International Organizations

Gen. Petraeus meets with NATO Secretary General and Alliance leaders

By NATO

From NATO:  On 1 July, the incoming Commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), General David Petraeus, visited NATO Headquarters. He met with the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and addressed the North Atlantic Council and representatives of the ISAF troop contributing nations.

The deadliest month for NATO in nine years of conflict

By AFP

From AFP: An Afghan UN employee was killed when his vehicle came under fire in Kabul Tuesday, as the toll for foreign troops rose to 100 in June, the deadliest month for NATO in nine years of conflict.

European Union, U.S. to share banking data to fight terrorism

By Ellen Nakashima, the Washington Post

From Ellen Nakashima, the Washington Post:  The European Union has reached an agreement with the United States that will allow European bank data to continue to be shared for counterterrorism purposes, but only after liberal members of parliament secured stronger privacy guarantees.

New Czech Prime Minister Is Named

By Dan Bilefsky, the New York Times

From Dan Bilefsky, the New York Times:  President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic said Sunday he would appoint a center-right leader, Petr Necas, as the country’s new prime minister on Monday, clearing the way for a government that is both pro-American and focused on fiscal austerity.

US: Turkey must demonstrate commitment to West

By the AP

From the AP:  The United States is warning Turkey that it is alienating U.S. supporters and needs to demonstrate its commitment to partnership with the West. The remarks by Philip Gordon, the Obama administration’s top diplomat on European affairs, were a rare admonishment of a crucial NATO ally.

In Europe, U.S. Allies Target Defense Budgets

By Stephen Fidler, Alistair MacDonald, and Patrick McGroarty, the Wall Street Journal

Desperate Times Mean Desperate Measures in Europe

By Scott Bleiweis

The financial crisis continues to wreak havoc in Europe. Beyond Greece, we’ve been told Spain is especially at risk. But even more established market economies have taken steps towards cutting debt and providing relief to struggling citizens.

Time for Transatlantic Leadership

By Stuart Eizenstat and Caio Koch-Weser

Saturday the leaders of the G20 will convene for a pivotal meeting on the future of global economic policy and financial market reform. Their first gathering in 2008 set a strong and encouraging tone of greater international cooperation. Less than two years on, this important spirit is getting lost.

Russia-Belarus “Gas War” is Over

By Reuters

From Reuters:  Russia resumed gas supplies to Belarus on Thursday and paid gas transit debts to Minsk in a move to ease fears of supply cuts to the European Union, which has called the dispute an attack on the entire bloc. Belarus said it had yet to receive the payments for transit but was ready […]

British Security Policy – the US or the EU?: Choose Your Partners

By Anand Menon, Chatham House