Atlantic Council blogs

Widening Gaps in U.S. and European Defense Capabilities and Cooperation

By Charles Barry and Hans Binnendijk, Center for Transatlantic Security Studies

From Charles Barry and Hans Binnendijk, Center for Transatlantic Security Studies:  The national defense budgets of many NATO nations, purposefully held down over many years before the economic crisis, have been forced abruptly lower still under the duress of unexpectedly severe economic conditions.

Taliban happy Pakistan reopened NATO supply line

By Mirwais Khan, the AP

From Mirwais Khan, the AP:  As the United States trumpeted its success in persuading Pakistan to end its seven-month blockade of supplies for NATO troops in Afghanistan, another group privately cheered its good fortune: the Taliban.

Transatlantic free trade agreement could be worth two to three percent in GDP gains to EU and US

By Peter Westmacott, British Embassy

From Peter Westmacott, British Embassy: A deep, comprehensive, state of the art free trade and investment agreement between the European Union and the United States is, in my view, both the greatest challenge and the biggest prize on the trade policy market today. It is a chance for us to set the standard for 21st […]

Why is China’s Navy in the Mediterranean?

By J. Michael Cole, the Diplomat

From J. Michael Cole, the Diplomat:  For the first time since China’s re-emergence as a power to be reckoned with, Western powers are being confronted with scenarios involving the risk of clashes with Chinese military forces outside the Asian giant’s backyard.

Cyber investigators expose details of ‘vast hacking industry in China’

By Michael Riley and Dune Lawrence, Bloomberg

Hackers steal emails from Van Rompuy and 10 other senior EU officials

By Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver

From Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver:  Hackers last summer raided the emails of EU Council chief Herman Van Rompuy and 10 other senior officials.

Is Egypt’s Constitution Here to Stay?

By Daniel Tavana

Earlier this afternoon, the Administrative Court postponed judgment on a recusal request made by Muslim Brotherhood lawyers in a case considering the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly. The postponement, which will now be heard on September 24, could significantly alter the trajectory of Egypt’s transition. After the first Assembly was dissolved in April, many thought […]

Cyber Offense is King

By Jorge Benitez and Jason Healey

Every single computer in the world can be hacked. From your personal computer at home to the office workstation of the CIA director, it is not possible to fully protect any computer from cyber penetration. For all the talk about cyber protection and the billions of dollars being spent ($3.2 billion in 2012 for the Pentagon […]

The Strategic Consequences Of The Euro-Crisis: Cracks In NATO, New Euro Map

By Harald Malmgren and Robbin Laird, AOL Defense

From Harald Malmgren and Robbin Laird, AOL Defense:  Europe is essentially on its own in a fundamental sense as the key nations of Europe seek to sort through the disaggregation of the Euro zone, and the shaping of a new political and economic map of Europe.