Finally, Britain will step up bilateral diplomacy around Europe: Mrs Merkel and Mr Cameron get on famously, sources confide.

ECONOMIST: Bagehot

As a non-member, the U.S. retained the full panoply of tools to parry the first Russian ploy: bilateral diplomacy, relations with the four other littoral states who share our interest in blocking such Kremlin overreach, economic and financial pressure and, if all else failed, naval power.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Russian LOST and found

Although large diplomatic bodies, like the United Nations, are successful in dealing with some areas of conflict, the vast majority of diplomacy is conducted in smaller, bilateral negotiations.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: 'Realist' chic

Traditional bilateral relations that focused on aid need to be replaced by new approaches that focus on economic diplomacy.

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