Europe & Eurasia

Russia’s Big Fuss Over Little NATO Exercises

By David Smith

The first of two successive NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) exercises began yesterday at the Vaziani Georgian Armed Forces Base, 30 kilometers east of Tbilisi.  The objective of Exercises Longbow and Lancer is to improve the abilities of the 14 participating nations to respond cooperatively to crises.

Europe Betrays Its Mission in Prague

By Borut Grgic

The much-anticipated Prague Summit between the European Union and our eastern partners was a flop. The eastern partnership declaration published last Thursday is not worth the paper it was printed on.

Ireland Bans Soccer for Chad Combat Troops

By James Joyner

Ireland’s defense minister has ordered that soldiers assigned to combat duty in Chad refrain from playing contact sports, including soccer and volleyball, lest they injure themselves on the hard dirt. Sadly, this is not a satire from The Onion.

Medvedev Praises Soviet Role in WWII

By James Joyner

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is working to make belittling the Soviet Union’s contribution to the Allied victory in World War II a crime.  He also called the Soviet Union “our country,” a reference sure to raise eyebrows in the West.

Russia’s Privileged Sphere of Influence

By David Smith

Late last week, about 1,800 additional Russian troops poured into the already heavily occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Akhalgori District.

Romanian Offer Causes Moldovan Visa Frenzy

By Valerie Nichols

Last month’s political unrest and violent protests in Moldova have led to an interesting, and controversial, proposition from Romania: the EU nation is offering passports to up to one million Moldovans to prevent the implementation of “a new Iron Curtain” on the border of their historically close neighbor.

Dr. Josef Ackermann Event Transcript

FRED KEMPE:  I am just going to briefly welcome you to this event, part of a new speakers series that we have launched.  But I am going to do the moderating here, and I want to turn over the podium to our new chairman, Senator Chuck Hagel. CHUCK HAGEL:  Fred, thank you.  Good morning.  Thank […]

May Day Riots in Germany, Turkey, and Greece

By James Joyner

David Smith recently argued that the peaceful demonstrations we’re seeing in Georgia and the United States are a healthy part of democracy. Today’s May Day violence in Turkey, Germany, and Greece show the flip side of the coin.