BNE Blog

The EU is practising the art of the possible in Libya

By Phillip Souta

Photograph: French Rafale fighter jets (Creative Commons)

By Phillip Souta

As European foreign ministers gather in London today for a summit on Libya chaired by William Hague, the British foreign secretary, a great deal of criticism continues to be directed Cathy Ashton’s way.  Ashton, the EU’s embattled high representative has been accused of being le grand absent throughout the crisis.

George Walden (a Tory MP and former diplomat) writes today’s Times that, “if Gaddafi is trembling in his tent, it is little thanks to the EU”.  The Times leader says that this is “a moment that demands unity in European foreign policy” Read full article »

Money and power – the argument for Anglo-French defence cooperation

By Phillip Souta

By Phillip Souta

A talk was regularly given to new officials starting at the French foreign ministry, the Quai d’Orsay, in the 1970s. No question marks or exclamation marks were to be used in official documents. The Quai asked itself no questions and was never officially surprised. That guidance can’t have survived the changes of the last 30 years.

Vanguard Class Royal Navy SSBN. Photograph: Royal Navy

President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Cameron met in London today to discuss a level of military cooperation that has never been attempted or achieved before.  Details of the results can be found here.  Why now? Money and power – we are running critically short on both.

Our shared interests have been thrown into sharp relief by the prolonged financial crisis and our ebbing global power.  We are fortunate enough to live in a world governed by rules on trade and the general conduct of international affairs that are largely of our own making.  They benefit us hugely, but there is no guarantee that these rules will continue to exist. Read full article »

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