Europe & Eurasia

Turkey is ‘On Alert’ After Al Qaeda Affiliate Seizes Turkish Hostages in Iraq

By Hurriyet Daily News

The state of Turkey was “on alert” late June 11 after 80 Turkish citizens, including Consul General Öztürk Yılmaz, have been taken hostage by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)

Turkey Calls for Emergency NATO Meeting on Security Situation in Iraq

By Reuters and Telegraph

From Reuters:  NATO ambassadors held an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening at Turkey’s request to discuss the situation in Iraq, where militants took 80 Turkish citizens hostage,a NATO official said.

Russia Responds to Annual NATO Maneuvers with Surprise Exercise of First Strike Forces

By RT

The Baltic Sea and skies are getting crowded as Russia launches military training of its assault forces in the exclave of Kaliningrad in answer to the double war-games being conducted by joint NATO forces on the territory of the three Baltic States.

Rasmussen Outlines Strategic Transatlantic Priorities

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

[H]istory has taught us that freedom does not come for free. We must work for it. Invest in it. And, if necessary, fight for it.

Grushko Warns that Moscow May Withdraw from NATO-Russia Founding Act

By Voice of Russia

NATO was and is a leading military organization in the European-Atlantic region

Russia ‘Forced’ to Take ‘Military Measures’ If NATO Deploys More Troops in Eastern Allies

By Lidia Kelly and Gabriela Baczynska, Reuters

Russia would consider any further expansion of NATO forces near its borders a “demonstration of hostile intentions” and would take political and military measures to ensure its own security, a senior diplomat was quoted on Monday as saying.

Conversation with former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov

On Tuesday, June 10th, the Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center welcomed former Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov for an off-the-record roundtable discussion.

Ukraine Needs, and Could Manage, a Polish-Style ‘Shock Therapy’ Reform Plan

By Irena Chalupa

Veterans of Poland’s Economic Transformation Urge Ukraine to Clean Corruption ‘to the Bone’ Today Poland and Ukraine have closer relations than ever in their mutual history. Since the fall of communism, a historically adversarial relationship has evolved into a strategic partnership. Over the past decade, Polish statesmen such as Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski or former […]

‘Masterly’ Russian Operations in Ukraine Leave NATO One Step Behind

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

In more than a dozen interviews, planners, security officials and members of the intelligence community have spoken of Moscow with universal, if grudging, praise.