Defence in Europe
EU member states are considering the options for their own defence as well as their policy towards NATO. What future does NATO have? What are the chances of establishing a common European defence? Or do national interests take priority?
euro|topics-Dossiers on NATO and European Defence
Main focus of Friday, 26. October 2007
Gathered in Noordwijk in the Netherlands on Thursday October 25th, NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers made no concrete decisions on further deployment of troops in Afghanistan. ... » more
Gathered in Noordwijk in the Netherlands on Thursday October 25th, NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers made no concrete decisions on further deployment of troops in Afghanistan. Several European countries already have troops there, notably in the north of the country. But the situation is degenerating in the south and the Americans are appealing to allies of the Atlantic Alliance, such as France and Germany, to commit more.
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Asia, » Europe
Main focus of Monday, 16. July 2007
Russian President Vladimir Putin has carried out his threat to suspend Russia's obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty. The move is obviously ... » more
Russian President Vladimir Putin has carried out his threat to suspend Russia's obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty. The move is obviously connected to the US's plans for a missile defence system in Eastern Europe. The European press expresses its concern.
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Europe, » Global
All available articles from » Horst Möller
Main focus of Friday, 27. April 2007
Russian President Vladimir Putin's state-of-nation address, delivered on April 26th, has caused a stir in Europe. He threatened that Russia would unilaterally withdraw from the ... » more
Russian President Vladimir Putin's state-of-nation address, delivered on April 26th, has caused a stir in Europe. He threatened that Russia would unilaterally withdraw from the CFE Treaty on conventional forces in Europe, which was signed in 1990. Among other things, he gave the US's plans for a missile defence system in Eastern Europe as the reason for this move.
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All available articles from » Feridun Zaimoglu, » Anna Reimann
Main focus of Thursday, 29. March 2007
The Czech government has officially begun negotiations with the US for participation in the latter's missile defence system. Poland is considering a similar step. Does ... » more
The Czech government has officially begun negotiations with the US for participation in the latter's missile defence system. Poland is considering a similar step. Does this defeat Europe's attempts to develop a common security policy that takes account of both American and Russian interests?
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Poland, » Czech Republic, » Russia, » U.S.
The NATO Crisis and NATO's Future
Eesti Päevaleht - Estonia | Friday, 18. May 2007
Kristiina Ojuland, former Estonian foreign minister and current vice-chairman of the Estonian parliament, describes the Russian disruptive action on Estonian websites as the first war ... » more
Kristiina Ojuland, former Estonian foreign minister and current vice-chairman of the Estonian parliament, describes the Russian disruptive action on Estonian websites as the first war of the 21st century fought with the weapons of modern technology. "Not only we in Estonia are facing the question of how to react and which concrete measures can be taken - this question also concerns our partners in the EU and NATO and thus also the US. We have received clear support from our friends, but these testimonies have not stopped the attacks against Estonia. Up to now NATO has only dealt with attacks of this kind in theory, and mainly had terrorist organisations in mind. Now, however, we are facing a situation in which a small democratic country is being attacked and the attacker is EU and NATO partner Russia."
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All available articles from » Kristiina Ojuland
Lidové noviny - Czech Republic | Friday, 9. March 2007
In Poland, as in the Czech Republic, participation in the US's missile defence system is currently the subject of heated debate. Polish politicians of the ... » more
In Poland, as in the Czech Republic, participation in the US's missile defence system is currently the subject of heated debate. Polish politicians of the ruling PiS party have called an additional security pact to be signed with the US because they claim NATO is "weak and unreliable". Czech commentator Lubos Palata approves of the initiative, pointing out that other NATO members are investing too little in their defence budget. "The European members are not only lagging behind Russia which is rapidly stepping up its weapons programme, they are also losing ground against China and India." According to Palata, NATO's increasingly obvious failure in Afghanistan is "primarily a failure of the European NATO wing. ... The Poles are right to describe NATO as weak. But this is also the fault of the Poles themselves - as well as the Czechs, the Germans and the Belgians. Those who want peace must prepare for war. We Europeans, however, are preparing for capitulation - and it doesn't even really matter whether we capitulate to China or to Russia."
