FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

EVENTS

Program

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

Content

Italian soldier with Afghan National Police, March 15, 2013

NATOSource

Nov 19, 2014

Germany and Italy to keep up to 1,350 soldiers in Afghanistan

By Reuters

Germany and Italy plan to keep a total of up to 1,350 soldiers in Afghanistan in 2015 to help train local armed forces, their defense ministries said on Tuesday, a slightly larger contingent than had been previously expected.

Afghanistan Germany
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, June 6, 2007

NATOSource

Nov 18, 2014

Merkel Issues Rebuke to Russia, Setting Caution Aside

By New York Times and Deutsche Welle

From Alison Smale, New York Times:  Tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats. Russian naval ships showing up as world leaders meet in Australia. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany telling Russia sternly to play by 21st-century rules

Australia European Union
Brandenburg Gate

NATOSource

Nov 13, 2014

Time for Germans to Earn the Gift of 1989

By Constanze Stelzenmüller, Brookings

At this watershed moment, Germany, dubbed the “reluctant hegemon” not so long ago, finds itself the pivotal player in Europe.

Europe & Eurasia France
8 northern European nations decide to strengthen defense cooperation

NATOSource

Nov 13, 2014

Northern European Nations to Boost Military Cooperation Against Russia

By Alister Doyle, Reuters

Eight northern European nations agreed on Thursday to step up cooperation to counter an increase in Moscow’s military activity that has included a tripling of NATO intercepts of Russian jets this year.

Northern Europe Russia
French warship Mistral (L9013)

NATOSource

Nov 7, 2014

Congressional Leaders Renew Call for NATO to Purchase French Warships Intended for Russia

By Eliot Engel, Mike Rogers, Mike Turner, Bill Keating, Steve Cohen, Gerry Connolly, Steve Chabot, and Jim Gerlach

Text of congressional letter sent to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

France NATO
French Mistral, Tonnerre (L9014)

NATOSource

Nov 6, 2014

French-Built Mistral Ships For Russia Could End Up In Canadian Hands

By Christopher Harress, International Business Times

The Canadian military has emerged as a potential destination for the controversial French-built Mistral helicopter carrier ships, built for Russia and now at the center of an international row

France Russia
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, Sept. 27, 2012

NATOSource

Nov 4, 2014

French Foreign Minister: Anti-ISIL Coalition Must Also Save 300,000 Lives In Aleppo

By Laurent Fabius, Washington Post

Syria’s second-largest city and part of humanity’s ancient heritage, Aleppo is the martyred center of the resistance to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad,

France Iraq
Russian jets over Victory Day Parade, May 9, 2010

NATOSource

Oct 29, 2014

NATO Intercepted 19 Russian Military Aircraft Today

By Allied Command Operations

NATO detected and monitored four groups of Russian military aircraft conducting significant military manoeuvers in European airspace over the Baltic Sea, North Sea/Atlantic Ocean, and Black Sea on 28 and 29 October 2014.

Germany NATO
US troops participating in Combined Resolve exercise, Oct. 25, 2014

NATOSource

Oct 27, 2014

Has Russia’s War on Ukraine Changed European Defense Budgets?

By Christopher P. Cavas, Defense News

Russia’s heightened aggressiveness has been on display for most of the year, notably in Crimea and Ukraine. But President Vladimir Putin’s military forces have been more antagonistic elsewhere,

France Germany
Airbus CEO Thomas Enders at the Atlantic Council, April 30, 2014

NATOSource

Oct 22, 2014

Airbus Chief Hits Out at German Defense Policy

By AFP

The head of European aerospace giant Airbus, Thomas Enders, lashed out at what he saw as Germany’s risk aversion in matters of defence policy in a magazine interview Wednesday.

Germany

Experts