

Algeria’s Elections in an Atmosphere of Uncertainty

By Sabina Henneberg

Algeria is facing change in several interrelated areas. Upcoming parliamentary elections on May 5 will therefore take place in an atmosphere of rising uncertainty. Coupled with the fact that those in power realize that change is needed, and have taken steps to diversify the economy and adopt constitutional amendments in recent years, means the elections […]