Energy & Environment

A Resurgence of Nationalism in Europe?

By Richard Burt, the American Interest

From Richard Burt, the American Interest:  For a host of reasons, the European project, one of the most impressive international achievements of the past fifty years, is in deep crisis.

Gulf Oil Spill A 9/11 Wake-Up Call?

By Harlan Ullman

The explosion on Transocean’s Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico and subsequent torrent of oil pouring into the gulf could be the United States’ worst environmental catastrophe.

Ukraine Is Not Yet Lost

By Alexandros Petersen and Tamerlan Vahabov

Since this winter’s presidential election, in which pro-Russian Victor Yanukovich emerged the victor, Ukraine has experienced a massive turnaround. Its politics, security policy, cultural and language policies and energy policy all look toward Moscow for guidance. U.S. and European commentators have begun to speak about the loss of Ukraine.

The Black Sea as the New North Sea

By Boyko Nitzov

The North Sea region went from being an area of gas exporters to importers and then back to being exporters.  History may well repeat itself in the Black Sea region.

Medvedev: “Turkey and Russia are strategic partners not only in words but in deeds”

By AFP

SecGen Emphasizes Priorities for the New Strategic Concept During Visit to Romania

By NATO

From NATO: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Romania on 6 and 7 May, where he met with President Traian Basescu, Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi and other high-level Romanian officials, and gave a public address at the University of Bucharest. At a joint press conference with President Basescu on 6 May, the Secretary General […]

Russia’s Strategic Gains at Ukraine’s and Europe’s Expense

By Stephen Blank, the Jamestown Foundation

From Stephen Blank, the Jamestown Foundation: Russia’s new deal with Ukraine on the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) and gas prices has profound bilateral significance, as well as for the CIS and even Europe. It ratifies long-term Russian gains at the expense of all the other players and continues to solidify Moscow’s claim to possess a […]

France’s EDF to Sign Deal in St. Petersburg to Join South Stream Project

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti: French energy producer EDF will sign an agreement to join the South Stream gas pipeline project with Russia’s energy giant Gazprom and Italy’s Eni during the International Economic Forum due in Russia’s second city of St. Petersburg on June 17-19, Gazprom has said. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that […]

Norway, Russia Agree on New Barents Sea Border

By the AP

From the AP: In a surprise move, Norway and Russia agreed Tuesday to evenly divide a long-disputed area in the Barents Sea, a promising oil and gas region in the Arctic made more accessible by global warming. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said only technical details remain to be worked […]

Russia to Pay Ukraine Annually $98 Million in Cash for Naval Base Rent

By Interfax

From Interfax: Russia, which has granted a discount on gas payments to Ukraine, will start paying about $98 million in cash annually to rent the Black Sea Fleet’s base in Sevastopol starting in 2019, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said at a press conference on Thursday. A 1997 Russian-Ukrainian treaty on the Black Sea Fleet’s stationing […]