International Organizations

NATO Ambassadors Confront Russian Diplomat in ‘Tense’ Meeting

By Anne Gearan and Karen DeYoung, Washington Post

A NATO diplomat, describing the [NATO-Russia Council] session as “tense,” said alliance members one by one confronted Alexander V. Grushko, Russia’s representative to NATO, with charges that Moscow was violating international law in Crimea and concocting threats against ethnic Russians there to justify its actions.

Break Up in the Gulf

By Bilal Y. Saab

On March 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain announced that they had withdrawn their ambassadors from Qatar, claiming that Doha had been violating a clause in the Gulf Cooperation Council charter banning interference in the domestic affairs of fellow GCC members. The decision, unprecedented in the GCC’s history, hints at significant […]

NATO and EU Ambassadors Meet to Discuss Ukraine Crisis

By European Union

The European Union’s Political and Security Committee (PSC) and NATO’s North Atlantic Council (NAC) held a joint informal meeting today to discus s the situation in Ukraine

US Backs Moldova Against Russian Pressures

By New Atlanticist

Prime Minister Iurie Leancă Visits a Supportive White House The Obama administration continues its show of support for the three ex-Soviet countries that are building closer ties to the European Union against coercive pressures from Russia. Days after President Obama met Georgia’s prime minister – and as Washington works to respond to Russia’s military pressure […]

Foreign Minister Steinmeier on Possible Shift in German Foreign Policy

By Christiane Hoffmann and Ralf Neukirch, Spiegel

Excerpts from interview with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier conducted by Christiane Hoffmann and Ralf Neukirch.

Brzezinski: Ukraine Should Join EU, but No Military Alliance

By Zbigniew Brzezinski, Financial Times

The west, however, can play a constructive role in containing the exploding violence. That will take concerted action by the US and the EU.

EU Defense Ministers Support the Way Forward for CSDP and EU Operations

By European Union

The informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers took place on 20 and 21 February in Athens, chaired by Greek Minister of National Defence Dimitris Avramopoulos on behalf of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton.

The Big US-Europe Trade Deal Begins the Hard Work

Eight months after opening negotiations on what would be the world’s biggest-ever trade agreement, the United States and the European Union “need to step up” their effort, especially on the tough task of trying to harmonize government business regulations across the Atlantic, said Europe’s top trade negotiator. European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht spoke to […]

Austria Boosts Peacekeepers in Balkans After Golan Withdrawal

By Georgina Prodhan, Reuters

Austria will send more peacekeepers to the Balkans and Africa after its withdrawal from the Golan Heights last year raised questions about the neutral Alpine country’s international commitment.