Atlantic Council blogs

NATO Defense Ministers Send Mixed Signals

By Jorge Benitez

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ provocative speech in Brussels attracted widespread media attention, but several important decisions were made during the two-day NATO defense ministers meetings which will have a more immediate impact on the future of the alliance.  The most prominent of these issues is NATO reform. Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen declared that agreements […]

Britain needs to reverse its defense cuts

By Con Coughlin, the Telegraph

From Con Coughlin, the Telegraph:  With every day that passes, the wanton destruction visited upon our Armed Forces by the Government’s inept handling of last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review becomes more evident.

Three Deadly Flaws

By Harlan Ullman

U.S. President Barack Obama is putting in place a new national security team from the Pentagon to the CIA. The new team will have to respond to what everyone knows will be “tough choices,” made tougher by budget cuts likely to be a lot bigger than people think. But, unless fixed, three deadly flaws make […]

Czech Republic pulls out of US missile shield plan

By Karel Janicek, the AP

From Karel Janicek, the AP:  The Czech Republic is withdrawing from U.S. missile defense plans out of frustration at its diminished role, the Czech defense minister told The Associated Press Wednesday.

NATO’s Half Pregnant Strategy

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

How serious is the split between the US and Europe over defense spending?

By James Blitz, the Financial Times

From James Blitz, the Financial Times:  Europe’s declining interest in paying for global security is becoming a serious anxiety for policymakers in Washington.

Update: NATO activities in Libya on June 14

By NATO

Can Europe Afford Its Libya Campaign?

By Meera Selva and Danica Kirka, the AP

From Meera Selva and Danica Kirka, the AP:  "This has been a bit of a virility test for the French and the British to show they can do this by themselves, but they have been struggling, with munitions, equipment, everything," said Anand Menon

Response to Gates: Dead? Not Likely

By Lawrence S. Kaplan, the New York Times

From Lawrence S. Kaplan, the New York Times:  Burden sharing has been a problem for NATO since the beginning of the alliance.