Atlantic Council blogs

China’s growing presence and power in the Mediterranean

By Peter App, Reuters

From Peter App, Reuters:  Situated at the northern end of the Suez Canal, the Port Said Container Terminal is one of the busiest in the region, vital for shipments not only to Egypt but also much of Europe and the Middle East.

NATO RIP

By Harlan Ullman

A recent half-day conference at a major Washington think tank on “the budget and U.S. defense strategy” was most telling for what was dramatically omitted from a wide-ranging discussion. Not until the final question had NATO been once mentioned.

The French Mess in Mali and Libya

By Rajan Menon

If you want an illustration of the law of unintended consequences, look no further than Mali. The drama that’s been unfolding there over the past nine months, and that has taken a new turn in the past week, is a perfect illustration.

Obama Doctrine, Reagan Doctrine

By James Joyner

As his second term is about to begin, we may finally be seeing the emergence of an Obama Doctrine in foreign policy. It’s one that looks very much like the Reagan Doctrine.

NATO’s Patriot missiles in Turkey will begin operating ‘this weekend’

By Gary Deakin, NATO

Why a Grand Strategy Is Needed for Obama’s Second Term

By Anne-Marie Slaughter

First terms are about justifying your place in office. Second terms are about justifying your place in history.

A Security Vacuum in Obama Inaugural Address

By Kurt Volker

In his second inaugural address, President Obama offered these thoughts on winding down an age of conflict: “Enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war.” And, he continued, “We will show the courage to try and resolve our differences with other nations peacefully – not because we are naive about the dangers we […]

Who are the Salafi-Jihadis?

By Jayson Casper

On September 11, 2012, Mohamed al-Zawahiri placed himself in the spotlight. He offered a ten year truce with the United States, preventing terrorist attacks in exchange for non-interference in Muslim affairs. As the brother of Ayman, the leader of al-Qaeda, he believed he was well placed to negotiate.Since then he has appeared periodically in the […]

Euro-Realism: Well Said, Prime Minister!

By Julian Lindley-French

In November 1942 Winston Churchill famously said, “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is the end of the beginning.” For two years I have waited for Prime Minister Cameron to stand up and make a speech that establishes Britain’s Euro-Realist principles and gives the EU […]