Europe & Eurasia

The Putinization of Hungary

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  The right-wing Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban won 53 percent of the popular vote in an election this year but gained 66 percent of the seats in parliament – enough to change the constitution.

Britain expels Russian spy for “overstepping the mark”

By Duncan Gardham and Andrew Osborn, the Telegraph

“Belarus was playing off Russia, the E.U. and China”

By Judy Dempsey

From Judy Dempsey:  As demonstrators in the Belarussian capital of Minsk protested Sunday night against what they claimed were flawed presidential election results, the European Union looked on helplessly. Hundreds of people were beaten and imprisoned. The opposition’s offices were raided. Web sites of independent movements were shut down. Searches and house arrests of those […]

Better to share Britain’s second carrier with NATO?

By David Manning and Franklin Miller, the Financial Times

Ashton picks Finn to be EU ‘spymaster’

By Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver

Europe’s Foreign Ministers Unite Behind START

By the International Herald Tribune

From the International Herald Tribune:  Ratification and implementation of New Start would be a major contribution to enhancing the goals of peace, security and disarmament. Reintroducing legally binding limitations on the numbers of nuclear warheads and an effective verification regime would make a positive contribution both to European security and the global non-proliferation regime. At […]

Four lawmakers hospitalized after fight in Ukrainian Parliament

By Roman Olearchyk, the Financial Times

From Roman Olearchyk, the Financial Times:  A fight broke out in Ukraine’s parliament on Thursday night between lawmakers from President Viktor Yanukovich’s party and opposition MPs from the party of his rival, Yulia Tymoshenko. Four opposition MPs were taken to hospital after being injured in the fistfight. While skirmishes are common in Ukraine’s messy politics, […]

Ashton Warns Europe it is Losing Influence in US

By Stephen Castle, the New York Times

From Stephen Castle, the New York Times:  In her first major report on foreign policy, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, acknowledged that Washington was focusing less on Europe, and warned that the bloc would need to show more unity if it hoped to change that dynamic.

China Expands Its Influence in Europe

By Wieland Wagner, Spiegel

From Wieland Wagner, Spiegel: [T]he rising superpower is cleverly capitalizing on the euro crisis to extend its long-term political and economic influence in Europe.

Gaddafi proposes 1 million-strong African army to “confront NATO” and other powers

By Reuters

From Reuters:  African nations should join forces to create a one-million-strong army to protect the continent and confront outsiders like NATO and China, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Tuesday. Gaddafi, well known for his forthright rhetoric, has acquired growing influence in Africa but his ambition to build a united states of Africa is not […]