From Reuters:  Germany wants to keep between 600 and 800 soldiers in Afghanistan from 2015 when most international troops will have withdrawn, Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere said on Thursday.

From David Cameron, Office of the Prime Minister:  It was with great sadness that l learned of Lady Thatcher’s death. We’ve lost a great leader, a great Prime Minister and a great Briton.

From Economist:  The French are not known for their optimism, but recently their morosité has been plumbing new depths.

From Dominique Moisi, Project Syndicate:  [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel has changed profoundly while in office. Five years ago, she did not exude the natural authority that she now possesses.

From Today's Zaman:  Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz has stated that the Patriot missile batteries deployed by NATO countries along the Turkish-Syrian border are expected to cost Turkey TL 15 million annually.

From Daryl Lindsey, Spiegel:  The European Union and United States say they will soon begin negotiations to create the world's largest free-trade zone. German editorialists argue a deal is necessary if the West wants to help shape global politics and address the challenge of a rising China.

From Editorial Board of the Washington Post:  On Friday, the national leaders of the E.U.’s 27 member states expressed “support for a comprehensive trade agreement” with the United States, citing its potential to create jobs in a continent still struggling with high unemployment and debt.

From Robert A. Manning, National Interest:  [C]onsidering the messy geopolitical landscape with few opportunities and no shortage of challenges, a successful new U.S.-EU accord could well end up as the signature foreign-policy achievement of Obama 2.0.