RSS

Ana Palacio, Spanish Council of State | November 30, 2012 On November 29, the UN approved Palestine's bid for being a "non-member observer state". ++ Despite all the risks of this decision, the EU has once again shown its inability of acting unanimously. ++ While France, Portugal and Spain declared their support, the Czech Republic opposed the vote and Germany stressed its abstention. ++ With its split mind-sets, the ...More

Fareed Zakaria, editor-at-large, TIME | November 28, 2012 The assumption that the world, due to the events of the Arab Spring, has acknowledged a "new Middle East" has proven wrong. ++ Despite harsh rhetoric and verbal clashes, an attack of any Arab player on Israel is unlikely. ++ Israel's "Iron Dome" defense system has successfully worked out and provides security and deterrence. ++ Sustainable peace will only be ...More

Robert Kagan, Brookings Institution | November 26, 2012 While the Israel-Palestine conflict escalated, US foreign policy concentrated on "pivoting" to Asia. ++ In the Middle East, this strategy could be interpreted as lack of US interest towards the region. ++ Instead of discussing a rising Asia, the players in the Middle East demand a more active role of the US. ++ US engagement in the region might have turned from ...More

Markus Horeld, DIE ZEIT (in German) | November 22, 2012 Turkey has requested NATO members to deploy Patriot missiles close to its Syrian border. ++ The inquiry has generated a lively debate in Germany. ++ The Foreign Ministry stressed that Turkey´s request should be approved while the political opposition asks for a closer review in order to prevent a direct German military involvement. ++ It is likely that ...More

Charles Kupchan, Council on Foreign Relations | November 20, 2012 UK Prime Minister Cameron may well be putting in motion a political process that will culminate in Britain’s exit from the EU. ++ That outcome would deal a serious blow to European solidarity and shake the foundations of the transatlantic alliance. ++ Britain has long served as a bridge between the United States and Europe, but London cannot remain an ...More

Tomas Avenarius, SZ (in German) | November 19, 2012 The Arab Spring has changed attitudes towards the Israel-Palestine conflict. ++ With growing assertiveness, Arab countries are likely to redefine Israel’s politics. ++ Israel’s air attacks on Gaza have weakened Hamas militarily but have strengthened its acceptance within the Arab world. ++ Turkey, Saudi-Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia challenge ...More

Dr. Patryk Pawlak is a Research Fellow at the EU Institute for Security Studies in Paris where he deals with EU-US relations and US domestic and foreign policies. He also deals with EU Justice and Home Affairs, with particular regard to its external dimension, border management and data protection. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the European ...More

European Council on Foreign Relations | November 2012 Abstract from the ECFR report by Dimitar Bechev, Anthony Dworkin, François Godement, Richard Gowan, Hans Kundnani, Mark Leonard, Daniel Levy, Kadri Liik and Nick Witney: "Most Europeans are relieved at the re-election of Barack Obama. But in his second term, he will face even greater pressure to cut costs than in his first term and is likely to ...More

Frances G. Burwell, Atlantic Council | November 16, 2012 The US and Europe remain each other’s largest economic partner with a daily trade amount of 3.6 billion dollars. ++ A renewed partnership with the US could in particular stem from cooperation in economics. ++ Reducing barriers to trade and investment across the Atlantic spurs both the European and US economy by roughly 0.3 to 0.7 percentage points. ++ ...More

E. Bower, Ctr. for Strategic and Internat. Studies | November 14, 2012 After focusing on geopolitical ties in its first term, the Obama administration's Asia pivot should now turn to trade policy to grow the US economy. + + Obama’s announced trips to Southeast Asia in November can widen the scope of trade engagement in particular through free trade agreements with ASEAN. ++ While facing a “fiscal cliff” at home, ...More