Eurofighter Program Saved by Compromise Deal
Soeren Kern | September 8, 2009
Filed Under: Research & Analysis
The four nations involved in the Eurofighter Typhoon military aircraft consortium signed a long-awaited contract in late July to buy more of the controversial fighter jets. The breakthrough represents a much-needed financial boost for a program central to European defense cooperation, one that, like other European defense projects, has been dogged by technical problems and spiralling costs. Read more
Fifty Years of Basque Terrorism
Soeren Kern | August 1, 2009
Filed Under: Research & Analysis
The Spanish government has accused the Basque terrorist group ETA of responsibility for back-to-back bombings last week that killed two people and injured more than 50 others. The bloody attacks came as ETA — short for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, or Basque Fatherland and Freedom — marked the 50th anniversary of its founding. Read more
Is ‘Obamamania’ Waning in Europe?
Soeren Kern | July 7, 2009
Filed Under: Opinion & Commentary
On the campaign trail, Barack Obama promised that he would “reboot America’s image” around the world. Indeed, many Americans who voted for Obama believed that his global popularity would somehow reverse the tide of anti-Americanism that so vexed his predecessor. Echoing this sentiment of Obama as saviour of America’s image abroad, presidential advisor David Axelrod recently asserted that “anti-Americanism isn’t cool anymore.” Read more
Spain Steps Back from Universal Jurisdiction
Soeren Kern | July 3, 2009
Filed Under: Research & Analysis
The Spanish National Criminal Court (Audiencia Nacional) said on June 30 it was scrapping an investigation into a 2002 Israeli Air Force bombing in Gaza that killed a suspected Hamas militant and 14 civilians. The move comes just days after the lower house of the Spanish Parliament voted to limit the scope of a 1985 law that allows judges to investigate crimes against humanity anywhere in the world. Read more
As Goes the West, So Goes NATO
Soeren Kern | July 1, 2009
Filed Under: Opinion & Commentary
NATO has always been more than just a traditional military alliance because it has always been about more than just traditional military security. Read more
A400M Project Highlights European Defense Paradox
Soeren Kern | June 19, 2009
Filed Under: Research & Analysis
France and Germany have decided to wait another six months before determining the fate of the troubled A400M military transport plane. Read more
Franco-Spanish Sub Dispute Shows Challenges Facing EU Defense Market
Soeren Kern | May 28, 2009
Filed Under: Research & Analysis
As if to illustrate the challenges facing an integrated European defense market, the French naval shipyard DCNS is suing Spain’s leading state-owned shipbuilding firm, Navantia, for allegedly stealing trade secrets relating to the Scorpène submarine project. Read more
Immigration Policy a Casualty of Unemployment in Spain
Soeren Kern | May 14, 2009
Filed Under: Research & Analysis
As the once-vibrant Spanish economy plunges deeper into recession, the government of Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is struggling to staunch the country’s skyrocketing jobless rate. And among the first casualties is Spain’s famously lenient immigration policy. Read more
NATO Struggles to find Unity of Purpose
Soeren Kern | April 4, 2009
Filed Under: Research & Analysis
US President Barack Obama’s debut NATO summit at the Franco-German border on April 3-4 was a triumph of style over substance. Although allies put on a public face of unity, they were unable to agree on any of the major problems facing transatlantic security. As NATO marks its 60th birthday, the Alliance is mired in a profound identity crisis and there is little to celebrate. Read more
Europe Is Obama’s First ‘Global Test’
Soeren Kern | November 14, 2008
Filed Under: Opinion & Commentary Comments Off
President-elect Barack Obama is already facing his first global test. And it’s not coming from the usual suspects like Iran or North Korea, but from America’s “allies” in Europe. Read more