Europe & Eurasia

Obama Hosts Baltic Presidents This Week

On Friday, August 30, US President Barack Obama will host the presidents of the three Baltic states: Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Latvian President Andris Bērziņš, and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė. Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson discusses the significance of the visit and the expected topics on the agenda.

Syria: Russia Dooms Hopes of UN Security Council Resolution

By Raf Sanchez and Roland Oliphant, Telegraph

As the US, Britain and France edged closer to approving strikes in response to the alleged use of chemical weapons, the Kremlin said that the West was moving down “a very dangerous path.”

Turkey Readies for Syria Intervention with NATO-Backed Coalition

By Today's Zaman

As speculation on whether or not chemical gas was used in a recent attack in Syria — killing more than 1,000 and injuring many more in Damascus — rang alarm bells globally, Ankara, along with a NATO-backed international coalition, has started to ready itself against a possible intervention in Syria.

NATO Members Could Act Against Syria Without UN Mandate

By Ian Traynor, Guardian

Barack Obama is unlikely to have much trouble mustering a Nato coalition of the willing if Washington opts for military intervention in Syria in response to the alleged chemical weapons atrocities by the Assad regime.

SACEUR: Budget Cuts Already Have ‘Significant Impact’ on US Forces in Europe

By Andrew Tilghman, Military Times

Excerpt from interview by SACEUR and EUCOM commander Gen. Philip Breedlove with Military Times

Armenia Reportedly Buys Chinese Rockets

By Joshua Kucera, Bug Pit

Armenia has reportedly bought long-range rockets from China, in what would be both an escalation of the rocket race between Armenia and Azerbaijan and a dramatic entry of China into the regional conflicts of the South Caucasus.

Russian Military Creating Cyber Warfare Branch

By RIA Novosti

A separate branch dedicated to cyber warfare is being created in the Russian Armed Forces as the Internet could become a new “theater of war” in the near future, a senior Russian military R&D official said.

France Calls for Force if Chemical Arms Confirmed in Syria

By AFP and Wall Street Journal

France is seeking a reaction with “force” if a massacre in Syria involving chemical weapons is confirmed, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Thursday, although he ruled out the use of ground troops.

Iran a Bright Spot in a Bleak Middle East?

By Barbara Slavin

As President Barack Obama returned from vacation this week – a short break interrupted by his need to react to the mayhem in Cairo – he may have been thinking that prospects for a major foreign policy achievement in his second term were fading.

EU Foreign Ministers Speak Out on Cutting Arms Sales to Egypt

By Claire Rosemberg, AFP

The European Union agreed Wednesday to restrict exports of security equipment and arms to Egypt in response to the mounting violence but opted to maintain economic assistance.