Europe & Eurasia

European Defense Ministers Agree to Form ‘Drone Club’

By AP and AFP

From AP:  France, Germany and other European countries on Tuesday formed a “drone users club” to develop a rival to the U.S. and Israeli pilotless aircraft that dominate the field.

Understanding China’s Arctic Ambitions

By Arthur Guschin, Diplomat

China was the first Asian state to show interest and it has begun efforts to become a full member of the Arctic Council.

French Foreign Minister Sees ‘Isolationist Tendency’ in US Foreign Policy

By Roger Cohen, New York Times

There is talk of the trauma of Aug. 31. On that Saturday afternoon President [Francois] Hollande took a call from President [Barack] Obama.

Ukrainian Warship In NATO Operation Disrupted Suspected Pirate Attack

By NATO Maritime Command

Yesterday [November 17] NATO’s counter-piracy Operation OCEAN SHIELD warship UPS HETMAN SAGAIDACHNY of Ukraine boarded a skiff with seven suspected pirates aboard in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).

NATO Secretary General Announces Dates for 2014 Summit

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

I am pleased to announce that the next NATO Summit will take place on September 4‑5, 2014.

Russia and Serbia Sign Military Pact

By RFE/RL and RIA Novosti

From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:  Russia and Serbia signed a military cooperation agreement in Belgrade on November 13.

The Russia Factor in the Egyptian-American Relationship

By Mark N. Katz

Many observers see the recent visit of Russian’s foreign and defense ministers to Cairo and news stories about the possibility of a large-scale Russian-Egyptian arms deal as a sign that the new Egyptian government is moving away from Washington and toward Moscow.  Yet even though this high-level Russian-Egyptian interchange has taken place at a time […]

Europe Loses Trust in Obama

By John Vinocur, Wall Street Journal

The U.S. president’s turnabouts on Syria and Iran—coupled with his policy fumbles at home—have diminished European allies’ traditional respect for the White House.

NATO’s Future: Back to Basics

By Economist

This is the final stage of Steadfast Jazz 2013, NATO’s biggest live-fire exercise since 2006.

Damon Wilson to Outline a US Strategy for Europe’s East

Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson will testify before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on European Affairs hearing today on A Pivotal Moment for the Eastern Partnership: Outlook for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.