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All available articles from » Luboš Palata
Jyllands-Posten - Denmark | Thursday, 8. March 2007
The daily expresses its doubts about the Danish government's plans to participate in the US misile defence project in Europe: » more
The daily expresses its doubts about the Danish government's plans to participate in the US misile defence project in Europe: "The prospect of the US involving the former Warsaw Pact countries is inducing Russia to warn of the dangers of the plan. It is accusing the US of violating old disarmament agreements and is threatening to retaliate by aiming Russian nuclear missiles at the base. Some countries are against the US's plans because it could damage relations between Europe and Russia. In particular France, Austria and Luxembourg are concerned that Europe could become a stage for rearmament, just as it was in the Cold War... For this reason it should be left to NATO to decide about the missile defence shield in Europe. The US's single-handed approach, which involves negotiating with individual European states, could divide Europe."
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Die Presse - Austria | Monday, 26. February 2007
In a commentary, Austrian military expert Erich Reiter explains the vehemence of Vladimir Putin's reaction to the US missile defence system: » more
In a commentary, Austrian military expert Erich Reiter explains the vehemence of Vladimir Putin's reaction to the US missile defence system: "In reality Russia is no longer a superpower; it's just a huge country with enormous problems whose economic boom is based on raw material exports rather than modern technology. Its population is shrinking and its once vast military power is crumbling. The only claim it has to being a superpower is its strategic nuclear arsenal. In this respect it has already de facto lost its equal standing with the US. But it's still capable of retaliating. And it may be able to maintain this capability for some time - if it weren't for the construction of the missile defence shield. This is why Russia will go to any lengths to prevent this happening. In particular it will try to undermine the resolution of the US's new allies, its former vassals in Eastern Europe."
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All available articles from » Erich Reiter
Die Presse - Austria | Tuesday, 28. November 2006
Burkhard Bischof doesn't expect any major decisions to be reached at the NATO summit in Riga. "Europe – with the exception of Great Britain – ... » more
Burkhard Bischof doesn't expect any major decisions to be reached at the NATO summit in Riga. "Europe – with the exception of Great Britain – had and still has its reservations about presenting itself as a military presence at the US's side all over the world. And in view of the disastrous results of the US military intervention in Iraq these reservations have been reinforced. ... There will be no decision regarding a major expansion of NATO operations in Afghanistan. The Europeans will not agree to the US plans for 'globalising NATO' (i.e. making Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea members). The summit in Riga will not open the door to candidate countries like Georgia. NATO will tread water for the next couple of years – at least until there's a new government in the White House."
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All available articles from » Burkhard Bischof
Berlingske - Denmark | Monday, 27. November 2006
The heads of state and government of the 26 NATO member states will meet in Riga today. One of the main topics at the summit ... » more
The heads of state and government of the 26 NATO member states will meet in Riga today. One of the main topics at the summit will be the future course of the transatlantic alliance. The newspaper urges Europe to boost its role within NATO. "Basically it's about the fact that we can't just leave it to the US to solve the world's problems. The EU must take on a greater share of the responsibility. Europeans are showing their solidarity with the US in Afghanistan, and this is important. For too long we have left it up to the US to solve the world's problems and have paid the price for our inaction. While Denmark has shown its full commitment to the alliance over the past ten years, the same cannot be said of other parts of Western Europe. Without a strong US, the world would be a worse place. The war in former Yugoslavia is a good example of how the US - and Great Britain - have contributed to establishing peace in Europe."
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Dnevnik - Slovenia | Wednesday, 3. May 2006
"Global is expensive" says Domen Caharijas commenting on NATO's increasing commitments worldwide. He fears that, along with the UN and US, the defence organisation could ... » more
"Global is expensive" says Domen Caharijas commenting on NATO's increasing commitments worldwide. He fears that, along with the UN and US, the defence organisation could be turning into a new world policeman. "At the NATO Foreign Ministers informal meeting in Sofia, NATO Secretary General Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer spoke of a stronger global role for the organisation, and the problems this would entail. He was referring to the financing of peace operations which are increasing in number, are in increasingly remote locations and are costing more and more... Slovenia pays for the upkeep of 'only' 49 soldiers in Afghanistan. For countries which have helicopters squadrons, the costs can be astronomical, and they don't even get a 'discount' on their NATO membership fees."
