About: USA
US unveils de facto embassy in Taiwan amid China tensions
The United States unveiled a new $256 million representative office in Taiwan’s capital on Tuesday (12 June), a de facto embassy that underscores Washington’s strategic ties with the democratic, self-ruled island as it faces escalating tensions with China.
France tells Germany ‘it’s now or never’ to save the EU
France called today (8 June) for more ambition from Germany in reforming the euro zone, saying Europe faced a "now or never" moment with rising external threats from the United States and China.
US pushes NATO to ready more forces to deter Russian threat
The United States is pressing its European allies to get more NATO battalions, ships and planes ready for combat, officials say, in a fresh move to shore up NATO’s deterrence against any Russian attack.
Kremlin: permanent US military presence in Poland would harm European security
The Kremlin expressed concern on Monday (28 May) over media reports that Poland has requested a permanent US military presence on its soil, saying NATO’s expansion towards Russia’s borders undermined stability in Europe.
Mattis applauds Macedonia effort to solve name dispute
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday (1 May) praised Macedonia's efforts to resolve a decades-old name dispute with Greece, and said he hoped the Balkan country will be able to join NATO.
Putin predicts global ‘chaos’ if West hits Syria again
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday (15 April) that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions.
Russia UN envoy ‘cannot exclude’ war between Russia, US
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia urged the United States and its allies on Thursday (12 April) to refrain from military action against Syria over a suspected chemical weapons attack but said he “cannot exclude” war between Washington and Moscow.
Russia, US headed for clash at UN over Syria gas attacks probe
The UN Security Council could vote as early as Tuesday (10 April) on rival US and Russian proposals to investigate chemical weapons attacks in Syria, setting up a clash that could trigger vetoes of both measures, diplomats said.
Does Russia really sell LNG to the US?
Two LNG cargo ships delivered Russian gas to the United States this year. But why does one of the world's leading exporters need to import the fuel? Danila Bochkarev looks into the details.
Expert: One Belt One Road can have ‘huge importance’ for Central Asia
Kazakhstani political analyst Zhumabek Sarabekov discusses the Skripal poisoning case, the war in Syria, and the geopolitics of Central Asia, including the role of the EU.
EU ‘will react firmly’ to US steel, aluminium tariffs
The EU "will react firmly" to defend its interests against steep US trade tariffs on steel and aluminium, the European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said yesterday (1 March).
US offer first reaction to EU defence PESCO pact
The US government has told EU states that it and other non-EU NATO allies should play a key role in a European defence pact, diplomatic sources said yesterday (27 February).
Not yet in effect, Europe’s new data protection rules already face overseas threats
This week, the United States government will be faced with the choice of whether or not it will violate European data protection laws. In order to ensure the protection of personal data at home, European policymakers must shape rules and practices abroad, writes Christine Galvagna.
US, EU warn against political meddling in Bosnia graft cases
The United States and the European Union yesterday (21 February) warned Bosnia it needed to better protect the judiciary in corruption cases from political pressure, which had resulted in few high-level graft cases being processed in the Balkan country.
US raps Albania’s Rama for ‘careless’ words on Kosovo
The United States urged Albania yesterday (21 February) to avoid "careless language" after its prime minister suggested a single president and single security policy for both his country and neighbouring Kosovo in a speech that infuriated Serbia.
Turkey renames US embassy street amid row over Syria operation
The street in Ankara where the US embassy is located was renamed after Turkey's offensive against a Kurdish militia yesterday (19 February), just days after the two sides agreed on the need to normalise relations.
Friend or foe? Assad quietly aids Syrian Kurds against Turkey
Syria's US-backed Kurds are getting indirect help from an unlikely source in their war against Turkey in the northwestern region of Afrin: President Bashar al-Assad.
Polish lawmakers back Holocaust bill, drawing Israeli outrage, US concern
Polish lawmakers approved a bill yesterday (1 February) that would impose jail terms for suggesting Poland was complicit in the Holocaust, drawing concern from the United States and outrage from Israel, which denounced "any attempt to challenge historical truth".
Reasons, risks and consequences of Turkey’s Syria operation
The Turkish military has started an air and ground operation against Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia whom Ankara views as "terrorists" linked to outlawed militants.
Ukraine recognises war as ‘temporary Russian occupation’
Ukraine's parliament yesterday (18 January) formally recognised its eastern war as a "temporary Russian occupation" in a vote that an outraged Moscow said was preparation for a new wave in the conflict.
The tripartite approach is suffocating OSCE
Kazakhstan’s view is that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) should not be a place where decisions are made by the United States, Russia and the European Union with everyone else reduced to the role of spectators, writes Kairat Abdrakhmanov.
US, EU want cuts to UN budget
The United States is seeking a $250 million cut to the core budget of the United Nations for 2018-2019, on top of $200 million in savings already proposed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, diplomats said on Tuesday (12 December). The EU also asked for cuts to the tune of $170 million.
EU rebuffs Netanyahu’s Jerusalem call
The EU's diplomatic chief on Monday (11 December) bluntly rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suggestion that Europe would follow the US in recognising Jerusalem as the Jewish state's capital, saying there would be no change to its stance on the holy city.