Category: Blogs

Obama’s Upcoming Visit to Ethiopia Recognizes Country’s ‘Enormous Importance’

Atlantic Council’s J. Peter Pham applauds decision to add Ethiopia to African itinerary Nearly 112 years after the United States and Ethiopia established diplomatic ties, US President Barack Obama will become the first sitting American leader ever to visit the East African nation—a visit the Atlantic Council’s J. Peter Pham says is long overdue. “This […]

Practicing Politics by Proxy: Turkey and Egypt

By Maged Atef

As the preliminary results of the Turkish parliamentary elections were announced in early June, the people gathered in a downtown café appeared to be divided into three distinct groups. There were those saddened by the failure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to secure a parliamentary majority, those overjoyed, and those who continued […]

Eighteen NATO Allies Increasing Defense Spending

By Jens Stoltenberg, NATO

We have just published the Allies’ defence spending figures for 2014, and we have also published estimates for 2015.

Top News: Al Jazeera Journalist Detained by German Authorities Released

By EgyptSource

Al Jazeera television said on Monday German authorities had released journalist Ahmed Mansour, who was arrested at a Berlin airport on Saturday.

NATO Ministers To Discuss New Powers for SACEUR

By Financial Times and NATO

From Kathrin Hille and Sam Jones, Financial Times:  Nato this week prepares to grant significant new powers to the alliance’s military chief to deploy troops, a move that currently requires a decision from all 28 Nato allies.

Top News: Saudi Diplomatic Cables Released

By MENASource

On Friday, WikiLeaks published the first batch of what they say is a much larger release of Saudi diplomatic documents. So far, 60,000 documents have been published, of which Associated Press only has been able to authenticate a handful. In a statement released late Saturday, the Saudi government acknowledged its diplomatic servers had been penetrated […]

The Implications of a Kurdish Victory Over ISIS in Tal Abyad

By Aaron Stein

Last week, Kurdish forces fighting for the Syria-based Democratic Union Party (PYD) wrested control of the border town of Tel Abyad from the Islamic State. The seizure of the town cut off a key supply line to the Islamic State’s de-facto capital in Raqqa and allowed for the unification of two Kurdish controlled cantons, Kobane […]

Here’s How We Give Putin Something to Think About

By Jeffrey Gedmin

Imagine Winston Churchill saying: “We’ve got to send Nazi Germany a clear signal. At the same time we have to recognize that the Germans do need their lebensraum.” It’s unthinkable. But that’s what the West keeps saying to Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The most recent example is United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond telling the BBC: […]

EconSource: World Bank’s IFC Plans Sukuk Sale After Gulf Summer

By EconSource

The International Finance Corp. (IFC), the World Bank’s lender to the private sector, has started work on a return to the market for Islamic bonds, or sukuk, with plans to issue sharia-compliant debt after summer in the Gulf region.