Western Europe

Britain and France may share aircraft carriers

By Tim Castle and John Irish, Reuters

From Tim Castle and John Irish, Reuters:  Britain said on Tuesday it would discuss closer military cooperation with France in talks this week, but played down a report that the two countries would share aircraft carriers to save costs. Britain is building two new carriers at a cost of 5.2 billion pounds ($8.0 billion) but, […]

NATO allies have key role in new Pentagon Cyber Security Strategy

By David Ignatius, the Washington Post

From David Ignatius, the Washington Post:   With little fanfare, the Pentagon is putting the finishing touches on a new strategy that will treat cyberspace as a domain of potential warfare — and apply instant "active defense" to counterattacks that, in theory, could shut down the nation’s transportation and commerce.

Defence chief urges end to German conscription

By Gerrit Wiesmann, the Financial Times

From Gerrit Wiesmann, the Financial Times:   The German government is trying to cut its defence budget by ending national service and cutting the army by a third to 165,000 troops. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, the defence minister, urged an end to conscription as he briefed colleagues about cutting €8.3bn ($10.5bn) from planned defence spending by 2014, according […]

Iceland should keep its faith in NATO

By Vera Knútsdóttir, the Guardian

From Vera Knútsdóttir, the Guardian:  Formal talks on Iceland’s accession to the European Union started on 27 July, spurring heated debates between the pro-EU and anti-EU camps. Some of the more optimistic EU advocates believe that once Iceland joins the EU there will be no need for Iceland to stay in Nato. … These optimists […]

U.S., British troops to train with Kazakh forces

By Robin Paxton, Reuters

From Robin Paxton, Reuters:  British and U.S. troops will join Kazakh forces for 10 days of military exercises from Monday, culminating in a mock peacekeeping operation to strengthen links between the three countries on Central Asian soil. More than 1,000 military personnel, including a large contingent from the air mobile force of the Kazakh armed […]

Danish PM hopes troops can leave Afghanistan by 2015

By Adrian Croft, Reuters

From Adrian Croft, Reuters:  Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Thursday he hoped Denmark could withdraw many of its 700 troops from Afghanistan by 2015, or even earlier.

Russian Espionage Targeting New NATO Members

By Gregory Feifer, RFE/RL

From Gregory Feifer, RFE/RL:  The three Czech generals make an impressive roster: the head of the president’s military office, the country’s NATO representative in Europe, and a deputy head of the chief of staff.

Afghanistan Clock Ticking

By James Joyner, the New Atlanticist

From James Joyner, the New Atlanticist:  The Netherlands became the first NATO member to quit Afghanistan Sunday, when it withdrew its 1955 troops.

What’s going on inside David Cameron’s foreign policy?

By Will Inboden, Foreign Policy

Britain’s first National Security Advisor stepping down

By David Stringer, the AP