Foreign policy & defence

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The European External Action Service

The European External Action Service

15 March 2013
The European External Action Service (EEAS) is, potentially, a very useful tool for enhancing British influence in the EU and in the world.
The EU and Iran

The EU and Iran

Rem Korteweg
15 March 2013
The EU-Iran relationship focuses on the stop-and-go negotiations to end Iran's nuclear programme, which Europeans and the US believe is designed to build nuclear weapons.
In Mali, now comes the hard part

In Mali, now comes the hard part

Rem Korteweg
22 February 2013
France and other EU countries confront four main challenges in the Mali crisis. As the EU launches a training mission, the hardest work still lies ahead.
Annual Report 2012

Annual report 2012

08 February 2013
Charles Grant analyses Britain's difficult relationship with the EU and looks back on what the CER did in 2012.
Time to bite the bullet on European defence

Time to bite the bullet on European defence

Clara Marina O'Donnell
01 February 2013
In response to declining defence budgets, Europeans must buy cheaper military equipment and co-ordinate their efforts to build sophisticated drones.
US foreign policy after the presidential election

US foreign policy after the presidential election: What should Europeans expect?

Clara Marina O'Donnell, Clara Marina O'Donnell
25 October 2012
For all the sparring between the presidential candidates on US foreign policy, a second Obama term or a Romney administration would have a lot in common.
Burma: An EU foreign policy success

Burma: An EU foreign policy success

23 August 2012
Burma's rulers could not modernise its economy unless the EU lifted sanctions. But the EU insisted on political reform, which is now happening.
Iceland & the EU

The Commission should stand firm on Iceland's accession negotiations

Stephen Tindale
08 August 2012
The world's longest running democracy would be a welcome member, but the EU should not lower standards on fishing or whaling to encourage Iceland to join.
Is the Franco-British defence treaty in trouble?

Is the Franco-British defence treaty in trouble?

Tomas Valasek
27 July 2012
In 2010, France and Britain agreed to strengthen defence collaboration, mainly to save money through common research and acquisition of military equipment. The economic crisis forced their hand: they needed greater economies of scale to preserve certain capabilities in the face of smaller defence budgets (which Britain cut two years...
Are Europeans a better transatlantic security partner than meets the eye?

Are Europeans a better transatlantic security partner than meets the eye?

Clara Marina O'Donnell, Patryk Pawlak
06 July 2012
Europeans are less willing to use military force than their US allies. But they are still making significant contributions to global stability.
Europe's External Action Service: Ten steps towards a credible EU foreign policy

Europe's External Action Service: Ten steps towards a credible EU foreign policy

Edward Burke
04 July 2012
The EU's new diplomatic service has been widely criticised. Although the EEAS has achieved more than many acknowledge, it can still do a lot better.
The implications of military spending cuts for NATO's largest members

The implications of military spending cuts for NATO's largest members

Andrew Dorman, Bastian Giegerich, Camille Grand, Adam Grissom, Christian Mölling, Clara Marina O'Donnell
01 July 2012
Brookings
There have long been debates about the sustainability of the transatlantic alliance and accusations amongst allies of unequal contributions to burden-sharing. But since countries on both sides of the Atlantic have begun introducing new – and often major – military spending cuts in response to the economic crisis, concerns about...
What Putin's return means for the former Soviet republics

What Putin's return means for the former Soviet republics

Jana Kobzova, Tomas Valasek
25 May 2012
Vladimir Putin's re-election as Russia's president, and his absence from recent summits of the G8 and NATO, indicate a hardening of Russian attitudes towards the West.
What does this imply for Russia's relations with the former Soviet republics in Europe and Central Asia? The EU and NATO have little interest in...
Time for France to take the lead on Syria

Time for France to take the lead on Syria

Edward Burke
25 May 2012
Western policy towards Syria is a mess and needs to be rethought before it is too late. Lebanon is sliding into conflict and jihadist and other extremist groups have increased their presence in both countries.
The Gulf states, with tacit US support, have started arming Islamist militant groups of which they...
Smart but too cautious: How NATO can improve its fight against austerity

Smart but too cautious: How NATO can improve its fight against austerity

Claudia Major, Christian Mölling, Tomas Valasek
21 May 2012
European militaries remain wary of collaboration. NATO should give them incentives and address their fears.
NATO ponders austerity and US 'pivot'

NATO ponders austerity and US 'pivot'

Tomas Valasek
18 May 2012
The US sees itself as a Pacific power, and the Europeans are busy plundering their defence budgets. Does NATO have a future?
A new political bargain in Afghanistan

A new political bargain in Afghanistan

Edward Burke
26 March 2012
Reports by official US agencies, such as the Government Accountability Office, make it crystal clear: the Afghan government is stealing money from the international community and from the Afghan people, on an alarming scale. US and European officials in Kabul are dismayed but seem paralysed: their response is to vow...