Western Europe

FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Commanders: NATO Navies Should Beef Up Against Russia

New Atlanticist
Oct 2, 2024

A man in a hurry: Keir Starmer’s early approach is making waves at home and abroad

By
Ed Owen

The new UK prime minister’s much-anticipated speech at the Labour Party’s recent gathering in Liverpool is a window into where the country may be headed.

Economy & Business
Elections

New Atlanticist
Oct 2, 2024

Three state elections have backed Germany into a corner

By
Jurek Wille and Friedrich Conradi

The recent successes of populist parties in Germany’s state elections could signal an imminent shift in Berlin’s policies on climate, immigration, and aid for Ukraine.

Elections
Germany

New Atlanticist
Sep 26, 2024

France’s new government aims to calm the political storm. What will it mean for foreign policy?

By
Léonie Allard, Jean-Loup Samaan

Prime Minister Michel Barnier is likely to follow the path of President Emmanuel Macron, but the big question is whether the delicate political context in Paris will allow ministers to focus on crises in Ukraine and Lebanon.

Europe & Eurasia
France

EVENTS

Public Event
Tue, May 27, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson on Britain in an enduring transatlantic relationship

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia
Politics & Diplomacy
Security & Defense

Public Event
Tue, May 6, 2025 • 12:30 pm ET

Belgium’s defense minister on Europe’s evolving security landscape

Europe & Eurasia
NATO
Security & Defense
Western Europe

Online Event
Tue, May 6, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

What to expect from Germany’s next government

Elections
Europe & Eurasia
European Union
Germany

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

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Content

NATOSource

Jul 2, 2015

Commanders: NATO Navies Should Beef Up Against Russia

By AFP and NATO Maritime Command

From AFP: NATO should beef up its maritime arm in response to the rising threat from an increasingly “bold” and “aggressive” Russia, commanders said Wednesday.

NATO Russia

Report

Jun 30, 2015

Next Generation Project: Eine Strategie für die Zukunft der deutsch-amerikanischen Beziehungen

By The US-German Next Generation Project Fellows

Fünfundzwanzig Jahre nach dem Fall der Berliner Mauer stehen die deutsch-amerikanischen Beziehungen vor neuen Herausforderungen. Während die offizielle Zusammenarbeit und Interaktion zwischen Berlin und Washington in vielen Bereichen weiterhin stabil ist, haben sich die deutsche und die amerikanische Öffentlichkeit zunehmend auseinander gelebt. Nachlassende persönliche Bindungen drohen die bilateralen und transatlantischen Beziehungen nachhaltig zu schwächen und […]

Germany

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin, May 10, 2015

NATOSource

Jun 30, 2015

The West Has to Act Now to Defend Ukraine

By Ivo Daalder and Malcolm Rifkind, Politico Europe

Unless Europe and the United States act swiftly, the situation in Ukraine is about to get worse — possibly a lot worse.

Russia Ukraine

Event Recap

Jun 30, 2015

Conference: Exposing Russian Disinformation in the Twenty-First Century. Berlin, Germany

By Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center

On June 25, the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center hosted an all-day conference titled, “Exposing Russian Disinformation in the Twenty-First Century,” in Berlin in partnership with the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). The conference featured panel discussions on the Kremlin’s disinformation campaign in Europe and at home with prominent German and Russian […]

European Union Germany

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Jan. 14, 2015

NATOSource

Jun 29, 2015

NATO’s Stoltenberg Tells Germany to Pay its Share on Defense

By Deutsche Welle

On Monday, the eve of the 60th anniversary of Germany joining NATO, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg gently reminded Berlin that the suggested minimum defense spending for alliance members is 2 percent of GDP.

Germany NATO

UkraineAlert

Jun 29, 2015

Exposing Russian Disinformation

By John B. Emerson

Editor’s note: Ambassador John B. Emerson gave the opening remarks at “Exposing Russian Disinformation in the 21st Century,” a conference sponsored by the Atlantic Council, the European Council on Foreign Relations, and the Heinrich Böll Foundation on June 25, 2015 in Berlin. Emerson’s remarks have been shortened below. The full version is available here. Guten […]

Germany Russia

NATOSource

Jun 26, 2015

France Fills the American Arms Void

By Owen Daniels and Robbie Gramer, Politico Europe

Through a series of recent sales worth billions, most recently a $12 billion deal with Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday, the Rafale has become the backbone of Paris’s realpolitik economic diplomacy

France North Africa

President of the EU Council Donald Tusk, June 25, 2015

NATOSource

Jun 26, 2015

EU Urges More Defense Spending in Dangerous Times

By Adrian Croft, Reuters

European Council President Donald Tusk urged European leaders to spend more on defense on Friday as deadly attacks in France, Tunisia and Kuwait drove home his point about dramatic changes to the security situation in Europe and its neighborhood.

European Union France

In the News

Jun 25, 2015

Gramer and Daniels: France Fills the American Arms Void

By Gramer and Daniels

Transatlantic Security Initiative Assistant Director Robbie Gramer and Middle East Peace and Security Initiative Program Assistant Owen Daniels write for Politico on new French defense contracts with Gulf states in light of strained negotiations between the United States and its partners in the region:

France International Organizations

In the News

Jun 25, 2015

Dungan on Wikileaks Spying Revelations

By Nicholas Dungan

France 24 quotes Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Dungan on how the outrage expressed by French officials about new WikiLeaks revelations that the United States spied on French presidents is just an act of political theatre from a nation that conducts significant spying of its own:

France