Foreign policy & defence
'One blood and one destiny?' Yemen's relations with the Gulf Co-operation Council
20 June 2012
London School of Economics & Political Science
For years Yemen has been the poor, neglected relation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Long-promised aid commitments from the GCC have not materialized because of concerns over Yemeni absorption capacity.
Let Russia show the way on Syria
11 June 2012
The New York Times
Like him or loathe him over his stance on Syria, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, is a better diplomat than most. Experience counts, and Lavrov has spent almost three decades at the United Nations. As a former senior Soviet diplomat and Russia’s permanent representative to the Security Council in the...
Batı Türkiye’ye çok yumuşak
11 June 2012
Cumhuriyet
Interview with Charles Grant in Turkish on 'Turkey should focus on working more closely with the EU in specific areas, rather than the accession process.' Please see attachment.
Aliancia nepatrí do múzea
16 May 2012
SME Daily (Slovakia)
Svet bez NATO sa dá predstaviť, ale bola by to chyba. Aj keď teraz je ekonomická kríza väčšou hrozbou ako nedostatok bezpečnosti, nemusí to tak zostať natrvalo.
Nadchádzajúci summit NATO v Chicagu bude jeden z tých dôležitých. Na oficiálnej agende budú záležitosti od Afganistanu po Rusko, ale dominovať budú...
Nadchádzajúci summit NATO v Chicagu bude jeden z tých dôležitých. Na oficiálnej agende budú záležitosti od Afganistanu po Rusko, ale dominovať budú...
Soccer boycott could kick Ukraine toward reform
11 May 2012
Bloomberg
If war is a continuation of politics by other means, then so is soccer. That's why European Union leaders are right to use the"beautiful game" to pressure an ugly regime in Ukraine.
Why closing the Irish embassy in Tehran is a mistake
24 April 2012
Politico
The recent furore over the closure of closure of the Irish Embassy to the Vatican drowned out any discussion over the withdrawal of other embassies, including that in Tehran last month. Almost unnoticed, Iran has been lumped in with Timor Leste as one of two other Irish diplomatic missions that...
The implications of multipolarity for Central Europe’s security
02 April 2012
Center for European Policy Analysis
For years, Central Europeans have fretted that the United States might withdraw from the European security arena in order to focus on more pressing issues in other parts of the world. Over the last 12 months, these concerns have been exacerbated.
The power balance in Afghanistan
09 March 2012
The Times
Letter to the editor (The Times)Sir, You say that the situation in Afghanistan is "not chaos" [see leading article 8 March 2012]. This assertion does not ring true.
US disengagement from Europe 'will weaken NATO'
09 March 2012
Jane's Defence Weekly
The US disengagement from Europe is permanent, according to a new CER report
The US step-back from Europe, combined with the harsh current economic climate, will force NATO to rein in its ambitions, the report argues
The United States' strategic step-back from bearing the burden of NATO's power projection is...
The US step-back from Europe, combined with the harsh current economic climate, will force NATO to rein in its ambitions, the report argues
The United States' strategic step-back from bearing the burden of NATO's power projection is...
Le veto russe sur la Syrie n’est pas injustifié
28 February 2012
Le Temps
Sans doute Moscou fait-il de la realpolitik en s’opposant à un projet de résolution du Conseil de sécurité exigeant le départ de Bachar el-Assad. Toutefois, la diplomatie russe a raison de penser qu’un tel texte serait intenable. Avec le régime syrien, les Etats occidentaux ont tout fait de travers, estime...
Germany's military future is vital for Europe
19 January 2012
Defence Management Journal
Tomas Valasek, Director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the Centre for European Reform, argues that Germany's next step following its refusal to participate in Libya may be crucial for European defence…
The world's biggest military power, the United States, has announced it is to focus westward on the...
The world's biggest military power, the United States, has announced it is to focus westward on the...
EU foreign policy must not become a casualty of the euro crisis
16 December 2011
EU Observer
Dear EU leaders,
We are seriously concerned about the impact that the current eurozone debt crisis is having on the external relations of the Union.
The first casualty is the time available for foreign policy. We recognise and support your efforts to overcome the current crisis but it is...
We are seriously concerned about the impact that the current eurozone debt crisis is having on the external relations of the Union.
The first casualty is the time available for foreign policy. We recognise and support your efforts to overcome the current crisis but it is...
Why the EU and Turkey need to co-ordinate their foreign policies
31 August 2011
Carnegie
The idea of an EU-Turkey foreign policy dialogue has been catching on in European and Turkish policy circles over the last couple of years.
Turkey's choice
02 June 2011
International Herald Tribune
Turkey's election in 2007 was preceded by threats of a military coup. The 2002 one was overshadowed by an economic meltdown.
We have reached a share it or lose it moment
26 April 2011
Defence Management Journal
Despite all the cuts to defence budgets, Europe's militaries are not doing enough pooling and sharing of equipment and personnel; that is the opinion of Thomas Valasek, author of "Surviving Austerity - The Case for a New Approach to EU Military Collaboration".
The EU needs to woo Israel if it’s to be a peacemaker
01 April 2011
Europe's world
Sharon Pardo highlights a number of important ways in which the EU can support the Middle East peace process, not least by encouraging internal Palestinian reconciliation. But if the EU wants to play a larger role in the peace process it also needs to improve its image in Israel.
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Save and secure?
03 January 2011
E!Sharp
At a bilateral summit in London on November 2 last year, Britain and France embarked on what their leaders described as a "new chapter" in defence co-operation.
Europe frets over foreign investments in the defence industry
15 October 2010
Yale Global Online
A small number of sovereign investors, sometimes originating from non-democratic states, are buying shares in European aerospace and defense companies. Some EU governments have responded by calling for tougher controls on foreign investment in these industries.
But there is no need for alarm. The European defence sector is sufficiently protected by...
But there is no need for alarm. The European defence sector is sufficiently protected by...
EU must co-ordinate its defence needs
15 August 2010
The Guardian
Most European countries are making drastic cuts to their defence spending. Several, including Britain, are contemplating giving up significant chunks of their military equipment.
A bad deal for Ukraine and Yanukovich
27 April 2010
Financial Times
The new Ukrainian president has got off to a bad start in foreign policy terms. Last week, Viktor Yanukovich signed a lease agreement with Moscow that will allow the Russian Black Sea Fleet to stay in Ukraine for at least another 32 years.