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All available articles from » Domen Caharijas
The Daily Telegraph - United Kingdom | Thursday, 19. January 2006
Writing about NATO, the daily asserts that "it is the task of the West's most effective military alliance to counter the threat" from terrorist groups. ... » more
Writing about NATO, the daily asserts that "it is the task of the West's most effective military alliance to counter the threat" from terrorist groups. "But just at the moment that Nato's 26 member states are finally facing up to their military obligations, the alliance faces a new crisis over the disinclination of a number of European states to put their soldiers in harm's way. This week's announcement that Nato's planned deployment [of 6,000 extra troops] to southern Afghanistan was to be delayed by several months was blamed on the Dutch government, which has had second thoughts about placing its soldiers' lives in jeopardy. But at least the Dutch are prepared to consider the possibility, which is more than can be said for Europe's main military powers - with the notable exception of Britain."
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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Europe
Politiken - Denmark | Saturday, 14. July 2007
The US has withdrawn virtually all its nuclear weapons from Germany. The newspaper notes that this was done "on the quiet": » more
The US has withdrawn virtually all its nuclear weapons from Germany. The newspaper notes that this was done "on the quiet": "For almost half a century the nuclear weapons were the most explosive political issue in northern Europe. Now we're noting their withdrawal as if it were the most natural thing in the world... NATO won't win more supporters with this move, even though the withdrawal of the nuclear missiles is a success for trans-Atlantic cooperation. Few people realise that the tremendous and fortunately perseverant cooperation within the EU has done more than anything else to temporarily ban the threat posed by nuclear weapons."
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NATO Expansion
Neatkarīgā - Latvia | Thursday, 7. December 2006
After the Nato summit meeting in Riga, Voldemars Hermanis senses a kind of Nato-weariness among some west Balkan states, in Georgia and especially the Ukraine. "When George Bush spoke in the University of Riga auditorium, he named Croatia, Macedonia and Albania as the first states to be considered for Nato membership. Let us not forget: » more
After the Nato summit meeting in Riga, Voldemars Hermanis senses a kind of Nato-weariness among some west Balkan states, in Georgia and especially the Ukraine. "When George Bush spoke in the University of Riga auditorium, he named Croatia, Macedonia and Albania as the first states to be considered for Nato membership. Let us not forget: For many years, these very countries were, together with us, part of the so-called Group of Ten from Vilnius. And the US President also clearly named the Ukraine as a candidate, if it wishes to join. With entry to the world's most powerful military and political alliance, there is no division between good and evil. The main condition is and remains a country's pro-active approach."
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Diena - Latvia | Monday, 27. November 2006
On Tuesday, a two-day NATO summit will begin in the Latvian capital of Riga. Aivars Ozolins doesn't expect the summit to produce any major decisions ... » more
On Tuesday, a two-day NATO summit will begin in the Latvian capital of Riga. Aivars Ozolins doesn't expect the summit to produce any major decisions regarding the future course of the alliance, but still sees it as a great event in that it will be the first NATO summit held in this former Soviet territory. "To comprehend the full dimension of what Latvia has achieved in becoming a member of the most powerful and successful military alliance in history we must bear in mind that it's only two years since the country became a full member. We received the invitation at the NATO summit in Prague only four years ago. Back in 1999 we were just one of a number of countries whose 'efforts and progress' were recognised, but whose membership could not be fully guaranteed. Within seven years we have made the leap from candidate to host. Of this we can be proud."
