Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump's national security adviser met in Jerusalem Monday and called on European nations to do more to pressure Iran. John Bolton arrived in Israel on Sunday for three days of talks expected to focus mainly on Iran and its presence in Syria. Netanyahu strongly urged Trump to withdraw from the nuclear deal between Israel's main enemy Iran and world powers, and the US president did so in May, resulting in the reimposition of sanctions. Israel and the United States have been closely aligned on their approach to Iran since Trump took office. "I frankly believe that all countries who care about peace and security in the Middle East should follow America's lead and ratchet up the pressure on Iran," Netanyahu told journalists. "Because the greater the pressure on Iran, the greater the chance that the regime will roll back its aggression. And everybody should join this effort." The comments were a veiled reference to European … [Read more...] about Netanyahu and top Trump aide call on Europe to pressure Iran
Europe
2018 UCI Europe Tour – Minsk Cup
Во время соревнований 2018 UCI Europe Tour – Minsk CupThe 2018 UCI Europe Tour – Minsk Cup took place in Pobeditelei Avenue on 18 August. This year the competitions in the Belarusian capital gathered 23 teams from 13 countries. Competing for the winner's award were more than 160 cyclists from Belarus, Russia, the Baltic states, Ukraine, Poland and other countries. Photo by Gennady Zhinkov, BelTATeam BelarusChairperson of the Belarusian Cycling Federation Natalya Tsilinskaya More photo stories … [Read more...] about 2018 UCI Europe Tour – Minsk Cup
Putin strikes blow against Russia’s isolation by Europe
Russian leader Vladimir Putin has joined forces with Germany against the US over a new gas pipeline. His weekend trip, which included a visit to Austria, also struck a symbolic blow against EU diplomatic sanctions over his invasion of Ukraine. German chancellor Angela Merkel and Putin defended the Nord Stream 2 gas project at their meeting in Meseberg Castle, outside Berlin, on Saturday (18 August) - Putin's first bilateral visit to Germany since the invasion in 2014. "In connection with Ukraine, we will also talk about gas transit. In my view, even if Nord Stream 2 exists, Ukraine has a role to play in gas transit to Europe," Merkel said ahead of their three-and-a-half hour talks. The project will "perfect the European gas transport system and minimise transit risks. It will ensure supply for growing consumption in Europe", Putin said. "Nord Stream 2 is an exclusively economic project. It does not close any possibilities for transit of Russian gas through Ukraine," he added. … [Read more...] about Putin strikes blow against Russia’s isolation by Europe
How Europe Can Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Power
US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker may have averted a trade war last month, but the challenges confronting the European Union are far from resolved. In today’s increasingly Hobbesian global environment, the EU can survive only by increasing its capacity to project power – no easy feat for an entity that was formed precisely as a repudiation of power politics. With the 1957 Treaty of Rome, Europe shed what remained of its militaristic impulses and focused on building a sprawling and peaceful single market. From then on, Europe’s only means of projecting power would be its trade policy. Yet that policy has never been guided by strategic thinking, leaving the EU with only limited global influence, despite its tremendous success in world markets. The time has come for Europe to reestablish itself as a true global player, not by attempting to emulate a classic superpower, but rather by consolidating and deploying … [Read more...] about How Europe Can Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Power
The Trump effect and Turkey’s rapprochement with Europe
U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are hell-bent on exploiting the legal troubles of pastor Andrew Brunson in Turkey ahead of the midterm election. First, Pence warned the Turks not to test President Trump's patience. Then, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin threatened additional sanctions if Turkey failed to release Brunson. Finally, President Trump said that the United States "will pay nothing" for the pastor's release.Although Turkey and the United States created a road map to de-escalate tensions over Brunson's continued detention, President Trump continues to pour fuel on the fire. Claiming that Turkey has "not proven to be a good friend," the U.S. president added: "Turkey has taken advantage of the United States for many years. They are now holding our wonderful Christian Pastor, who I must now ask to represent our Country as a great patriot hostage. We will pay nothing for the release of an innocent man, but we are cutting back on Turkey!"White House … [Read more...] about The Trump effect and Turkey’s rapprochement with Europe