Stephan Wallace is a defense and security policy analyst following political, military, and economic developments in Europe. He has worked more than 33 years on this area for the U.S. government, most recently for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Leadership Profile: David McAllister, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, European Parliament
New European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman David McAllister is expected to play a prominent role in shaping the European Union’s relations with the new U.S. Administration and with a …
New Strategic Airlift Agreements with Russia and Ukraine
Germany and nine of its NATO/EU allies and partners will continue relying on Russian and Ukrainian An-124 aircraft to transport heavy and outsize loads in support of their international military …
Leadership Profile: NATO Intelligence Chief Dr. Arndt Freiherr Freytag von Loringhoven
German Ambassador Dr. Arndt Burchard Ludwig, Freiherr Freytag von Loringhoven was selected to become NATO’s first intelligence chief on 21 October 2016 and took up his new post in December. …
Leadership Profile: BND President Dr. Bruno Kahl
Dr. Bruno Kahl became president of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst – BND) on 1 July 2016, replacing Gerhard Schindler about two years ahead of his expected retirement. As head …
Some Contentious Issues for 2016
Ukraine and EU Sanctions against Russia The European consensus for maintaining Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia is beginning to unravel. In addition to the economic costs of sanctions to European industry …
Germany Steps Up Military Aid to Kurdish Forces in Iraq
Germany has stepped up its military aid to Kurdish forces in northern Iraq as part of an international effort to combat the growing threat to regional peace and stability posed …
NATO/EU Cooperation with Russia on Military Airlift
Germany and its NATO and EU partners continue to rely on Russian heavy airlift to support their expeditionary military and humanitarian relief operations in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa, …
German Military Aid to the Kurdish Peshmerga
The German government’s decision to provide arms and military equipment to aid the Kurdish Regional Government in its fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant provides further …
Public Support for the Government’s Foreign and Defense Policy
A public opinion poll conducted by Infratest dimap for ARD-Deutschlandtrend in early March gave the government its best marks in foreign and defense policy. According to the poll, 67 percent …
Transatlantic Relations
A report posted by Chancellor Merkel’s office on the occasion of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Berlin in late January stressed that the transatlantic partnership with the …
Foreign and Defense Policy Initiatives and Priorities
The opening paragraphs of the foreign policy section in the coalition agreement emphasize Germany’s willingness to assume greater international responsibility and contribute reliably to crisis and conflict resolution in partnership …
Contributions to Crisis and Conflict Resolution
Foreign Minister Steinmeier and Defense Minister von der Leyen emphasized Germany’s responsibility to support international crisis prevention and conflict resolution efforts during statements laying out the government’s policy priorities to …