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All available articles from » Aivars Ozolins
Rzeczpospolita - Poland | Friday, 15. September 2006
During a visit to Brussels, the new Ukrainian Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych, made it clear that, unlike Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, he does not want Ukraine to join NATO but he does want EU membership for the country. The European Commission said it sees "no prospect of membership" for Ukraine at present. Piotr Koscinski comments: » more
During a visit to Brussels, the new Ukrainian Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovych, made it clear that, unlike Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, he does not want Ukraine to join NATO but he does want EU membership for the country. The European Commission said it sees "no prospect of membership" for Ukraine at present. Piotr Koscinski comments: "Great efforts must be made by pro-European Ukrainian politicians, Europe, NATO and Poland. They must convince Ukrainian society that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not merely a weak-willed anti-Russian instrument in the hands of evil American imperialists. They must convince Donezk, Dnjeprpetrovsk and Charkov that membership is a worthwhile goal and offers Ukraine the prospect of quicker modernisation and of coming closer to European standards. Only once this has been done can we start to conceive of a plan for membership."
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All available articles from » Piotr Koscinski
Helsingin Sanomat - Finland | Friday, 9. June 2006
The Finnish newspaper examines Ukraine's ambitions to become a member of NATO and Russia's protest. "In Moscow, NATO is not only seen as an enemy. ... » more
The Finnish newspaper examines Ukraine's ambitions to become a member of NATO and Russia's protest. "In Moscow, NATO is not only seen as an enemy. The cooperation with the alliance has developed at many different levels, but within the territory of the former Soviet Union the Kremlin regards the US and NATO as its rival, too. Moscow already had great trouble tolerating the EU's expansion in Eastern Europe, and in particular into the Baltic states. Ukraine, which has close cultural ties with Russia, and especially the Crimea are seen as an even greater loss... Yet Kiev and Tiflis will not be persuaded to discontinue their efforts to become NATO members.”
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A Common European Defence
ABC - Spain | Tuesday, 25. September 2007
Two Spanish soldiers were killed and six wounded in an attack in Afghanistan where several European countries have sent troops. For Valenti Puig, "In the ... » more
Two Spanish soldiers were killed and six wounded in an attack in Afghanistan where several European countries have sent troops. For Valenti Puig, "In the EU, there is talk of a common foreign policy and a European army, but NATO's difficulty coordinating operations in Afghanistan suffices to understand why everything is advancing so slowly. In addition, NATO wishes to eliminate its fast action force. It claims that it will give it up after Iraq, but the world never stops being in conflict. Some Europeans want to be on the front line of a globalised world, but this is just a dream for the time being. ... The 27 members have yet to ratify clause of solidarity in matters of defence that would allow everyone to react if another is attacked."
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All available articles from » Valentí Puig
Público - Portugal | Monday, 30. July 2007
Francisco Sarsfield Cabral considers that the EU's military weakness limits its international action. "Europeans spend half the percentage of the GDP that Americans do. And ... » more
Francisco Sarsfield Cabral considers that the EU's military weakness limits its international action. "Europeans spend half the percentage of the GDP that Americans do. And they have not harmonised their military equipment. There is still non common market for the European defence industry. The EU is proud, and rightly so, of its 'soft power', i.e. its capacity to influence countries through the mere prospect of a future admission to the club. It has used this to incite eastern countries to reform and Turkey to abolish the death sentence. However, without 'hard' power, the EU doesn't bear much weight on the international scene. ... Having been spared any war for over 60 years (except for the conflicts in former Yugoslavia), Europeans don't see that the world has yet to attain Kant's 'perpetual peace'. Thus, they are undervaluing the role of the armed forces."
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Le Monde - France | Saturday, 24. February 2007
The daily regrets that the EU is dependent on the United States for the guarantee of its defence. "The Americans maintain that the anti-missile system ... » more
The daily regrets that the EU is dependent on the United States for the guarantee of its defence. "The Americans maintain that the anti-missile system could also serve, should the need arise, to defend Europe. This is reassuring. However, if this shield remains purely American, Europeans will find themselves more than ever dependent on the United States for their defence. The 27 Member States may well be tempted to convince Washington to finance a programme that costs considerably more than the European Union can afford, but, once again that would involve several obstacles. Lacking a strong political will, nascent European defence policy is turning a blind eye to the nuclear dimension of security, once again leaving the field clear for the Americans."
