Russia’s ruling party signed a “cooperation agreement” with the anti-immigrant Freedom Party of Austria, one of the clearest signs that the Kremlin is seeking to deepen ties with nationalist and antiestablishment forces in the West.
The chancellor talks a good game in trying to appeal to German voters wary of left-wing sympathy for Putin, says John Vinocur in The Wall Street Journal.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/merkels-campaign-takes-a-hard-line-on-russia-1482179218
Five Things to Worry About After the Assassination of Russia’s Ambassador to Turkey « | Foreign Policy | the Global Magazine of News and Ideas
The murder may force Turkey to pivot closer to Russia.
The Atlantic Council promotes constructive leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic Community in meeting global challenges. Founded in 1961, the Council provides an essential forum for navigating the dramatic shifts in economic and political influence that are shaping the twenty-first century by educating and galvanizing its uniquely influential, nonpartisan network of international political, business, and intellectual leaders. Through the papers we write, the ideas we promote, and the communities we build, the Council's ten regional centers and functional programs shape today's policy choices and foster transatlantic strategies to advance international security and global economic prosperity.
The Atlantic Council promotes constructive leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic Community in meeting global challenges. Founded in 1961, the Council provides an essential forum for navigating the dramatic shifts in economic and political influence that are shaping the twenty-first century by educating and galvanizing its uniquely influential, nonpartisan network of international political, business, and intellectual leaders. Through the papers we write, the ideas we promote, and the communities we build, the Council's ten regional centers and functional programs shape today's policy choices and foster transatlantic strategies to advance international security and global economic prosperity.
http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/the-future-of-eu-turkey-relations
Putin and Erdoğan are likely to find common ground in their desire to blame third parties for death of Andrei Karlov
http://inosmi.ru/politic/20161219/238418361.html
Donald Trump is forcing Republicans to take sides on a Russian autocrat who is no friend of the United States.