Europe & Eurasia

Europe’s Foreign Policy Chief Faces Criticism on Uprisings

By Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  [T]here is growing unease that she [the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton] has not been forceful enough in front of Europe’s nation-states on breaking world events like those in the Middle East and North Africa.

Franco-German “competitiveness pact” sparks opposition

By Charlemagne, the Economist

From Charlemagne, the Economist:  When Germany and France disagree, everybody complains about paralysis in Europe. When they agree, the protest is about unacceptable diktats.

NATO appoints new Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan

By NATO

From NATO:  The NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, announced today his decision to appoint Ambassador Simon Gass as the new Senior Civilian Representative (SCR) in Afghanistan, replacing Ambassador Mark Sedwill, who has served as SCR in Kabul since February 2010.

NYT: Europe should not “follow rules made in Germany, for Germany”

By the Editors, the New York Times

From the Editors, the New York Times:  [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel is finally engaging, but the proposals she, and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, presented to European Union leaders in Brussels on Friday ask too much and do not offer enough in return.

International naval forces unable to stop spread of Somali piracy

By the Economist

From the Economist:  According to the International Maritime Bureau, which posts live data on raids, Somali pirates hold 33 vessels and 758 hostages. In January alone the bureau recorded 35 attacks. The raiders took seven ships and 148 new hostages.

Sovereignty Intact Despite French Defense Pact: UK

By Reuters

U.S. and E.U. Join to Show Support for Belarus Opposition

By Judy Dempsey, the New York Times

From Judy Dempsey, the New York Times:  The United States and the European Union joined Wednesday in Warsaw in a show of support for the democratic opposition in Belarus.

Pakistan capable of overtaking Britain and France among world’s largest nuclear weapons powers

By David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, the New York Times

From David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, the New York Times:  New American intelligence assessments have concluded that Pakistan has steadily expanded its nuclear arsenal since President Obama came to office, and that it is building the capability to surge ahead in the production of nuclear-weapons material, putting it on a path to overtake Britain as […]

U.S. and Europe Move Against Belarus’s Leader

By Michael Schwirtz, the New York Times

From Michael Schwirtz, the New York Times:  The United States and the European Union on Monday imposed sanctions against President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko and scores of other officials in Belarus for a broad crackdown on the opposition after the fraudulent presidential election late last year.

Crackdown in Belarus needs united transatlantic response

By John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, the Washington Post

From John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, the Washington Post:  Since the patently unfair and undemocratic presidential election on Dec. 19, Alexander Lukashenko, the authoritarian ruler of Belarus, has reminded his countrymen and the world that the post-Cold War vision of a Europe whole, free and at peace remains sadly unfulfilled.