Europe & Eurasia

Russia wants joint “red-button” control over NATO missile defense system

By Simone Baribeau and Henry Meyer, Bloomberg

From Simone Baribeau and Henry Meyer, Bloomberg: Russia wants to join in the planned U.S. missile shield in Europe with “red-button” rights to launch strikes at incoming weapons, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said. Russia, which is pursuing talks on the issue with the U.S., will only accept an agreement that allows it to have a […]

British Say NATO Faces Jet Shortage

By Alistair MacDonald and Stephen Fidler, the Wall Street Journal

From Alistair MacDonald and Stephen Fidler, the Wall Street Journal:  The U.S. pullout from the front line of military activity in Libya has left a shortage of ground-attack jets, prompting the British government to pressure its European allies to send more aircraft into the theater.

Britain Seeks Greater Pakistani Role in Securing Domestic Security Issues

By Luv Puri

The writing on the wall was clear when the British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Pakistan. The main agenda of the prime minister’s visit was to repair the soured relations between Britain and Pakistan. The relations dipped last year during the last visit of British Prime Minister to India when he lambasted Pakistani government for […]

Moving toward a joint NATO-Russia missile defense center

By Madeline Albright and Igor Ivanov, the International Herald Tribune

From Madeline Albright and Igor Ivanov, the International Herald Tribune:  Moscow and Washington need a better understanding on missile defense, which otherwise could stall further nuclear reductions.

Germany willing to participate in EU mission in Libya

By Spiegel

From Spiegel:  In a Thursday interview with the television channel N24, [German Foreign Minister Guido] Westerwelle said that Germany would take part in a European Union humanitarian mission should such an operation come to pass.

7 NATO members sign agreement for military transport aircraft

By AFP

France’s Role in Three Conflicts Displays a More Muscular Policy

By Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  France on Tuesday found itself engaged in three shooting wars at once for the first time in memory, indicating a new muscularity in using power by the politically embattled French president, Nicolas Sarkozy.

NATO lacking strike aircraft for Libya campaign

By Ian Traynor and Richard Norton-Taylor, the Guardian

From Ian Traynor and Richard Norton-Taylor, the Guardian: Nato is running short of attack aircraft for its bombing campaign against Muammar Gaddafi only days after taking command of the Libyan mission from a coalition led by the US, France and Britain.

EU setting up military operation for Libya

By the Council of the European Union

From the Council of the European Union:  The Council adopted today a decision on a European Union military operation in support of humanitarian assistance operations in response to the crisis situation in Libya ("EUFOR Libya" operation).

Libyan conflict puts spotlight on airpower and aircraft sales

By Tim Hepher, Reuters

From Tim Hepher, Reuters:  "This is turning into the best shop window for competing aircraft for years. More even than in Iraq in 2003," says Francis Tusa, editor of UK-based Defense Analysis.