GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER SUGGESTS BREXIT MODEL FOR RELATIONS WITH TURKEY & UKRAINE

Sourced : Daily Sabah According to Gabriel, the EU needs to find “alternative” ways of closer cooperation and partnership with both Turkey and Ukraine as both countries are unlikely to join the 28-member bloc in the foreseeable future. The German foreign minister presumed that such model could lead to a “new, closer form of customs… Continue reading GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER SUGGESTS BREXIT MODEL FOR RELATIONS WITH TURKEY & UKRAINE

POROSHENKO : THERE IS ONGOING HOT WAR NOT FROZEN CONFLICT IN DONBAS

Sourced : Kyiv Post Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko, in his interview with Sky News, said that there is a real war in Donbas, not a frozen conflict, the official website of the president says. “Someone is trying to call this a frozen conflict. I emphasize that it is not frozen. It is a hot Russian… Continue reading POROSHENKO : THERE IS ONGOING HOT WAR NOT FROZEN CONFLICT IN DONBAS

HOW ERDOGAN WILL DERAIL CYPRUS’ REUNIFICATION

Sourced : Politico By Mujtaba Rahman (Head of Eurasia Group’s Europe practice) The divided island of Cyprus is probably the closest it has ever been to being reunified. For the first time, both the North and the South have elected leaders who are genuinely willing to work toward a solution to the decades-old conflict. Over… Continue reading HOW ERDOGAN WILL DERAIL CYPRUS’ REUNIFICATION

MOGHERINI UNVEILS EUROPEAN DEFENCE ACTION PLAN

Sourced : EEAS The European Commission proposed the creation of a European Defence Fund and other actions to help Member States to boost research and spend more efficiently on joint defence capabilities, so to strengthen European citizens’ security and foster a competitive and innovative industrial base. The European Defence Action Plan is one of the… Continue reading MOGHERINI UNVEILS EUROPEAN DEFENCE ACTION PLAN

THE EUROPEAN BORDER AND COAST GUARD AGENCY HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED

Today the European Border and Coast Guard Agency is being officially launched, less than a year after it was first proposed by the Commission. The launch event takes place at the Kapitan Andreevo Border Checkpoint at the Bulgarian external border with Turkey and includes a presentation of the vehicles, equipment and teams of the new… Continue reading THE EUROPEAN BORDER AND COAST GUARD AGENCY HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED

POST-BREXIT, EU MOVES TOWARD DEEPER MILITARY INTEGRATION

Sourced : The Times By Bruno Waterfield EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini told ambassadors yesterday she would table the “road map” to take advantage of “political space” opened by the Brexit vote. Her plans for military structures able “to act autonomously” from NATO have led to fears that the EU is seeking to rival… Continue reading POST-BREXIT, EU MOVES TOWARD DEEPER MILITARY INTEGRATION

EU REFERENDUM : DEFENSE SPENDING CUTS EXPECTED IN WAKE OF BREXIT VOTE

By Robert Fox Source : Evening Standard Defence spending and planning is now expected to come under severe pressure as a result of the Brexit vote, with a growing possibility of cuts and a new review once a new government is installed in the autumn. Defence and security featured episodically in the Brexit debate, mostly… Continue reading EU REFERENDUM : DEFENSE SPENDING CUTS EXPECTED IN WAKE OF BREXIT VOTE

NATO AGREES BIGGER MISSION TO STOP MEDITERRANEAN SMUGGLERS

070813-N-5459S-543 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 13, 2007) - The ships of Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 1 transit in formation for a photo exercise. From left, Portuguese frigate NRP Alvares Cabral (F331), Canadian frigate HMCS Toronto (FFH 333), guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), German replenishment tanker FGS Spessart (A 1442), Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F805), and Danish corvette HDMS Olfert Fischer (F355). Normandy is flagship for SNMG-1, which is conducting NATOÕs first maritime out-of-area deployment by circumnavigating Africa. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Vincent J. Street (RELEASED)

Sourced : The Daily Herald NATO agreed on Thursday to broaden its operations in the Mediterranean to help the European Union stop criminals trafficking refugees from North Africa but will not act until the fate of rescued migrants is cleared up. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said a meeting of NATO foreign ministers supported… Continue reading NATO AGREES BIGGER MISSION TO STOP MEDITERRANEAN SMUGGLERS

US BACKS NATO FORCE OFF LIBYA AS MIGRANT NUMBERS SOAR

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) transits the Mediterranean Sea. Stout is on a scheduled deployment supporting U.S. 6th Fleet operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher B. Stoltz/Released)

Sourced : Voice of America By : Henry Ridgwell A NATO-led mission aimed at stemming the flow of migrants from Libya to Europe could be up and running by July, according to the Italian government.  There are fears the numbers of migrants could soar as the route through Greece and the Balkans remains blocked. Libyan… Continue reading US BACKS NATO FORCE OFF LIBYA AS MIGRANT NUMBERS SOAR

HUGE UK BASED ANGLO FRENCH EXERCISE COMES TO AN END

A Tri-Service exercise designed to test the Anglo-French working partnership was completed last Friday after a fortnight of exercising on sea, land and air. Eight warships from the Royal Navy and Marine Nationale took part – Royal Navy flagship HMS Ocean, HMS Bulwark, HMS Sutherland, as well as RFA Lyme Bay and French frigates FS… Continue reading HUGE UK BASED ANGLO FRENCH EXERCISE COMES TO AN END