LONDON The U.K.’s new Labour government launched its strategic defense review last week, pledging a bipartisan approach to reassessing priorities and requirements to meet the new challenges of the 21st century. Defense Secretary George Robertson said the review “was not simply a cost-cutting effort.”

WASHINGTON NATO and Russia have signed a Founding Act giving Moscow a voice in alliance affairs, which is aimed at uniting Europe and integrating Russia with the West. In an attempt to guarantee the peace and indivisibility of the Euro-Atlantic in the 21st century, NATO heads of state and Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin agreed last week in Paris to establish a joint security mechanism, anchored by a Permanent Joint Council.