European Union

On to Chicago: Enter the European Union

By Sven Biscop, the New Atlanticist

From Sven Biscop, the New Atlanticist:  At the NATO Summit in Chicago a first assessment of the Alliance’s Smart Defense initiative is expected.

Qatar PM calls for arming Syrian rebels

By Michael Peel and Abigail Fielding-Smith, the Financial Times

From Michael Peel and Abigail Fielding-Smith, the Financial Times:  The oil-rich Gulf state of Qatar backed arming Syrian rebels on Monday, echoing fresh calls from opposition figures for a military response to the relentless regime bombardment of anti-government strongholds. As Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar’s prime minister, said opponents of President Bashar al-Assad should […]

On to Chicago: Enter the European Union

By Sven Biscop

At the NATO Summit in Chicago a first assessment of the Alliance’s Smart Defense initiative is expected. As the European Union is invited, the first results of its Pooling & Sharing Initiative will be discussed as well. On the NATO side in particular there is a search for “flagship projects” substantial enough to present to […]

The U.S. and Denmark – NATO Allies and Global Partners

By the White House

The European Union and the Syrian Gridlock

By Vivien Pertusot

The United Nations account of the 8317 dead and counting in Syria is disturbing, even more so as the international community remains divided and actions to curb violence have proved unsuccessful. In this apparent gridlock, the European Union has adopted a hard-pressed and steady posture against the regime. The pressure may be growingly biting, yet […]

Eurozone Crisis: ‘Behind the name-calling… lies a complete breakdown of trust’

By Philip Stevens, the Financial Times

From Philip Stevens, the Financial Times:  Another week, another sticking plaster. The deal to prop up Greece has bought some more time. The important thing – or so we are led to believe – is that the wound has been cauterised. Again.

Smart Defense Requires Smarter Defense Education

By Julian Lindley-French

Because the Euro crisis is not only disconnecting European security from world security but also turning many European armed forces into little more than armed pensions, something radical needs to be done to bridge the abyss between strategy and austerity through which our armed forces are now falling.

Nicolas Sarkozy admits David Cameron was right to veto European treaty

By Rowena Mason, the Telegraph

From Rowena Mason, the Telegraph:  David Cameron was right to “defend Britain’s national interest” when he vetoed the new European treaty, Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, has admitted.

Britain and France ‘Will continue to increase their engagement with the Syrian opposition’

By the Foreign Ministry of Great Britain

From the Foreign Ministry of Great Britain:  Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met in Paris for the UK-France Summit on 17 February. Syria was one of the areas discussed.

Entente Frugale: Why England and France Must Hang Together…or Hang Separately

By Julian Lindley-French

David Cameron is today in Paris to meet with his ‘friend’ French President Nicholas Sarkozy. The ostensible purpose of the meeting is to sign a treaty of co-operation on the sharing of civil nuclear technology, i.e. the French are to remind the English of what they once knew about nuclear stuff but have now forgotten, […]