Western Europe

Britain Blocks Budget Increase for the European Defense Agency

By AFP

From AFP:  The defence ministers asked the European Defence Agency, set up to support military coordination, to intensify efforts to find assets that militaries can pool together and share.

Russia objects to NATO plan to defend Baltics

By Slobodan Lekicby, the AP

It will Soon be Too Late to Stop the Cyberwars

By Bruce Schneier, the Financial Times

From Bruce Schneier, the Financial Times:  The world is gearing up for cyberwar. The US Cyber Command became operational in November. Nato has enshrined cyber security among its new strategic priorities.

Europe’s Piecemeal Failure

By Alistair Darling, the New York Times

From Alistair Darling, the New York Times:  When I look at events in Europe today, with Ireland getting bailed out and talk of crises brewing elsewhere on the continent, I am reminded of the weeks leading up to the banking crisis in 2008.

Aide to British MP Suspected of Spying for Russia

By Ravi Somaiya, the New York Times

Transatlantic Division of Labor: NATO Hard Power and EU Soft Power?

By Howard LaFranchi, the Christian Science Monitor

From Howard LaFranchi, the Christian Science Monitor:  "If one were to say that Europe is going only in the direction of soft power, I would not agree," says Gen. Stéphane Abrial, NATO’s supreme allied commander for transformation.

Transatlantic Division of Labor: NATO Hard Power and EU Soft Power?

By Howard LaFranchi, the Christian Science Monitor

From Howard LaFranchi, the Christian Science Monitor:  "If one were to say that Europe is going only in the direction of soft power, I would not agree," says Gen. Stéphane Abrial, NATO’s supreme allied commander for transformation.

Cables Reveal NATO Split over Russia

By Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver

From Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver:  One cable dealing with an extraordinary meeting of Nato ambassadors in Brussels on 12 August ran with the sub-heading: "Nato allies lack cohesion during first meeting on Georgia crisis."

The United Kingdom: What NATO means for us

NATO has released new videos on YouTube providing national perspectives on the Alliance.

Children safer in Afghan cities than NYC: NATO envoy

By Jonathon Burch, Reuters

From Jonathon Burch, Reuters:  Children are probably safer growing up in Afghanistan’s major cities, including the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, than in London, New York, or Glasgow, NATO’s top civilian envoy to Afghanistan has said.