Western Europe

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 […]

Britain charges 9 of 12 arrested in terror plot

By Karla Adam, the Washington Post

From Karla Adam, the Washington Post:  Nine of 12 men arrested last week in Britain on suspicion of planning a terror attack were charged Monday with conspiracy to set off explosions and testing potential bombs, police said.

Britain expels Russian spy for “overstepping the mark”

By Duncan Gardham and Andrew Osborn, the Telegraph

Better to share Britain’s second carrier with NATO?

By David Manning and Franklin Miller, the Financial Times

Europe’s Foreign Ministers Unite Behind START

By the International Herald Tribune

From the International Herald Tribune:  Ratification and implementation of New Start would be a major contribution to enhancing the goals of peace, security and disarmament. Reintroducing legally binding limitations on the numbers of nuclear warheads and an effective verification regime would make a positive contribution both to European security and the global non-proliferation regime. At […]

Gaddafi proposes 1 million-strong African army to “confront NATO” and other powers

By Reuters

From Reuters:  African nations should join forces to create a one-million-strong army to protect the continent and confront outsiders like NATO and China, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said on Tuesday. Gaddafi, well known for his forthright rhetoric, has acquired growing influence in Africa but his ambition to build a united states of Africa is not […]