FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

EVENTS

Program

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

Content

Time for a pivot back to Europe

NATOSource

Mar 5, 2015

NATO Unleashed: Stopping Russia in Its Tracks

By Marik String, National Interest

In the words of the West German defense ministry in 1979, “there can be no alternative to forward defense.

Germany NATO
Russian Tu-95 strategic bomber as it approached UK airspace last year

NATOSource

Mar 5, 2015

Russian Bombers Disrupted Civilian Planes in Irish Airspace

By AFP

One plane was diverted and another delayed to avoid two Russian bombers that flew through Irish-controlled airspace

Russia United Kingdom
Commander of US Army in Europe, Gen. Ben Hodges, Nov. 5, 2014

NATOSource

Mar 4, 2015

Putin Wants to Destroy NATO, Says US General Ben Hodges

By Justin Huggler, Telegraph

The commander of the US army in Europe has spoken out in support of the military relationship with Britain, amid concerns it could be damaged by defence cuts.

Germany NATO
Former head of UK Secret Intelligence Service John Sawers, April 13, 2009

NATOSource

Mar 3, 2015

Former Chief of Intell Service: UK Needs More Defense Spending to Deal with New Threats

By BBC

Sir John Sawers, who recently retired after five years as chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Russia poses a “state to state threat.”

Intelligence Russia

Event Recap

Feb 27, 2015

Germany’s Future Role in Transatlantic Security: A Conversation with Vice Admiral Andreas Krause, Chief of the German Navy

By Brent Scowcroft Center

Over the past year, tensions between Russia and NATO over the war in Ukraine have extended past NATO’s south-eastern border up to its most vulnerable north-eastern partners. It is along this border that Russia has launched three surprise military exercises in the past year, incorporating land, air, and sea offensive elements in scenarios eerily resembling […]

Germany NATO
German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier, Oct. 10, 2007

NATOSource

Feb 27, 2015

The DNA of German Foreign Policy

By Frank Walter Steinmeier, Project Syndicate

[I]t is abundantly clear from the Review that our partners expect a more active – and even more robust – German foreign policy in the future. Expectations are high – perhaps too high at times.

Europe & Eurasia France
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK PM David Cameron, & President Barack Obama, June 25, 2009

NATOSource

Feb 27, 2015

NATO Defense Spending Promises Largely Ignored

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

Only two of Nato’s six biggest defence spenders — the US and France — will fulfil a pledge to protect military budgets made at the alliance’s summit five months ago.

France Germany
Prime Minister David Cameron and President Barack Obama, Sept. 4, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 26, 2015

Report: Six European Members of NATO Will Cut Defense Spending and Break Agreement Made at Wales Summit

By Denitsa Raynova & Ian Kearns, ELN

Preliminary reports from fourteen countries examined for fiscal year 2015 suggest that only one (Estonia) will spend 2% of GDP on defence.

Germany Hungary
Chairman of the Bundestag defense committee Hans-Peter Bartels, Dec. 31, 2012

NATOSource

Feb 26, 2015

Political Leaders in Germany Question Readiness of the Bundeswehr

By Local (Germany)

The Bundeswehr (German army) is currently only 75 percent equipped with tanks and other heavy weapons, with equipment shared between different units as and when they need it under a so-called “Dynamic availability management” system.

Germany NATO

Event Recap

Feb 25, 2015

Germany Army Chief of Staff Bruno Kasdorf on the State of Transatlantic Security

By Brent Scowcroft Center

The Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security hosted Lieutenant General Bruno Kasdorf, the Chief of Staff of the German Army, on Monday, February 20. General Kasdorf presented the German perspective on international security issues, including the latest developments regarding NATO and Europe, in a new, dynamic security environment.

Germany NATO

Experts