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Le Monde - France | Friday, 29. June 2007
Laurent Zecchini is surprised with how easily Europeans accepted the American missile-defence shield on their soil, even with the risk of agitating Moscow. "It is ... » more
Laurent Zecchini is surprised with how easily Europeans accepted the American missile-defence shield on their soil, even with the risk of agitating Moscow. "It is curious that they didn't first consider their continental interests ... Are they preoccupied with the perspective of entrusting a growing part of their collective security to the United States, after having devoted so many years to financial efforts to bolster European defence? Have they understood that the reason for the sites in Poland and the Czech Republic is above all the security of American interests? [The project would install 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic.] I don't think so. The risk of sacrificing the Euro-Russian relationship on the alter of Atlanticism at all costs seems dangerous."
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All available articles from » Laurent Zecchini
Le Figaro - France | Friday, 20. January 2006
Pierre Rousselin, an editorial writer for the conservative daily, argues that "nuclear deterrence is not an outdated strategic concept. Our strike force, while initially conceived ... » more
Pierre Rousselin, an editorial writer for the conservative daily, argues that "nuclear deterrence is not an outdated strategic concept. Our strike force, while initially conceived as a way of safeguarding France during the Cold War, has changed, but in no way has it become irrelevant in a world where terrorism and proliferation have supplanted the old threats. (...) The nuclear warheads carried aboard our submarines or bomber planes have become a lot more precise. They are no longer asked to serve as a deterrent threat against populations, but to be capable of targeting the power-centres of a head of state or terrorist group. (...) With the perception of the threat having evolved, so too has the way in which we apply the deterrent, with a reaffirmed readiness to serve the interests of European defence."
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All available articles from » Pierre Rousselin
Afghanistan as a Touchstone
Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland | Monday, 21. May 2007
Several people, including three German soldiers, died in a suicide bombing in Kundus in northern Afghanistan. Before the attack, the north of the country, where the German soldiers are stationed, was regarded as relatively peaceful in comparison with the country's war-torn south. Bernard Imhasly comments: » more
Several people, including three German soldiers, died in a suicide bombing in Kundus in northern Afghanistan. Before the attack, the north of the country, where the German soldiers are stationed, was regarded as relatively peaceful in comparison with the country's war-torn south. Bernard Imhasly comments: "With these acts of sabotage, suicide attacks and bombings the war in Afghanistan increasingly resembles that in Iraq, regardless of occupied areas and territorial zones of influence. While the Taliban has its main zones of influence in the south and east of the country, and NATO troops are inflicting heavy defeats on the enemy there - in the province of Paktia alone over 100 Taliban are reported to have been killed on the weekend - the demoralising impact of the second front's acts of sabotage threatens to help the Taliban's cause politically and thus even out the overall picture of the war. There can be no doubt that with these tactics the Taliban aims to hit its opponent where it hurts most, for Germany appears to be the country with the lowest level of political tolerance for the death of its own soldiers."
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All available articles from » Bernard Imhasly
The Positions of Individual European Countries on NATO
Finland
Hufvudstadsbladet - Finland | Wednesday, 12. September 2007
In a speech delivered in Washington, Finnish Defence Minister Jyri Häkämies described Russia as the greatest challenge for the security policy of his country. Björn ... » more
In a speech delivered in Washington, Finnish Defence Minister Jyri Häkämies described Russia as the greatest challenge for the security policy of his country. Björn Mansson interprets this as an attempt on the part of the minister to revive the debate about NATO membership for Finland. "The people of Finland have let Häkämies know they think differently. According to a Gallup poll, seven out of ten Finns believe the threat posed by Russia remains unchanged despite the political situation there, two out of ten think it has increased and one sees it as having diminished. Although Häkämies talked of challenges and not of threats, the result doesn't confirm his one-sided analysis of the situation. It's a good thing Häkämies himself admitted yesterday that his statement wasn't particularly accurate. The same survey found that only 25 percent of Finns support Finland joining NATO, while 60 percent are against it."
