FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

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May 19, 2015

A Discussion with Czech Republic’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Jan Mládek

By Global Energy Center

The Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center hosted the Czech Republic’s Minister of Industry and Trade, H.E. Jan Mládek, on May 14, 2015 to deliver remarks on the state of Czech energy and economic affairs, with a particular focus on the newly announced European Energy Union and the future of nuclear energy in the Czech Republic. […]

Central Europe Energy & Environment
Estonian Defence League mortar platoon, Oct. 30, 2013

NATOSource

May 18, 2015

Paramilitary Groups Surge in Popularity in Eastern Europe

By Felicity Capon, Newsweek

Thousands of ordinary civilians, including doctors, carpenters and teachers, are flocking to join volunteer paramilitary groups in several European countries, with some doubling in size since the start of the Ukraine crisis, Newsweek has discovered.

NATO Northern Europe
The success of TTIP has geostrategic value

NATOSource

May 18, 2015

The Strategic Imperative of TTIP

By Jiří Šedivý, Project Syndicate

As negotiations between the European Union and the United States over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) move toward a final agreement, opponents of the proposed pact are becoming more vocal.

Central Europe Economy & Business
Romania seeks to be a regional leader in cyber security

NATOSource

May 15, 2015

Romania Helping Ukraine Fight Russian Cyber Espionage

By Alison Mutler, AP

Ukraine says Russia’s Federal Security Service is coordinating attacks on government offices as part of a proxy war against Ukraine’s government, amid real fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels in the east. Ukrainian security operatives say that, with Romania’s help, they have foiled attempts to spread malicious software

Central Europe Cybersecurity
German Leopard tanks, Aug. 17, 2010

NATOSource

May 14, 2015

Poland Considering Formal Request for Permanent NATO Bases

By Wiktor Szary, Reuters

Poland and the Baltic states said on Thursday they were seeking permanent NATO deployments on their soil to counter increased Russian military activity, and a Polish internal document suggested the matter may be raised at a Warsaw summit next year.

NATO Poland
Members of Polish, Croatian, and US special forces, April 21, 2008

NATOSource

May 7, 2015

Best of Friends: Why Reassuring European Allies is a Job for Special Forces

By Magnus Nordenman

US and European special forces have been incredibly busy over the last decade in global hot spots such as Iraq and Afghanistan. But as major counterinsurgency operations recede, there is still work for them to do, not least in Europe

Central Europe NATO
Admiral Mark Ferguson in Romania, May 5, 2015

NATOSource

May 5, 2015

NATO Moves Command HQ to Romania for Military Exercise

By AP and Allied Joint Force Command Naples

From Alison Mutler, AP:  NATO will briefly move an allied joint force command headquarter to Romania as the alliance continues to hone its ability to react to Russia’s moves in Ukraine and other security challenges, a top commander said Tuesday.

Central Europe Italy
Swedish soldiers training, Aug. 25, 2013

NATOSource

May 4, 2015

Nations Around Baltic Sea Increasing Defense Spending

By Charles Duxbury, Christina Zander, and Juhana Rossi, Wall Street Journal

After Russia grabbed a piece of the Black Sea coast from Ukraine and ramped up its marine and air force exercises on and over the Baltic, the other eight countries with a piece of that sea’s shoreline have realized that this backwater isn’t as placid as it was.

NATO Northern Europe
Chief of the Russian General Staff General Valery Gerasimov, Nov. 9, 2012

NATOSource

Apr 28, 2015

Russia Threatens NATO Over Missile Shield

By Paul Sonne, Wall Street Journal

Russia’s top general warned European countries planning to host installations for a U.S.-led missile-defense shield that Russian forces would be forced to target them.

Central Europe Missile Defense
US Patriot battery in Turkey, Feb. 4, 2013

NATOSource

Apr 22, 2015

Poland Decides to Acquire Patriot Missile Defense System

By Defense News and Boston Globe

From Aaron Mehta and Pierre Tran, Defense News:  Poland has selected the US Patriot system and the Airbus Caracal helicopter as the European nation faces an increasingly aggressive Russia.

Missile Defense Poland

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