Europe & Eurasia

Avoiding the Next War in the South Caucasus

By Borut Grgic

While most European governments are cutting defense spending to balance their budgets and curtail debt, there are at least two countries on the Continent that are doing the exact opposite: Azerbaijan and Armenia are both ramping up their defense spending, and have been doing so for the last several years. The two countries are locked […]

Restructuring Sovereign Debt: Time for Action

By Susan Schadler

The gap between market expectations of sovereign debt restructurings and official non-discussion of institutional arrangements for restructuring is wide.  While markets are pricing a substantial default risk for Greek, Irish, Portuguese and even Spanish bonds, the financial policy debate is squarely focused on the causes of the last crisis. Arrangements for dealing with the likely […]

China Urges Europeans to Snub Nobel Ceremony

By Michael Wines, the New York Times

From Michael Wines, the New York Times:  China is pressing European governments to boycott the ceremony awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo

EU runs major cyber-war exercise

By the European Union

From the European Union:  Europe’s cyber security experts are testing their responses today in the first ever pan-European cyber-attack simulation exercise.

Entente Suicidal

By Andrew Roberts, the Wall Street Journal

From Andrew Roberts, the Wall Street Journal:  Great Britain desperately needed to sign a 50-year defense pact with a close ally to protect her dwindling military resources and retain the power to project force in the world.

Avoiding the Next War in the South Caucasus

By Borut Grgic, the Wall Street Journal

Britannia: Bright Beacon or Bursting Bubble?

By Harlan Ullman

This is one of a few columns not preoccupied with Tuesday’s elections, either crowing or cowering over predictions and results and simmering with solemn pronouncements for the nation and world that lie ahead as consequences of how well or badly Republicans and Democrats fared. To many of us, these elections were more embarrassment than elixir […]

NATO open to Ukrainian role in missile defense – Rasmussen

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Ukraine may also take part in NATO’s missile-defense program, as the invitation to join should not be limited to Russia, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Moscow on Wednesday. "I think this invitation should be open to our Euro-Atlantic partners, so it is also an invitation to Ukraine if Ukraine so […]

Entente Frugal: There Has to Be More to Defense Policy Than Saving Money

By Iain Martin, the Wall Street Journal

From Iain Martin, the Wall Street Journal:  [I]t is worth adding a note of caution amid all the cross-channel bonhomie. Almost everyone involved seems convinced they are getting something different out of these arrangements.