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MENASource

Jun 10, 2015

EconSource: World Bank Says GCC countries Need to Slash Public Spending

By EconSource

The World Bank’s chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa, Shanta Devarajan, said Tuesday that while falling oil prices have led to welcome subsidy reforms in Gulf countries, they urgently need to develop new ways to distribute oil wealth and shrink the public sector.

MENASource

Jun 10, 2015

Turkey’s Parliamentary Elections: The Vote and Beyond

By Eyup Civelek

Turkey held its twenty-fourth parliamentary elections on Sunday June 7, 2015. While most analysts focused on the pivotal role played by the Kurdish-affiliated People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in swaying voters away from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), fewer have focused on the equally critical—and spontaneous—role of Turkish civil society in monitoring the process […]

Turkey

AfricaSource

Jun 9, 2015

Free Trade Pact Highlights Egypt’s Pivot Back towards Africa

By J. Peter Pham

On Wednesday, presidents and other leaders representing twenty-six African countries meeting at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh signed an agreement to launch a “Cape to Cairo” free trade zone spanning the length of the continent. The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), as it will formally be known, will embrace three of Africa’s […]

Ethiopia North Africa

MENASource

Jun 9, 2015

One Year On: Legislation Under Sisi

By EgyptSource

Since his election, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has issued and amended over 100 decrees. In the absence of a seated parliament Sisi enjoys full legislative power and has issued decrees aiming to address the economic, security, and political issues facing Egypt today.

North Africa
Prime Minister David Cameron and President Barack Obama, June 17, 2015

NATOSource

Jun 9, 2015

Obama Again Urges Cameron to Keep NATO Defense Spending Commitment

By BBC

Barack Obama has pressed David Cameron to maintain Britain’s commitment to meeting the Nato target of spending 2% of GDP on defence.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2015

United States Cannot Lead from Behind in the Arctic

By John-Daniel Kelley

Even as the United States celebrates the beginning of its chairmanship of the Arctic Council, it hesitates to take leadership in the Arctic region. This reluctance highlights a dichotomy between US strategic interests in the Arctic and that of every other Arctic power which, if not addressed, increases the likelihood of regional instability. 

Europe & Eurasia

UkraineAlert

Jun 9, 2015

Everything You Thought You Knew about Right-Wing Parties is Wrong

By Alina Polyakova

The Russian government and its proxies in eastern Ukraine have consistently branded Kyiv’s government a fascist junta and accused it of having Nazi sympathizers. Moscow’s propaganda is outrageous and wrong. In fact, Ukraine’s radical right political parties—Right Sector and Svoboda—have been marginalized.

Eastern Europe Ukraine
USS Lake Erie conducting missile defense test, May 15, 2013

NATOSource

Jun 9, 2015

Norway To Participate in NATO Missile Defense System

By The Local (Norway)

Norway has agreed to play a role in the Nato missile defence system, with Prime Minister Erna Solberg saying that as a “committed Nato member”, the country’s participation is “necessary.”

Missile Defense NATO

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2015

Putin Has No Desire for Peace, Says Ukraine’s Prime Minister

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no desire to end the war in eastern Ukraine, said Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a June 9 meeting at the Atlantic Council. “My take is that Russia is not eager… to have peace and stability, neither in Ukraine nor in Europe,” said Yatsenyuk, citing as evidence a renewed […]

Ukraine

MENASource

Jun 9, 2015

One Year On: The Economy Under Sisi

By EgyptSource

Following three years of unrest, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s election was viewed as an opportunity to strengthen Egypt’s deteriorating economy. Sisi’s immediate decision to cut fuel and electricity subsidies was considered an unpopular, yet necessary policy, and has since garnered him praise from global institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund […]

North Africa
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