Global Europe

Defence agenda: Defence initiatives and squabbling allies

The second half of 2020 will be crucial for a range of European defence initiatives. It will also be crunch-time for Europeans to make yet another attempt at sorting out security matters on the global stage. Below, we update you...

Heavy surveillance on Navalny reported before alleged poisoning

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who fell gravely ill after what his allies believe was a poisoning, will survive, the founder of the activist group that sent the air ambulance to fly him to Germany, told a newspaper.

Borrell: ‘Maduro and Lukashenko are in exactly the same situation’

The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell warned Sunday (23 August) that Belarus should not be allowed to become a "second Ukraine" and said it was necessary to deal with President Alexander Lukashenko.

Turkey announces historic gas discovery in Black Sea

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday (21 August) said Turkey had made its biggest-ever discovery of natural gas after completing new exploration work in the Black Sea.

Belarus: The uprising has begun and is not going to stop soon

The protesters in Belarus are pawns in a geopolitical tectonic battle between East and West, although they don’t realise it, write Noé Morin and Bryan Bille.

Belarus opens criminal case into effort to ‘seize power’

Belarus opened a criminal investigation into attempts by the opposition to "seize power" on Thursday (20 August) as strongman Alexander Lukashenko moved to assert his authority after days of protests over a disputed election.

Merkel and Macron vow to ‘preserve’ EU sovereignty in eastern Mediterranean

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday (20 August) they would not accept attacks on EU member states’ sovereignty, amid an escalating row with Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean.

Allies of Navalny accuse Kremlin of blocking his evacuation to Germany

Allies of stricken Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny accused the Kremlin of thwarting his medical evacuation to Germany on Friday (21 August), saying the decision placed his life in mortal danger because the Siberian hospital treating him was under-equipped.

US moves to reinstate Iran sanctions, opening row with Europe

The United States formally began the process Thursday (20 August) of activating a controversial mechanism aimed at reimposing sanctions on Iran, a move that was immediately rejected by European allies fighting to save the Iranian nuclear deal.

US report on Georgia: Political will needed to cement the democratic elections

A prestigious non-partisan US institute gave a generally positive assessment of the recent electoral reforms in Georgia, a country in the EU's neighbourhoud nourishing hopes to join the Union and NATO.  

Steve Bannon, key to Trump’s rise, charged with defrauding border-wall supporters

Steve Bannon, an architect of Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory, was arrested on a yacht on Thursday (20 August) and was charged with defrauding donors in a scheme to help build the president’s signature wall along the US-Mexico border.

Biden promises to end ‘darkness’ of Trump era as he accepts Democratic nomination

Joe Biden accepted the Democratic Party nomination for the White House on Thursday (20 August), vowing to heal a United States battered by a deadly pandemic and divided by four years of Donald Trump’s presidency.

Greece to ratify maritime deals with Egypt and Italy next week

The Greek parliament will discuss and ratify the maritime deals demarcating exclusive economic zones (EEZ) with Egypt and Italy next week, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas has said.

US House to vote on $25 billion postal infusion, mail-in ballot safeguards

US House of Representatives Democrats on Wednesday (19 August) unveiled legislation that would require same-day processing for mail-in ballots and give the cash-strapped Postal Service a $25 billion infusion.

Putin’s unexpected dilemma: What to do with Lukashenko?

The eruption of anti-government protests in Belarus has presented an unexpected dilemma for President Vladimir Putin, with the Kremlin strongman cautiously weighing his options at a sensitive moment for Russia.

With the US absent, smaller powers lead the way in support for Belarus

With the US and other diplomatic heavyweights absent, Belarus's smaller European neighbours have been leading the diplomatic response to the post-election crisis, writes Anna Wieslander.

Behind medieval walls, Macron and Merkel to chart Europe’s course

Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Emmanuel Macron meet on Thursday (20 August) in a medieval island fortress in the Mediterranean to chart the next steps for a partnership that is the driving force behind the European Union.

Crisis in Belarus not geopolitical, EU leaders say after 3-hour summit

EU leaders made it clear following a 3-hour long online summit on the situation in Belarus on Wednesday (19 August) that the crisis following the controversial elections was not a geopolitical one and that it should not antagonise Russia.

While EU leaders discuss Belarus, Lukashenko orders police to put down protests

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ordered his police on Wednesday (19 August) to put down protests in the capital Minsk, signalling an escalation after a week and a half of mass demonstrations against his rule.

Belarus opposition urges EU to reject vote as leaders hold online summit

The exiled head of Belarus's opposition urged European leaders to reject President Alexander Lukashenko's "fraudulent" re-election on Wednesday (19 August) as the EU held an emergency summit on the country's political crisis.

Senate committee concludes Russia used Manafort, WikiLeaks to boost Trump in 2016

Russia used Republican political operative Paul Manafort and the WikiLeaks website to try to help now-US President Donald Trump win the 2016 election, a Republican-led Senate committee said in its final review of the matter on Tuesday (18 August).

Democrats nominate Joe Biden for president, vowing to end Trump ‘chaos’

Democrats formally nominated Joe Biden for president on Tuesday (18 August), vowing his election would repair a pandemic-battered America and put an end to the chaos that has defined Republican President Donald Trump’s administration.

Pressure builds on Belarus as EU leaders hold emergency talks

European leaders urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to push for dialogue in neighbouring Belarus on Tuesday (18 August), as opposition supporters protested President Alexander Lukashenko's disputed election win for a 10th day.

Hezbollah member guilty of Lebanon ex-PM’s 2005 murder

A UN-backed tribunal on Tuesday (18 August) found a member of the Hezbollah Shiite movement guilty over the 2005 murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri but cleared three other suspects after a years-long trial.