United Kingdom

Pakistan capable of overtaking Britain and France among world’s largest nuclear weapons powers

By David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, the New York Times

From David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, the New York Times:  New American intelligence assessments have concluded that Pakistan has steadily expanded its nuclear arsenal since President Obama came to office, and that it is building the capability to surge ahead in the production of nuclear-weapons material, putting it on a path to overtake Britain as […]

Britain, France and Germany issue joint statement on Egypt

By Judy Dempsey, the New York Times

From Judy Dempsey, the New York Times:  Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany — fell short of calling for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt

Stop Albania’s Self-Destruction

By Daniel Korski, the International Herald Tribune

From Daniel Korski, the International Herald Tribune:  One moment Albania is Lonely Planet’s “must-see” destination for 2011, a NATO member whose citizens enjoy visa-free travel into the European Union; the next, government forces are shooting and killing protesters on the streets and the British Foreign Office is warning visitors to avoid large crowds in Tirana. […]

UK-Nordic-Baltic Summit to develop “alliance of common interests”

By George Parker and Andrew Ward, the Financial Times

Nordic Alliance: Mini-NATO or Polar Fog?

By Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver

From Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver:  Proposals for the five Nordic countries to create a mini-Nato alliance are "dreams in Polar fog" but may be useful for "keeping an eye on Polar bears and Russians", according to the former US ambassador to Norway, Benson Whitney.

End of EU Arms Embargo with China may Spark Transatlantic Quarrel

By John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune

From John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune:  [T]he E.U.’s attitude on its 20-year-old embargo on supplying China with military wherewithal looks wobbly.

Chinese Amb: “Cold Europe is feeling the warmth of the Chinese breeze”

By Anthony Faiola, the Washington Post

From Anthony Faiola, the Washington Post:  [S]peculation among traders that cash-rich China might step in and buy hard-hit European bonds, along with Chinese officials suggesting that Beijing would keep supporting the euro, helped the currency claw out a gain Monday

British CHoD: Not a Time for Strategic Shrinkage

By James Joyner

UK defense chief General Sir David Richards declared that, despite painful cuts in his country’s military budget, they "will continue to be the best ally the United States could hope for." Richards made no bones about how painful austerity would be, noting that it will require manning a smaller force than he would like and […]

British Defense Chief: Afghanistan Situation ‘Radically Better’

By James Joyner

General Sir David Richards, the chief of Britain’s armed forces, told an Atlantic Council audience that the situation in Afghanistan is "radically better than it was in 2008," when he turned over command of the NATO mission. He noted that little has changed in terms of the strategic vision. The essential understanding of how to […]