Atlantic Council blogs

Foreign Policy After the US Mid-Term Elections: Avoiding a New Isolationism

By Kurt Volker

Having worked to convince NATO allies to stay committed in Afghanistan, President Obama now returns home, where questions about America’s role in the world may be growing in the wake of this month’s mid-term elections.   Clearly, the U.S. mid-term elections were not about foreign policy.  Yet they may have a significant impact nonetheless, with […]

Two Contrasting Faces of Germany Are Put on Display

By David Marsh

As the storm clouds deepen over the euro, I have spent some time in Germany in the last few days speaking to German politicians and officials who played a significant role in bringing in the single currency. Two contrasting faces of Germany are put on display: a generous and slightly unrealistic side – and one […]

Russia Moves Nuclear Warheads Near Border with NATO Allies

By Adam Entous and Jonathan Weisman, the Wall Street Journal

From Adam Entous and Jonathan Weisman, the Wall Street Journal:  The U.S. believes Russia has moved short-range tactical nuclear warheads to facilities near North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies as recently as this spring

Lithuania: What NATO means for us

NATO has released new videos on YouTube providing national perspectives on the Alliance.

Three Outcomes from Lisbon

By James Stavridis, U.S. European Command

From James Stavridis, U.S. European Command:  [W]e were able to deliver the three key initiatives we have been seeking for several years

Kosovo to become NATO member within four years — acting PM

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Kosovo, which unilaterally proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008, may get NATO membership within four years, Kosovo’s acting premier said. The Kosovo government, led by Hashim Thaci, had to resign after the parliament voted in favor of a no-confidence motion introduced by the opposition. However, Thaci hopes to regain the post […]

Europe’s Myopic Defense Cuts

By Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, the Project Syndicate

From Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, the Project Syndicate:  All over Europe, budgets are being pared as a new age of austerity takes hold. Defense expenditures are proving to be the easiest of targets.

Plugging The WikiLeaks

By James Joyner

The latest WikiLeaks document dump by five Western newspapers — this time, victimizing the State Department  — will start some uncomfortable conversations among America’s friends.  It will also force further evaluation about how we handle our internal business. The editors at the New York Times and The Guardian make strong arguments about the public’s right to know and the fact […]

Pro-European alliance ahead in Moldova elections

By the AP

From the AP:  Moldova’s governing pro-Europe alliance was leading the opposition Communists, election results indicated Monday, but it appeared the coalition was just short of winning enough legislative seats to end the country’s year-long political deadlock.

France stands by U.S. after WikiLeaks cables

By Reuters