FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

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

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NATOSource

Mar 19, 2013

Denmark accelerates withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

By Christian Wenande, Copenhagen Post

From Christian Wenande, Copenhagen Post:  Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt (Socialdemokraterne) has revealed that the last Danish infantry soldier will leave Afghanistan by late summer this year, and not by the end of 2014 as was planned.

United Kingdom

NATOSource

Mar 11, 2013

U.S., British, and French soldiers training Syrian rebels in Jordan

By Julian Borger and Nick Hopkins, Guardian

From Julian Borger and Nick Hopkins, Guardian:  Western training of Syrian rebels is under way in Jordan in an effort to strengthen secular elements in the opposition as a bulwark against Islamic extremism, and to begin building security forces to maintain order in the event of Bashar al-Assad’s fall.

United Kingdom

NATOSource

Mar 11, 2013

Britain’s Parachute Regiment ending most of its jump training due to budgets cuts

By Mark Nicole, Mail on Sunday

From Mark Nicole, Mail on Sunday:  [C]ost cutting means the Paras will no longer be trained to use their chutes, the Mail on Sunday can reveal. The regiment, whose most famous sortie during the Second World War was immortalised in the film A Bridge Too Far, has been targeted by Ministry of Defence accountants keen […]

United Kingdom

NATOSource

Mar 11, 2013

Britain risks NATO pledge if defense budget cut, panel says

By Kitty Donaldson, Bloomberg

From Kitty Donaldson, Bloomberg:  Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne risks breaching a NATO agreement to keep U.K. defense spending at 2 percent of gross domestic product if he cuts the Ministry of Defence budget, a panel of lawmakers said.

United Kingdom

NATOSource

Mar 7, 2013

Britain to train Syrian rebels

By James Blitz and Joshua Chaffin, Financial Times

From James Blitz and Joshua Chaffin, Financial Times:  Britain announced on Wednesday that it would train Syrian rebels in the tactics they must use to hold territory seized from the Assad regime

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Mar 5, 2013

China increasing its defense budget 10.7 per cent

By Malcolm Moore, Telegraph

From Malcolm Moore, Telegraph:  China will push through a double-digit rise in its defence spending again this year, a sign that its new leaders are currying favour with the military even as the economy slows.

United Kingdom

NATOSource

Mar 5, 2013

Britain to withdraw 11,000 troops from Germany by 2016

By Nick Hopkins, Guardian

From Nick Hopkins, Guardian:  More than 11,000 troops currently based in Germany will return to Britain within three years as part of a major restructuring of the army that will require ministers to spend £1bn on new military homes.

United Kingdom

NATOSource

Mar 4, 2013

Final week of NATO’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercise

By EUCOM

From EUCOM:  Exercise Proud Manta 2013 (POMA 13), NATO’s largest anti-submarine warfare exercise, began in the Ionian Sea, Feb. 23.

United Kingdom

NATOSource

Mar 2, 2013

UK-France defense cooperation seen as ‘entente frugale’

By Mohammed Abbas and Mark John, Reuters

From Mohammed Abbas and Mark John, Reuters:  Dubbed the "entente frugale" by wags and criticised by some as a dangerous dilution of military sovereignty, Franco-British defence cooperation is nonetheless growing stronger.

European Union International Organizations

NATOSource

Feb 23, 2013

Japanese Prime Minister invites Britain and France to participate ‘in strengthening Asia’s security’

By Shinzo Abe, Project Syndicate

From Shinzo Abe, Project Syndicate:  The ongoing disputes in the East China Sea and the South China Sea mean that Japan’s top foreign-policy priority must be to expand the country’s strategic horizons.

United Kingdom

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