Europe & Eurasia

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 […]

France, Germany, Poland propose special EU group for defense cooperation

By Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver

Britain Blocks Budget Increase for the European Defense Agency

By AFP

From AFP:  The defence ministers asked the European Defence Agency, set up to support military coordination, to intensify efforts to find assets that militaries can pool together and share.

Poland: “We got tired of being the one country to stand up to Russia”

By Marcin Sobczyk, the Wall Street Journal

From Marcin Sobczyk, the Wall Street Journal:  According to analysts, the thaw in relations helps both sides as Poland’s previous Russophobic image wasn’t helping to build the country’s position within western structures

5 Reasons Why Russia Could Join NATO

By Alexander Kramarenko, the Moscow Times

From Alexander Kramarenko, the Moscow Times:  1.  Russia does have civilian and democratic control over its armed forces, which one could easily confirm by following debates in the country’s media. Some even believe that this control cannot be more civilian than is already the case. Moreover,  in Russia’s history, including during the Soviet period, the […]