Europe & Eurasia

China’s growing interest in Iceland and the Arctic

By Einar Benediktsson and Thomas R. Pickering, New York Times

From Einar Benediktsson and Thomas R. Pickering, New York Times:  According to a 2008 estimate by the U.S. Geological Survey, 13 percent of all the unexploited oil, 30 percent of natural gas and 20 percent of the natural gas liquid resources are located under the seabed of the Arctic.

U.S., British, and French soldiers training Syrian rebels in Jordan

By Julian Borger and Nick Hopkins, Guardian

From Julian Borger and Nick Hopkins, Guardian:  Western training of Syrian rebels is under way in Jordan in an effort to strengthen secular elements in the opposition as a bulwark against Islamic extremism, and to begin building security forces to maintain order in the event of Bashar al-Assad’s fall.

Britain’s Parachute Regiment ending most of its jump training due to budgets cuts

By Mark Nicole, Mail on Sunday

From Mark Nicole, Mail on Sunday:  [C]ost cutting means the Paras will no longer be trained to use their chutes, the Mail on Sunday can reveal. The regiment, whose most famous sortie during the Second World War was immortalised in the film A Bridge Too Far, has been targeted by Ministry of Defence accountants keen […]

Britain risks NATO pledge if defense budget cut, panel says

By Kitty Donaldson, Bloomberg

From Kitty Donaldson, Bloomberg:  Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne risks breaching a NATO agreement to keep U.K. defense spending at 2 percent of gross domestic product if he cuts the Ministry of Defence budget, a panel of lawmakers said.

Our Arctic Strategy Deficit

By William Edwards

The United States is juggling multiple crises at home and around the world. Operating in crisis mode has meant a lack of attention to over-the-horizon issues, not least of which are in the Arctic, where there is a looming fight for territorial expansion driven by large amounts of untapped oil and natural gas resources in […]

For 375 Years, Close Partners

By Mark Brzezinski and Jonas Hafstrom

Innovative – entrepreneurial – audacious – these words apply to this region just as much today as they did 375 years ago.

Britain to train Syrian rebels

By James Blitz and Joshua Chaffin, Financial Times

From James Blitz and Joshua Chaffin, Financial Times:  Britain announced on Wednesday that it would train Syrian rebels in the tactics they must use to hold territory seized from the Assad regime

Moldova’s Pro-Western Government Falls

By Andrew Roth, New York Times

From Andrew Roth, New York Times:  The pro-Western government of Moldova fell on Tuesday when Parliament passed a no-confidence motion

Russia invites US military chief to missile defense talks

By RIA Novosti