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All available articles from » Björn Mansson
Vasabladet - Finland | Monday, 11. December 2006
Stig Nygard compares the Finnish with the Swedish debate on entry into Nato. Both countries have adapted themselves so closely to Nato that membership is ... » more
Stig Nygard compares the Finnish with the Swedish debate on entry into Nato. Both countries have adapted themselves so closely to Nato that membership is a mere formality. Sweden even takes part in some of the organization's operations. "But Sweden was not at the table when participants in the Nato summit in Riga were debating such important issues as terrorism, the spread of atomic weapons and the collapse of entire countries... The debates about Nato in Sweden and Finland are similar. The leaders of both countries want to wait and see how public opinion develops. But the public will be even more opposed to entry, the minute they lose one of their own in these foreign deployments. This might frustrate the strategy of Finnish and Swedish politicians to steer their countries inconspicuously into Nato."
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All available articles from » Stig Nygard
Hufvudstadsbladet - Finland | Friday, 19. October 2007
Vladimir Kosin of the Russian embassy in Helsinski has warned Finland to seriously reconsider plans to acquire NATO membership, because this would be interpreted as a step against Russia. According to Björn Mansson, this is Kosin's reaction to the remarks made by Finland's Defence Minister Jyri Jukka Häkämies, who has described Russia as the greatest challenge for Finland in foreign policy. Mansson adds: » more
Vladimir Kosin of the Russian embassy in Helsinski has warned Finland to seriously reconsider plans to acquire NATO membership, because this would be interpreted as a step against Russia. According to Björn Mansson, this is Kosin's reaction to the remarks made by Finland's Defence Minister Jyri Jukka Häkämies, who has described Russia as the greatest challenge for Finland in foreign policy. Mansson adds: "Obviously Kosin didn't think about the consequences of his comments. When he proposed a strategic partnership with Russia as an alternative to NATO membership he should have realised how counterproductive his remarks were. Older Finns can still remember when in 1978 President Kekkonen turned down a similar proposal made by the Soviet defence minister, Dmitri Ustinov. ... Our foreign minister did well to let Kosin's remarks go without comment, because although Russia is sceptical in its attitude towards Finnish NATO membership, it's not as tactless as Kosin."
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All available articles from » Björn Mansson
Eesti Päevaleht - Estonia | Monday, 23. January 2006
The question of whether to join NATO was a major issue in Finland's presidential election campaign, which is due to end on Sunday with a run-off vote. Andres Laasik questions whether pacifism is really Finland's main concern. "If you scratch the surface of this moderate and democratic society, a different Finland is revealed: » more
The question of whether to join NATO was a major issue in Finland's presidential election campaign, which is due to end on Sunday with a run-off vote. Andres Laasik questions whether pacifism is really Finland's main concern. "If you scratch the surface of this moderate and democratic society, a different Finland is revealed: a Finland in which 500 women volunteer to do military service each year, for example. The quiet, small and ultra-democratic Finland is in certain aspects a heavily-armed country which commands the respect even of Russia. So for the Finns, unlike for Estonia, the NATO issue is less a matter of needing the protection of NATO and more a question of whether they are prepared to let uninvited visitors into the country or not."
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Kaleva - Finland | Tuesday, 17. April 2007
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who together with his Centre Party won the parliamentary elections, has formed a four-party coalition with the Coalition Party, the Swedish People's Party and the Greens. This is the first time in years that the Social Democrats have no part in Finland's government. The newspaper speculates on whether it will mean radical change. "The country's foreign and security policies are being revised, but the blue-green government has not yet announced a clear step towards NATO membership - it's keeping its options open. At least this government reduces the risk of problems in the implementation of the new labour market policies. Apparently it has learned from the conservative government of Esko Aho [1991-1995]: » more
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who together with his Centre Party won the parliamentary elections, has formed a four-party coalition with the Coalition Party, the Swedish People's Party and the Greens. This is the first time in years that the Social Democrats have no part in Finland's government. The newspaper speculates on whether it will mean radical change. "The country's foreign and security policies are being revised, but the blue-green government has not yet announced a clear step towards NATO membership - it's keeping its options open. At least this government reduces the risk of problems in the implementation of the new labour market policies. Apparently it has learned from the conservative government of Esko Aho [1991-1995]: the trade unions now take a more positive view of a right-wing government."
