Foreign policy & defence

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Nord Stream 2: More hot air than gas?

Noah Gordon
12 January 2018
Some EU member-states see the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as Russia’s latest anti-European weapon. But even if they are right, the threat can be mitigated.

Trump and the Iran deal: Not yet the nuclear option?

13 December 2017
Trump has placed the international nuclear agreement with Iran in jeopardy. The EU should try to save the deal, but be prepared in case it fails.

PESCO: Paper tiger, paper tanks?

Sophia Besch
29 November 2017
For PESCO to become more than another EU defence paper tiger, it must develop effective assessment mechanisms and deliver on filling European capability gaps.

Trump's trade policy: Separating the normal from the dangerous

Noah Gordon
10 November 2017
Some of Trump's trade actions are traditionally American. Others threaten the future of the World Trade Organisation. Europeans should look past his insults and prepare a response.

Relaunching the EU

Charles Grant, Sophia Besch, Ian Bond, Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, Camino Mortera-Martinez, Christian Odendahl, John Springford, Simon Tilford
07 November 2017
The EU is ripe for fundamental reform. New policies are needed for migration and the euro. The EU also needs more flexible structures so that countries can opt in and out of key policies.

EU enlargement: Door half open or door half shut?

09 October 2017
EU enlargement has spread peace and prosperity, but it has now stalled. The EU should keep the door open, and prepare countries for coming inside.

Can the world live with North Korea's bomb?

19 September 2017
The world should stop pretending that North Korea will give up its nuclear weapons, and focus on minimising the risks of further proliferation and of accidental or deliberate conflict.
How the West can contain – and end – the conflict in Ukraine

How the West can contain - and end - the conflict in Ukraine

15 September 2017
New US sanctions on Russia prevent a backroom Trump-Putin deal on Ukraine, but they also threaten Western unity. They should prompt the EU to re-invigorate the Minsk agreement. 
European policy in Asia: Getting past mercatorism and mercantilism

European policy in Asia: Getting past mercatorism and mercantilism

07 September 2017
Asia is a dangerous place, and closer to Europe than most Europeans think. They cannot leave Trump's America to tackle all Asia's security problems.
Liberalism under attack: Is the EU a fortress or a sandcastle?

Liberalism under attack: Is the EU a fortress or a sandcastle?

27 July 2017
The EU cannot rely on partnership with Trump’s America to defend the international liberal order. It must do more to protect its values and interests.

What future for the European defence fund?

Sophia Besch
28 June 2017
For the European defence fund to succeed, member-states have to agree how to distribute the money, how to finance joint projects, and which capabilities to develop.

Trump, Europe and the Middle East peace process: A path out of the quicksand

23 June 2017
The Middle East peace process is frozen. Rather than attempting to reach an all-or-nothing final agreement, Europe and the US should pursue an incremental approach.
Europe's NATO balancing act

Europe's NATO balancing act

Sophia Besch
24 May 2017
This week in Brussels, Europe's leaders must not only convince President Donald Trump of NATO's value, but also push for Europe's NATO priorities.

Unfreezing TTIP: Why a transatlantic trade pact still makes strategic sense

Rem Korteweg
11 May 2017
Despite concerns about Trump's views on trade, a transatlantic deal would bring foreign policy benefits. If only Europe could get its act together.
No entry: What Trump’s migration policies mean for the EU

No entry: What Trump’s migration policies mean for the EU

Camino Mortera-Martinez
10 April 2017
Trump's 'Muslim ban' does not apply to EU citizens. But his migration and security policies may have unexpected effects in Europe.

Bulletin Issue 113 - April/May 2017

Charles Grant, Christian Odendahl, Sophia Besch
20 March 2017

Playing defence

Sophia Besch
20 March 2017
The UK’s contributions to European defence will play a role in Brexit negotiations. But both sides should keep the long-term objective of close co-operation in mind.

The EU, the Eurasian Economic Union and One Belt, One Road: Can they work together?

16 March 2017
The EU, Russia's Eurasian Economic Union and China's One Belt, One Road initiative may become rival spheres of influence. But could they complement each other instead?

Contested space: Eastern Europe between Russia and the EU

09 March 2017
The EU's Eastern Partners are caught between the West, which excludes them from its organisations, and Russia, which tries to force them into its orbit.