Atlantic Council blogs

NATO’S enlargement policy in the post-Cold War era

By Vahit Redem, Hürriyet

From Vahit Redem, Hürriyet:  NATO’s expansion and global cooperation policies following the Cold War can be divided into three categories. The first category includes countries that have begun the accession process for full membership in NATO. Countries that initiate this relationship by indicating their political will for membership and fulfill the criteria required in the […]

German army cuts to push Europe closer on defence

By Dave Graham, Reuters

From Dave Graham, Reuters:  The biggest cuts in military spending in decades in Germany, Britain and France could encourage Europe to move closer to a joint defence policy to pool resources and eliminate costly duplication. Germany, increasingly active in international military missions in recent years, is poised to shrink its army by up to 40 […]

Sweden Developing Greater Regional Defense Role

By Magnus Nordenman

In August the sunny calm and quiet that is a Swedish summer will be shattered by the impact of Joint Direct Attack Munitions dropped by F-16CM Fighting Falcons from US Air Force Europe.

French diplomat to head EU intelligence agency

By AFP

EU appoints former French general to lead Kosovo mission

By AFP

From AFP:   The European Union appointed French general Xavier Bout de Marnhac as the head of its civilian mission in charge of strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo, a statement said Tuesday. De Marnhac, who had commanded NATO-led peacekeeping troops in Kosovo (KFOR) in 2007-2008, is to replace current EULEX chief Yves de Kermabon […]

GOP Senators connect Wikileaks to Obama’s withdrawal date

By Josh Rogin, Foreign Policy

From Josh Rogin, Foreign Policy:  Senior Republican senators continued to criticize the leakers and WikiLeaks for publishing the reports, while moving to tie the incident to their long held criticism of Obama’s July 11, 2011, date to begin the withdrawal of U.S. troops. "We need Pakistan’s help to rid the region of the Taliban, but […]

Report finds Russians may not be in compliance, could sink new START pact

By Walter Pincus and Mary Beth Sheridan, the Washington Post

From Walter Pincus and Mary Beth Sheridan, the Washington Post:  The United States believes Russia is not fully complying with international pacts involving chemical and biological weapons, although Moscow has settled most questions about violations of a nuclear arms treaty with the United States, according to a State Department report to be made public Wednesday. […]

Secrecy and Strategy in Afghanistan

By Bernard Finel

I don’t condone leaking secrets. But nor do I condone a policy that can only work in secret. Yes, there are some narrow tactical initiatives that make sense as covert action. But, even then, secrecy is a wasting asset, and any strategy that requires secrecy in the long-term is likely doomed to failure. Our strategy […]

Moscow Uses Anti-Iran Sanctions as Bargaining Leverage on Washington

By Vladimir Socor

To hinder Iran’s uranium-enrichment program, the US has introduced sanctions that bar deliveries of gasoline and other refined oil products to Iran. The European Union is following the US lead in this case. Russia’s initial response is calculated to suggest that it does not consider itself bound

EU commission called upon to go after corrupt defence deals

By Valentina Pop, the EUobserver

From Valentina Pop, the EUobserver:  Munich-based investigators in March opened a case against the German engineering group Ferrostaal, suspected of paying bribes to secure defence contracts in Portugal and Greece and of organizing bribery payments on behalf of other firms for a fee. The investigation has meanwhile spread to Portugal and Greece, and touches on […]