Politics & Diplomacy

The Consequences of No Nuclear Deal with Iran

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council – United States, France, Russia, China and the UK – plus Germany are in a crucial moment in negotiations with Iran to reach a comprehensive agreement over its use of nuclear power. This group of countries, known as the P5+1, are adamant to ensure that Iran […]

Obama Widens Sanctions Against Russia

By Peter Baker, New York Times

President Obama escalated sanctions against Russia on Wednesday by targeting a series of large banks and energy and defense firms in what officials described as the most punishing measures to date for Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine.

US Ambassador James Dobbins Briefs Atlantic Council on Afghan Crisis

As Afghanistan undergoes a critical stage of its political transition, Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins visited the Atlantic Council on July 11 to provide an off-the-record analysis of the current impasse over the country’s election results. The dispute over the results between the two candidates, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, stems from […]

As EU Decides Russia Sanctions July 16, Will the US Have to Lead on Its Own?

By James Rupert

Damon Wilson: White House May Have to Decide to Act Without European Union The United States has only a dwindling few days left to persuade the European Union to join it in imposing broad economic sanctions against Russia for its attacks on Ukraine. After the EU Council meets on Wednesday, July 16, the Obama administration […]

EU Issues New Maritime Security Strategy

By European Union

Excerpts from the European Union Maritime Security Strategy.

Kerry’s Visit to Kabul Will Be Critical to Defusing Afghanistan’s Election Crisis

Zalmay Khalilzad, David Sedney Analyze Hopes for Resolving a Dangerous Dispute This weekend’s visit to Afghanistan by Secretary of State John Kerry will be a critical opportunity to defuse the dispute over Afghanistan’s presidential election that threatens the country’s stability, two former US top officials said. Kerry is to travel to Kabul as presidential candidates […]

Egypt Faces Challenges as it Prepares for Parliamentary Elections

By Yussef Auf

While all eyes were focused in recent weeks on presidential elections and their results, attention should now turn to Egypt’s next vote for the new unicameral parliament, the House of Representatives. The significance of these elections comes from the results of the presidential elections and the events of the last few months. For many reasons […]

Visegrad Countries May Turn EU Battlegroup into Permanent V4 Rapid Reaction Force

By Visegrád Group

We, the Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, recognize that current security trends in Europe call for even closer regional defence cooperation and multinational programs deeply rooted in NATO and EU policies.