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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Finland
Hufvudstadsbladet - Finland | Friday, 1. December 2006
Finland is not a member of NATO. But it still participates with the Germans and Dutch in the NATO quick-response task force in Afghanistan. That's not ... » more
Finland is not a member of NATO. But it still participates with the Germans and Dutch in the NATO quick-response task force in Afghanistan. That's not right, says Björn Mansson. "There has to be a limit. For Finland, as a non-member of Nato, there is no reason to take part in such operations. Because they are not designed only to deliver humanitarian assistance. No, they are meant to enforce peace through military means. If necessary, we can do that under the EU banner, but not under the Nato flag."
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Sweden
Expressen - Sweden | Monday, 16. July 2007
Sweden has been cooperating with NATO since 1994 and also takes part in its peace missions. Nonetheless, the government continues to reject the idea of becoming a member of the West's military alliance. In view of Russia's increasingly aggressive policies, the daily argues against the government's position. "There are other good reasons for us to join the Western alliance. Many more Swedish soldiers are serving under the NATO flag than under that of the United Nations, and it could be very useful for us to gain greater insight into these operations and wield greater influence over them. Moreover, Sweden supports all major NATO operations: » more
Sweden has been cooperating with NATO since 1994 and also takes part in its peace missions. Nonetheless, the government continues to reject the idea of becoming a member of the West's military alliance. In view of Russia's increasingly aggressive policies, the daily argues against the government's position. "There are other good reasons for us to join the Western alliance. Many more Swedish soldiers are serving under the NATO flag than under that of the United Nations, and it could be very useful for us to gain greater insight into these operations and wield greater influence over them. Moreover, Sweden supports all major NATO operations: the peace-keeping operations, eastward expansion and the conservation of transatlantic relations... It's high time we give up our overcautious attitude and finally initiate a proper debate about this."
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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Sweden, » Europe
Göteborgs-Posten - Sweden | Wednesday, 29. November 2006
The newspaper issues a plea that Sweden join Nato if that body develops into an international peace and security organization in which the USA is ... » more
The newspaper issues a plea that Sweden join Nato if that body develops into an international peace and security organization in which the USA is not overly dominant. "Until the future of Nato is clear, it is still much more important that Sweden intensify its defense and security policy work within the EU, in order to achieve greater balance in the transatlantic alliance. And the government should make it clear that within the EU, Sweden is not an unaligned country."
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Dagens Nyheter - Sweden | Thursday, 6. September 2007
Sweden's Defence Minister Mikael Odenberg resigned on Wednesday (September 5). He listed the conservative government's extensive cuts to the defence budget, which he was unwilling ... » more
Sweden's Defence Minister Mikael Odenberg resigned on Wednesday (September 5). He listed the conservative government's extensive cuts to the defence budget, which he was unwilling to tolerate, as the reason for his resignation. The newspaper calls for the government to reconsider its security policy "According to Håkan Syrén, supreme commander of the Swedish armed forces, the army is no longer in a position [to defend Sweden in the case of war]. ... Why is this? Part of the answer lies in the fact that as a result of its neutrality policy Sweden develops its own military equipment, such as submarines and fighter planes, and this has caused costs to spiral out of control. ... If the armed forces can no longer defend Sweden, who can? It's high time for an open and unbiased analysis of Sweden's security and defence policy - including its freedom of alliance."
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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Sweden
Austria
Der Standard - Austria | Thursday, 25. October 2007
Manfred Rotter, a specialist in international law, criticises the fact that the new EU treaty also contains a military assistance pact (article 27, paragraph 7). "This section of the reform treaty considerably extends the current range of the EU: » more
Manfred Rotter, a specialist in international law, criticises the fact that the new EU treaty also contains a military assistance pact (article 27, paragraph 7). "This section of the reform treaty considerably extends the current range of the EU: in addition to its present capacities it also becomes a defence alliance." He adds that the obligation to form part of the alliance "is still up in the air from an institutional point of view because the creation of a 'common European defence' which has been in planning for a long time now is still in the distant future. The EU also lacks the power to have a restraining influence on EU states that tend towards a high-risk maverick approach, as the example of Poland and the Czech Republic in connection with the the American missile defence shield shows. ... The military alliance is particularly puzzling when one considers that 22 of the 27 EU states are also NATO members and therefore under separate obligation to the 26 (!) NATO member states - a fact which article 27, paragraph 7 explicitly states and which is also given a certain priority."
