In The News

Putin's Wary Reconciliation

Liliana Proskuryakova January 24, 2005
Although the newly elected Ukraine president Victor Yushchenko arrived in Moscow today in a gesture of reconciliation, Russia's ill-disguised attempt to defeat him in the election has left a bad taste in the mouth. It has not only soured relations between these two historically close partners giving rise to anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine, but also further complicated Russia's...

Peacekeeping Forces Power Agenda

Ian Black December 2, 2004
As NATO relinquishes its peacekeeping duties in Bosnia this week, the EU will step into the role, launching the most ambitious peacekeeping mission yet undertaken by the body. In Bosnia, the EU will attempt to crack down on organized crime while dangling the prospect of future Union membership as an incentive for internal reform. With a major effort underway to amp up its defense capabilities,...

Anchor the Black Sea Region to the West

Ronald D. Asmus September 8, 2004
Recent violence in the Black Sea region has highlighted the urgency of the area's political instability. Geographically situated at the intersection of Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East, this region is invaluable to the West, both economically and politically. For this reason, argues policy expert Ronald D. Asmus, both NATO and the EU must reach out to Black Sea countries, bolstering...

The Metrosexual Superpower

Parag Khanna August 16, 2004
Europe is a “metrosexual” superpower, writes Parag Khanna, a fellow in global governance at the Brookings Institution; just as modern metrosexual men mix traditional masculine traits such as strength with an eye for style, Europe wields influence around the globe through soft power and finesse. Instead of overt displays of military strength, Europe has racked up diplomatic success through doling...

Signs Across the Atlantic: 'Europeans for Kerry!'

Shada Islam August 12, 2004
With the US presidential elections nearing, Europe is carefully evaluating its tumultuous relationship with its transatlantic neighbor. Shada Islam, a Brussels-based journalist who specializes in EU foreign policy, says that differences between the two sides run almost as deep as the ocean that separates them. The relationship between the EU and the Bush administration has been plagued by...

Schröder's Agenda

Aaron Kirchfeld July 9, 2004
During NATO’s Istanbul Summit from June 28 to 29, member countries agreed to expand the alliance’s presence in Afghanistan and consented to take on a training role for officers of the new Iraqi army. On both accounts, however, NATO’s commitment fell short of what was hoped for by the US, perpetuating the feeling that a rift has developed between the US, on one side, and France and Germany on the...

US Nation-Building Abroad – Part III

Ahmed Rashid June 1, 2004
After over 30 months of active engagement in Afghanistan, the US military is still not able to guarantee peace and security within the country's borders. Osama bin Laden, whose presence in Afghanistan occasioned the US intervention in the first place, still remains elusive. In the final installment of a multi-author series on America's nation-building efforts, journalist and author...