Section: European Voice (EU)
Hillary’s anti-Trump
Retired Admiral James Stavridis, whose vetting as a possible vice president for Hillary Clinton has suddenly placed him in the spotlight in the run-up to her decision, has made a career as a leading warrior-scholar and iconoclast. “Walls don’t work,” he declared as the top commander of NATO in 2012. “Instead of building walls to create...
Donald Trump’s remarks on NATO sets off freakout
Donald Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. shouldn’t automatically come to the defense of its NATO allies if they are attacked is already alarming longstanding American allies, and is likely to please U.S. rival Russia. “Solidarity among allies is a key value for NATO,” the military alliance’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg,...
Why Russia is rejoicing over Trump
MOSCOW — Excited by Donald Trump’s pledge to promote “easing of tensions and improved relations with Russia,” the Kremlin establishment earlier this month invited Trump adviser Carter Page to speak before graduating students of Russian School of Economics. Page did not disappoint. In his remarks, Page condemned current American policy for...
NATO-Russia talks ‘not a meeting of the minds,’ says alliance chief
Talks between NATO and Russia in Warsaw on Wednesday were “an important opportunity to clarify our position,” the alliance’s secretary-general said. Jens Stoltenberg said they discussed a range of issues at the rare talks, including the Ukraine crisis and the stationing of NATO troops in the Baltic states and in Poland. But he cautioned...
The idealistic pull of the ‘Anglosphere’
LONDON — As I wandered around the anti-Brexit protests in London last weekend, I saw nothing on the many placards in the air that could counter the simple message of their opponents. The Leave camp’s “Take Back Control” and proliferation of national flags have a powerful emotional pull, one that pro-Europeans have struggled to deliver....
Spain, Portugal in line for penalties on budget deficits
EU finance ministers have given the European Commission the green light to pursue potential sanctions against Portugal and Spain for failing to meet the bloc’s budgetary rules. The ministers made the decision today after scrutinizing an assessment by the Commission, which concluded that the Iberian countries had failed to take “effective...
French finance minister calls for Portugal to be spared EU sanctions
Portugal does not deserve to be punished for missing EU budget targets, French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said Monday. The European Commission last week began formal disciplinary procedures against Portugal and Spain for having excessive deficits in 2014 and 2015, with EU finance ministers to make a decision Tuesday on what action to take. But...
English are the exception — Europeans dig the EU
In the wake of the Leave campaign’s shocking win in the U.K.’s In/Out referendum, commentators have painstakingly defended Britain’s rampant Euroskepticism as part of a larger trend. They point to the wave of discontent sweeping through the Union, from Sweden and Denmark in the north, to France, the Netherlands and Austria in...
Police tighten security in Paris ahead of Euro 2016 final
More than 5,000 French police are being deployed around the capital on Sunday ahead of the Euro 2016 football final between France and Portugal. Police officials in Paris said police will patrol the Stade de France stadium as well as the Fan Zones. About 1,900 officers will monitor the area near the Eiffel Tower, and another 3,400 the Champs...
In good and bad, Europe can count on US, Obama says
WARSAW — NATO leaders on Saturday agreed to face Russia with a mix of deterrence and dialogue, achieving a difficult consensus under U.S. leadership after a two-day summit, characterized by backroom compromise rather than bold conviction. “NATO is sending a clear message that we will defend every ally,” President Barack Obama said at the...