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Der Standard - Austria | Wednesday, 29. August 2007
Austria is discussing whether to maintain its current policy of neutrality following a proposal made within the conservative ÖVP party to abolish the neutrality principle. Since the discussion broke out, "all the party leaders have been busy pledging their loyalty to the corresponding paragraphs in the constitution," writes Nina Weißensteiner, adding: » more
Austria is discussing whether to maintain its current policy of neutrality following a proposal made within the conservative ÖVP party to abolish the neutrality principle. Since the discussion broke out, "all the party leaders have been busy pledging their loyalty to the corresponding paragraphs in the constitution," writes Nina Weißensteiner, adding: "What the parties are keeping quiet about is that the European Union's common security concept, to which they have all professed their commitment, naturally entails a complete break with neutrality, which was already undermined when the country joined the EU... But the electorate refuses to accept this. This is why against their better judgement both the SPÖ and the ÖVP are unwilling to go down in history as the party that abolished neutrality. And this is why the Greens, despite their absolute commitment to Europe in other areas, are casting themselves in the role of the pacifist defenders of neutrality. And this is also why even the heirs of the FPÖ, once a staunch supporter of NATO, are now professing their commitment to continued neutrality."
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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Austria
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France
Le Monde - France | Friday, 31. August 2007
French military aircraft hitherto based in Tadjikstan are to be redeployed in Afghanistan. According to the daily's editorial, this decision "signifies a greater implication of ... » more
French military aircraft hitherto based in Tadjikstan are to be redeployed in Afghanistan. According to the daily's editorial, this decision "signifies a greater implication of the French in a military operation which the credibility of the Atlantic Alliance [in Afghanistan] depends on . ... France is de facto responding positively to the United States pressing its European allies to become more involved in the 'Afghan theatre'. ... If Mr. Sarkozy wants to illustrate his desire for France to become closer to the United States, returning to the military structure of NATO is quite appropriate. But such a concession cannot be gratuitous. ... Paris will have to obtain further responsibilities within the Alliance and choose the right moment, at the conclusion of negotiations with the next American administration."
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Romania
Göteborgs-Posten - Sweden | Wednesday, 29. November 2006
The newspaper issues a plea that Sweden join Nato if that body develops into an international peace and security organization in which the USA is ... » more
The newspaper issues a plea that Sweden join Nato if that body develops into an international peace and security organization in which the USA is not overly dominant. "Until the future of Nato is clear, it is still much more important that Sweden intensify its defense and security policy work within the EU, in order to achieve greater balance in the transatlantic alliance. And the government should make it clear that within the EU, Sweden is not an unaligned country."
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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Sweden
Gândul - Romania | Thursday, 12. April 2007
Following last week's reshuffle in the Romanian government, for the third time in seven months the country has a new defence minister. Journalist Bogdan Chirieac is less than optimistic about the Romanian army, which recently purchased overpriced and outdated military technology from abroad and can't even put it to good use: » more
Following last week's reshuffle in the Romanian government, for the third time in seven months the country has a new defence minister. Journalist Bogdan Chirieac is less than optimistic about the Romanian army, which recently purchased overpriced and outdated military technology from abroad and can't even put it to good use: "Teodor Melescanus was appointed in the presence of the prime minister but in the absence of the president. This means the country's defence policy will continue to be the lonely child of a broken family. The Romanian army has been mired in a serious crisis for decades. The army has suffered from a continuous lack of funding. However, what's worse is that when it did have money it was spent on 'glittery trinkets', in the manner of African dictatorships. Romania is the second poorest NATO member after Bulgaria, yet over the past decade it has spent billions of euros on unsuitable military equipment that hasn't increased its defence capabilities one iota... Although Romanian soldiers are held in high esteem by our American and British allies, the army leadership still has a Third-World mentality, buying useless old iron and paying its weight in gold."
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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Romania
All available articles from » Bogdan Chirieac
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