Energy & Environment

Putin’s Arms ‘Do Over’

By Frank Gaffney at the Washington Times

From Frank Gaffney at the Washington Times: In fact, the New York Times reported on Saturday that Team Obama is poised to look at alternatives — sea-based missile defenses or putting those or other anti-missile systems ashore someplace other than Poland and the Czech Republic. Among the candidates said to be under consideration are Turkey, […]

The Return of Franco-German Leadership

By Dominique Moisi at project-syndicate.org

From Dominique Moisi at project-syndicate.org: As long as each remains convinced that no alternative to cooperation exists within the EU, and that European cooperation remains a priority for both, it should not be overly difficult to restore their leadership . . . The fundamental question about how to deal with Russia remains a divisive issue, […]

Turkey and Russia: Old rivals, new partners

By the Economist

From the Economist: An alliance of convenience that arouses some suspicion in the West Through the long Ottoman era, Turks and Russians fought many bloody wars. In modern times Turkey guarded NATO’s southern flank against Soviet mischief. “The Russians are treacherous” is a popular Turkish adage. But one would hardly have guessed it as the […]

Russia’s Booming Industry

By Boyko Nitzov

For decades now, underinvestment in Russian gas infrastructure has reduced its reliability and operational efficiency. In addition to an increased risk of accidents, the repairs, maintenance, upgrades and replacements resulting from this physical deterioration are a major cost element.

Nabucco No Guarantee of EU Energy Security

By Alexandros Petersen

Last month’s euphoria over the European Union’s agreement with Turkey on the Nabucco gas pipeline was perhaps a little premature—Brussels still has a long way to go to reduce its energy dependence from Russia.

Winners and Losers in SG Speech

In his first major speech as Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen placed a great deal of emphasis on reassuring Russia, but did he do so at the expense of alliance cohesion? As you can see in the video of his press conference, after Afghanistan, Rasmussen identified NATO-Russian relations as his second priority. He […]

Russia’s Energy Weapon Could Take Aim at USA

By Alexandros Petersen

Recently the European Commission urgently recommended that all European Union member-state governments begin filling natural-gas storage facilities in preparation for energy cutoffs from Russia. If Russia’s Kremlin-controlled energy monopoly Gazprom gets its way, such emergency measures may also become a reality in the United States.

Europe Slashes Its Defense Budgets

By Newsweek

From Newsweek: Already this year, Italy has downsized its defense spending by about 7 percent and Spain has cut about 4 percent. Analysts are predicting that Britain’s roughly $60 billion annual defense budget could face cuts as high as 25 percent in coming years. And top military and civilian officials, including Lord Paddy Ashdown, are […]

An Open Letter to the Obama Administration from Central and Eastern Europe

By wyborcza.com

From wyborcza.com: All is not well either in our region or in the transatlantic relationship. Central and Eastern Europe is at a political crossroads and today there is a growing sense of nervousness in the region. The global economic crisis is impacting on our region and, as elsewhere, runs the risk that our societies will […]